It's all ridiculous but entertaining in an unsophisticated ogling way.

This later entry into the blaxploitation canon isn't really a bad film per se, it just doesn't really live up to its potential. This story of a fashion photographer getting caught up in a nutty mystery/conspiracy all because she ended up being in the right place but at the wrong time is entertainng, but it fails to be super engaging and rousing. It does have a slick look at a decent (but not really special) soundtrack, but the slickness takes away from any sort of rough or down and dirty atmosphere that made films like Coffy or Foxy Brown great. Incidentally, the lead from those films is also the lead here: the wonderful Pam Grier. This film escapes feminist critique by letting Greir have more control over her character and her actions, and it's an alright character and performance, but everything going on (with the characters, plot, etc) just feels tired. I don't mind the slickness, but the film also feels like something from tv. It has a flat look, which is odd since fashion and fashion photography are main focuses here. The cast is incredible: there's Grier, Eartha Kitt, Julius Harris, Scatman Crothers, Carl Weathers, and Yaphet Kotto. One of my favorites is Tierre Turner as Cleve. He's pretty damn funny. Too bad's he's only got a small role. I like that this film tried to be more dignified, but it is just underwhelming. The direction is competent, just uninspired. I did say it is entertaining, because it is, but it could have had some more action scenes. There's a few, and they're not bad, but there's plenty of down time. Now, some of that time is exposition and mystery solving, but the film still could have retained its slickness and dignity even with a few more chases or shoot outs. I was disappointed with this one, but it doesn't quite do enough stuff wrong to warrant the lower grades that others might give it. It's worth a look out of curiousity or for completists, but I think that really just the diehards are probably gonna get a lot out of it. So for the rest of you, seeing it won't kill you, but you might wish you'd spent your time doing something else instead.

Like most blaxploitation films, it's not very good but it's fun to watch from a novelty or nostalgic standpoint.