Let’s Do It Again (1975)

Let’s Do It Again (1975)

“Our motto is, ‘We get even — and you can count on it!'”

Synopsis:
Two blue-collar buddies (Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier) and their wives (Denise Nicholas and Lee Chamberlin) head to New Orleans, where Cosby and Poitier hope to earn some money for their fraternal lodge (the Brothers and Sisters of Shaka) by hypnotizing a weakling boxer (Jimmie Walker) into fighting like a champion, and then betting all their money on him. When their plan is a success, they’re pursued by rival gangsters Biggie Smalls (Calvin Lockhart) and Kansas City Mack (John Amos), who aren’t pleased by their loss of funds.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • African-Americans
  • Billy Cosby Films
  • Boxing
  • Comedy
  • Gambling
  • Gangsters
  • Get Rich Quick
  • Mind Control and Hypnosis
  • Sidney Poitier Films

Review:
Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby followed up their first collaboration together — Uptown Saturday Night (1974) — with this surprisingly humorous and enjoyable comedy. The plot is downright ridiculous (Poitier’s near-magical ability to hypnotize a boxer into success in the ring is particularly unrealistic), but it allows Cosby and Poitier to do what they do best together, as Cosby sweet-talks his way out of countless sticky situations, and Poitier mugs gamely along beside him; the pimpadelic outfits they wear while impersonating bigwig gamblers are priceless. Denise Nicholas as Cosby’s wife and Jimmie Walker (J.J. from television’s “Good Times”) are especially noteworthy supporting cast members, adding a spark of additional energy to the proceedings. While not strictly a “sequel”, Let’s Do It Again nonetheless defies the common downfall of Hollywood flicks made to bank on a previous film’s popularity: this one is actually better than its predecessor.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Cosby sweettalking his way out of an arrest after showing up in a woman’s apartment
  • Jimmie Walker as Bootney Farnsworth
  • Denise Nicholas (on the right) as Cosby’s gutsy, supportive wife
  • Cosby and Poitier’s hilarious hipster disguises
  • Curtis Mayfield’s score

Must See?
No, but it’s worth a one-time look as the best of the Cosby-Poitier buddy flicks.

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One thought on “Let’s Do It Again (1975)

  1. First viewing. Not must-see.

    Like the previous year’s ‘Uptown Saturday Night’, this is a mildly amusing popcorn flick that makes its undemanding way throughout without being particularly memorable. It’s occasionally clever and occasionally forced but it’s harmless-enough.

    It’s also tighter than ‘USN’ – but it doesn’t have the kind of noteworthy support that was offered by Harry Belafonte and Paula Kelly in the previous film. It does benefit a little from Jimmie Walker’s fun turn as the unlikely boxing champ but he’s still rather on the periphery of what goes on.

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