"Black Belt Jones" is a rather poor blaxsploitation film, but it does have a couple things going for it. First, the action is very good--even if the celery-cracking is a bit over the top and Kelly's vocalizations sound like Curly Howard is playing the lead! Second, the film never takes itself too seriously. Because of these factors, it's worth a look if you like the genre or want a good laugh.
The plot is a VERY generic and familiar one with Black Belt Jones working for some unnamed government agency out to bring down the mob. It never gets any deeper than that, folks! And you wonder why a group of mobsters are interested in taking over a martial arts studio....but it's funny. The funniest part is when the owner of the studio, Scatman Crothers, kicks mob butt! Think about it, Crothers is elderly AND sporting one of the cheesiest toupees in movie history and he's pretending to be a kung fu genius!! But he's not the only silly guy in the film. ALL the bad guys have one thing in common--when covertly attacked they NEVER call out for help or yell! There also is the GREAT foreplay scene at the 66 minute mark--as Jones and his lady love do the weirdest stuff en route to some nookie! The sum total effect of all this cheese is a fun picture that you like but you also can't take at all seriously--even if Kelly was very good with his kicking and punching.
Very silly but actually a bit endearing as well.
The plot is a VERY generic and familiar one with Black Belt Jones working for some unnamed government agency out to bring down the mob. It never gets any deeper than that, folks! And you wonder why a group of mobsters are interested in taking over a martial arts studio....but it's funny. The funniest part is when the owner of the studio, Scatman Crothers, kicks mob butt! Think about it, Crothers is elderly AND sporting one of the cheesiest toupees in movie history and he's pretending to be a kung fu genius!! But he's not the only silly guy in the film. ALL the bad guys have one thing in common--when covertly attacked they NEVER call out for help or yell! There also is the GREAT foreplay scene at the 66 minute mark--as Jones and his lady love do the weirdest stuff en route to some nookie! The sum total effect of all this cheese is a fun picture that you like but you also can't take at all seriously--even if Kelly was very good with his kicking and punching.
Very silly but actually a bit endearing as well.