Pryor plays Jo Jo Dancer, a popular stand-up comedian, who has severely burned himself while freebasingcocaine. The film came out six years after Pryor had set himself on fire while freebasing.
Plot
As Dancer lies hospitalized in a coma, his spiritual alter ego revisits his life, from growing up in a brothel as a child and struggling to beat the long odds to become a top-rated comedian. However, his success leads to extensive drug use and womanizing that takes its toll on his life. It affects every relationship, including his marriages. Jo Jo's spirit watches and attempts to convince his past self to end the cycle of self-destruction.
The earlier parts of the film were shot in Pryor's hometown of Peoria, Illinois.
Reception
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling received mixed reviews from critics. It currently has a 50% "Rotten" rating on the movie review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes based on 16 reviews.