Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Which Way Is Up? Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown September 21, 2023

A remake of Lina Wertmuller's 'The Seduction of Mimi', 'Which Way Is Up?' features legendary comedian Richard Pryor as three different characters. First is Leroy Jones, a poor orange picker who gets fired from his job when he accidentally joins a worker's union during a demonstration. Forced to travel to Los Angeles, he abandons his family, including his wife, Annie Mae (Margaret Avery), and his father, Rufus (Pryor again). There he falls in love with labor organizer Vanetta (Lonette McKee), only to be rehired by his former employers when they realize he's easily manipulated. Back home, Leroy discovers his new managerial role alienates him from his former friends as he tries to divide his time between Annie Mae and Vanetta. When he discovers Annie Mae is pregnant with the child of Reverend Thomas (Pryor's third role), though, Leroy sets his sights on going after a third woman: the pastor's wife.

Which Way Is Up? isn't one of Pryor's best films by any stretch of the imagination. It's jokes aim high, hit low and only occasionally earn a solid laugh. Even then a deep appreciation for at-times significantly dated '70s comic stylings is a prerequisite, which isn't exactly Gen Z's first love. Pryor is a blast bouncing between three wildly eccentric losers, especially when he conjures Leroy's father and all but chomps and chews his way through each gnarled, gristled word. But it's his endless, off-the-walls energy, rather than his acting chops, that make his performance infectious. I suspect at the time of its release the humor fell even flatter, when Pryor was still a relative up-and-coming leading man (despite having already appeared in twenty movies at that point) and far from the fondly remembered icon he is today. Nor had he proven himself a big box office draw, at least not at the level he needed to more fully control his own projects. There's a forced lurch to too many bits, a slew of subpar supporting performances, and an overcrowded plot of wince-inducing affairs and flings that make Leroy one of the most despicable and unlikable characters featured in a badboy comedy. Other critics have been even less kind, citing Which Way Is Up? not only as one of Pryor's worst, but one of the worst films of the decade. Sheesh. It isn't quite that bad... but it isn't good either. Instead it stands as a strangely mean-spirited curiosity unearthed from the time capsule of a true legend. Completists will be thrilled. Those seeking out a strong showing from Pryor, though, will be sorely disappointed.

Which Way Is Up? Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Blu-ray release of Which Way Is Up? is presented with a decent 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation. It doesn't feature the dazzling remaster that might bring the movie to real, high definition life, but, sourced from a solid Universal master, it isn't riddled with substantial problems or unsightly issues either. There are blemishes throughout - specks, scratches, spurts of inconsistent grain, and the infrequent yet still present crushed shadows -- but it stands as a welcome exception to Mill Creek's reputation for slapdash quality releases. Colors are lifelike on the whole, as are skintones, and contrast is dialed in reasonably well. Black levels aren't always the deepest, nor is detail always the most revealing. But more often than not, fine textures have been preserved, edges are clean and nicely defined, and grain is intact. Will the video presentation blow you away? Goodness no. But for a film that could have easily disappeared from memory, the encode justifies the Double Feature's bargain price.

Which Way Is Up? Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

While I'd rather have found a more faithful one-channel mono mix on the Blu-ray version of Which Way Is Up?, Mill Creek grants the film an adequate DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo track. Toss me in the minority maybe, but splitting a mono audio mix into two channels comes as a slight irritation. Will it bother most people? Most likely not. Dialogue is clear and neatly prioritized, though the kind of ADR-esque hitches in quality and consistency (that litter sound mixes of the era) stand out. Music can get a bit overpowering but rarely at the cost of understanding what an actor is saying, and sound effects are crisp, despite suffering from the canned, tinny tone (again) common to '70s films. There isn't much more to say. A fuller remaster of the audio elements would've certainly been appreciated but I guess beggars can't be choosers.

Which Way Is Up? Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray release of Which Way Is Up? doesn't offer any special features.

Which Way Is Up? Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Which Way Is Up? Take it or leave it. But The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings? Worth the cost of the Double Feature admission alone. Regardless of which you prefer, Mill Creek fortunately grants both films decent video presentations and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks. Neither is perfect -- oh, to see two proper remasters -- but take one look at the Double Feature Blu-ray's pricepoint and, even with just Bingo Long in mind, you'll probably come to the same conclusion as I did.