Watch Bustin' Loose

Bustin' Loose from 1981 is a comedy-drama movie that stars Richard Pryor as Joe Braxton, a ex-convict who is given the opportunity to start anew by working for a school for troubled children. However, his initial task is to transport a group of mischievous children from Philadelphia to a farm in Washington, where the school is being relocated.

The movie opens with Joe in a prison camp where he is close to completing his sentence. He joins a group of inmates to help rebuild the school for troubled children, helping to fix the damage caused by a recent storm. While working there, he meets Vivian Perry (Cicely Tyson), the school's director. Vivian agrees to hire Joe to drive the school bus to Washington, despite her reservations about his criminal past.

On the day of the trip, Joe arrives at the school to find that the children he will be transporting are not the well-behaved students he expected, but rather a group of uncontrollable delinquents. The group is lead by Edward (Angel Ramirez Jr.), a young boy who has a chip on his shoulder due to his troubled past. Joe is initially hesitant to take the job but, with the promise of a fresh start and some financial compensation, he reluctantly agrees.

What follows is a hilarious and heartwarming road trip where Joe must not only deal with the unruly children but also confront his own past demons. Along the way, he and the kids get into numerous scrapes, including a run-in with the law, a precarious river crossing, and a downed bridge. Despite the challenges that arise, Joe begins to form a bond with the children, particularly Edward, and becomes invested in making sure they arrive safely at their destination.

Throughout the movie, the relationship between Joe and Vivian is also developed, with the two slowly growing closer as they work towards a common goal. Vivian, in particular, begins to see Joe in a new light as he shows a surprising amount of care for the kids and demonstrates his ability to be a positive influence on them.

Bustin' Loose is not just a comedy, it also addresses serious issues such as poverty, racial inequality, and troubled youth. However, the movie handles these themes with subtlety and nuance, never feeling preachy or exploitative. The dialogue is sharp and witty, but also has moments of real emotional depth. The performances by the actors, particularly Pryor and Tyson, are exceptional, with Pryor showcasing his trademark humor as well as his dramatic abilities.

Overall, Bustin' Loose is a funny, touching, and at times, heart-wrenching movie that allows Pryor to showcase both his comedic and acting abilities. It's a film that addresses important issues while still managing to be entertaining and fun. Whether you're a fan of Pryor or just looking for a movie that will make you laugh and tug at your heartstrings, Bustin' Loose is certainly worth checking out.

Bustin' Loose is a 1981 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0 and a MetaScore of 55.