The Human Tornado (1976) Dimension/Action-Comedy RT: 97 minutes Rated R (violence, language, nudity, strong sexual content) Director: Cliff Roquemore Screenplay: Jerry Jones Music: Art Wright Cinematography: Bob Wilson and Gene Condie Release date: October 2, 1976 (US) Cast: Rudy Ray Moore, Lady Reed, Jimmy Lynch, Glorya Delaney, Howard Jackson, Java, J.B. Baron, James Cromartie, Jerry Jones, Ed Montgomery, Herb Graham, Ernie Hudson, Kathryn Hayes, Barbara Gerl, Peaches Jones, Marie Carter, Michael Lee, Jack Kelly. Box Office: N/A
Rating: ***
About an hour into The Human Tornado, the sequel to the blaxploitation cult classic Dolemite, we learn why Rudy Ray Moore’s signature character is called “The Human Tornado”. While “pumping” (a-hem) a woman for information, a storm literally erupts around them in the room with strong winds and collapsing walls. This is just one of the cool little touches that make The Human Tornado fun to watch. In some ways, it’s even a little better than its predecessor. This time, the movie seems to be in on Moore’s joke. Remember the terrible fight choreography in Dolemite? Remember the star’s clear lack of martial arts skills? This time when Moore fights, the scenes are in fast-motion. Not only does this cover up the star’s deficiencies, it adds a comic sensibility to the movie. This time, it really is all in jest.
Dolemite’s latest troubles begin when a party he’s having at his mansion is crashed by white racist redneck cops responding to a complaint by a couple of white redneck racist civilians. During the bust, the sheriff (Cromartie) discovers his wife in bed with Dolemite. He has his deputy kill her, a crime he plans to pin on Dolemite who bolts with the help of a few friends. They hijack a car, kidnap the driver and head to California where he plans to hook up with his old friend Queen Bee (Lady Reed) who’s now running his club Total Experience. Before he gets there, rival club owner/crime boss Cavaletti (Graham, If You Don’t Stop It, You’ll Go Blind) sends some of his goons to kidnap two of Queen Bee’s girls as a way of forcing her to close for good and come work for him. When Dolemite finds out what went down, he sets out to rescue the girls and take down Cavaletti for good.
That’s the plot of The Human Tornado in a nutshell. The only other pertinent point is the redneck sheriff showing up looking to nab Dolemite on the pretense he murdered his wife. Of course, this really means he intends to kill him. This sheriff, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Kenny Rogers, is a real piece of work. Like most white bad guys in blaxploitation flicks, he hates blacks although he uses another word to describe them, one that begins with n and won’t be printed here. His overacting is one of the movie’s comic highlights. He’s as a big a stereotype as the extremely gay driver Dolemite and his guys kidnap. In the hands of Moore, the stereotypes are too exaggerated to be offensive or insulting. You have to laugh.
I think I said all I need to say about star Moore, who only produces this time out, in my review of Dolemite. You know the character originated from tall tales told to him as a child by the neighborhood wino. You also know that rhymes about Dolemite and other shady types were a big part of his act as a stand-up comedian. In The Human Tornado, Dolemite still has his keen sense of pimp fashion. He still loves to rhyme; he speaks in couplets like a ghetto Shakespeare. In short, he’s still a cool dude and a total bad ass. What he lacks in talent, he makes up for in swagger. And yes, he still bangs a lot of babes. He’s a regular sex machine this guy.
The acting, in general, is pretty bad and the production values still scream amateur night. The main difference between the first and second movie is that The Human Tornado is funnier. Like I said earlier, it seems to be in on the joke this time around. It’s NOT a Shaft clone, it’s a goof on Shaft and other similar blaxploitation flicks. You can’t take it seriously at all. Look at the opening credits showing Dolemite posing and mugging for the camera. It looks like a preteen making a home movie with his friends in the backyard. It’s cheesy but cool. The Human Tornado looks cheap but I’ll take it over today’s mega-expensive CGI-heavy noisefests any day. Just like with Dolemite, The Human Tornado ultimately works because of Moore’s sincerity. As art, it’s pure and genuine, not a hint of cynicism anywhere. It’s just fun. Watch it on a double bill with Dolemite, make a fun Saturday night of it.
