janetluvs2 Jennifer Lewis was born to play Jackie Washington! I saw this one late night on Lifetime, and I didn't know what it was because I had never heard of it...I usually don't like anything associated with Robert Townsend, but this changed my mind. He is an actor's director. This movie has a lot of my favorite actors in hilarious roles; Tim Curry, Whoopi Goldberg, Loretta Devine and especially Isabel Sanford as Jackie's play mama(something I remember from MY childhood)was a riot! The celebrities who played themselves completed the whole mock-umentary feel-Jackie Collins, Kathy Griffin, but especially Camryn Manheim, Penny Marshall and Bette Midler. The first time I watched the movie, I kept asking" Is Jackie Washington a REAL person that I just never heard of?" When I found out that she wasn't it made everything even funnier.

rbritton I just happened to rent this movie by mistake--but what a good mistake! My daughter was supposed to pick up "Hairshow" instead of "Jackie's Back" but they must have been right next to each other. I am a fan of mockumentary films because of the "spoof factor" and what could be more funny than the deadpan look on someone's face when they're being interviewed in "mock fashion". I was amazed to see the "cavalcade of stars" that were on the roster for this movie! Jennifer Lewis did a great job portraying Jackie Washington and Tim Curry was wonderful at the interviewer. I think the person who totally stole the show (besides Jennifer Lewis) was Whoopi Goldberg as her sister. She definitely played the part of being the scorned, upstaged, and overshadowed sister. I just cracked up when I saw the "afro pick" marks on Richard Lawson's ("The Milkman") head alluding to the fact that Jackie had stabbed him. The one hit song that she has "Yield Me With Your Love" was totally Motownish in nature and when David Hyde Pierce (Perry-the deaf piano player) got a hold of the music to play for her revival comeback it sounded like a "graduation march" which was hilarious! Anyone who is a fan of mockumentary films don't "Yield"-"Go" to your local video store and rent this! Kudos Robert Townsend, you've done it again!

sandy46 Frankly, I started to watch this solely for the splendidly delightful Tim Curry. I was rather puzzled and not sure what to expect by the title and "mocumentary" description. What I found was a lighthearted movie just full of laughs and a pleasure to watch! Of course Tim Curry turned in another marvelous performance, this time quite understated. Jenifer Lewis I was unfamiliar with, but now I will watch for her. Curry and Lewis complemented each other well. The young actress who played Ontondre I thought was especially good, and I hope to see more of her in the future. My only complaint is that it wrapped up a little too quickly and kinda sappy -- just didn't seem to fit with the rest of the movie -- but altogether a relatively minor point that really didn't detract much. Its just delightful! Top rated!

Oriel I watched this for the ever-wonderful Tim Curry but was won over by the total package: this is a sly, deadly funny mockumentary that skewers diva ego, blaxploitation films, and the music industry, along with just about everything else that can be squeezed into the space of two hours. Jenifer Lewis is hilarious as the fiercely vain diva, and Tim Curry's dry pomposity is the perfect foil. The film's one flaw is the unlikely, unfunny ending in which all the deliciously evil humor succumbs to a saccharine feel-good production number and Curry, impossibly, grows to love the harpy he's been interviewing. In spite of the letdown of the ending, this is still a sharp, energetic send-up with lots of great surprises, including the priceless cameo by David Hyde Pierce (of Frasier fame). If this is ever aired again, set your VCR: it's a keeper.