Doctor Detroit (1983)

I wanted to but couldn't!

How sad is this?

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I don't know if that saying originated with this film, but it was certainly the first time I'd ever heard it. And it still makes you laugh 25 years later. Doctor Detroit is truly an odd-ball vehicle for Dan Aykroyd. He plays an up-tight literature professor at a conservative college in Chicago. One day a cash-strapped pimp played by Howard Hesseman is riding through town with a limo filled with his four beautiful ladies. They notice Aykroyd out "power walking" to a Devo song and make fun of him. Later on, they notice him at a restaurant and decide to bring him into their business. But this will not be all fun and games. Leaning on this group is a nasty limo service owner known as "mom". Mom is a mean and ugly old woman played by Kate Murtagh. Hesseman owes her a fortune and he decides to skip town and put Aykroyd in his place to pass the debts (and likely beatings) on to him. In order to scare mom off, Aykroyd and his new business partners devise an alter ego for him known as "Doctor Detroit". And he is supposedly the baddest pimp in history. He and mom have a battle to the end for control of the prostitution industry of Chicago. Oh, and the college Aykroyd teaches at is going broke, and they need a bunch of money to keep it going. Don't forget about that subplot! It sounds pretty dumb, and maybe it is. But it is really quite funny. Aykroyd's Doctor Detroit is quite a site. Bright flashy pimp clothing, gold medallions to hang amongst his chest hair, dark glasses, a wig that resembled the hairstyle of Ozzy Osbourne at that time, and a metallic hand out of an old suit of armor. His voice is that of Beldar Conehead. He dances, he cackles insults, and he outwits mom at every turn. Soon enough, his reputation on the street soars. He will even be crowned as the king of pimps at a players ball held in the same hotel where his college will be given a large endowment during a formal dinner. All on the same night! But will mom show up to spoil the party for everyone??? The cast is full of recognizable faces. Aykroyd is hilarious as the Doctor. And he basically plays an even more uptight version of himself as Clifford Skridlow the professor. The four working girls he has are very hot to say the least. One of them (Donna Dixon) would later become his wife. Fran Drescher looks as good as ever. T.K. Carter needs to work more these days. He is an 80s actor that is sorely missed in this day and age. James Brown makes an appearance and does a number at the players ball with the Doctor. These players balls for pimps are a very real thing in true life, too! A sequel was hoped for, but this film didn't make much money. Too bad! 7 of 10 stars.The Hound.

In one of many goofy roles, Dan Aykroyd plays uptight Prof. Clifford Skridlow, who finds a new lease on life when he poses as a pimp. "Doctor Detroit" is mostly an excuse for a series of silly situations, but they know how to make it funny. No, this isn't his best movie, but he always has some gags up his sleeve, and the movie isn't pretending to be anything that it isn't. Aykroyd would play a similar role in 1988's "The Couch Trip", but this is the original.So, even if this movie can only be classified as "cute", then so be it. Dan Aykroyd will always be a comic genius, with or without John Belushi. Also starring Donna Dixon (whom Aykroyd married soon after this movie) and Fran Drescher.

I think this is one of the most under-appreciated comedies of the 80's. Behind the light comedy in the foreground of this flick is a ton of tongue-in-cheek jokes that, frankly, I just didn't get when I was 14. For example, Akroyd, in the middle of his bizarre adventure, calls the limo driver "Sancho" in one scene. If you find that funny (which would require getting the reference) lines like that pepper the movie. It's really a fun show. I'm sorry I went 20 years without seeing it again.It doesn't stand up budget-wise to his big movies, but if you come to it without any particular expectations, I think you'll be quite pleasantly surprised.

Doctor Detroit is a very funny movie,Dan Aykroyd is zany in this movie.I watched this movie when it came out in 1983,I loved it then and still love it now.The movie starts off as college professor Clifford Skridlow,played superbly by Dan Aykroyd(The Blues Brothers,Ghostbusters 1 and 2) is jogging in Chicago.A limo drives up and it is Smooth Walker,played greatly by Howard Hesseman(WKRP in Cinncinati,Private Lessons,and Head Of The Class),who is a pimp,one of his girls,Monica McNeil,played by the beautiful Donna Dixon(Spies Like Us,Nixon,and Wayne's World)sees him and shows Smooth,he is impressed that Clifford likes his exercise.Smooth is driving,having a conversation with his limo driver named Diavolo,played by T.K. Carter(Punky Brewster,and The Thing) and gets surrounded by other limos.The limos belong to Mom,a gangster,played by Kate Murtagh,bring Smooth to the limo place and talks to Smooth about the $80,000 he owes her,but tells him about a new partner he has named Doctor Detroit.Mom lets smooth go and in the limo,Smooth tells Diavolo what he did.Smooth needs a patsy to be Doctor Detroit.Later on after jogging,Clifford goes out to eat at an Indian restaurant,that is where Smooth Walker and his ladies are having dinner,they see Clifford at the other table,Smooth invites Clifford over to eat with him.Smooth introduces himself and his girls,Monica,Jasmine Wu,played by Lydia Lei(Vice Squad),Thelma Cleland,played by Lynn Whitfield(The Josephine Baker Story,Jaws:The Revenge,and In The Army Now),Karen Blittstein,played by Fran Drescher(The Nanny,This Is Spinal Tap,and UHF).Smooth Walker invites Clifford to go with them and have fun,Smooth gets Clifford stoned.They all go to the penthouse where Smooth lives,has Clifford stay and have a great hot tub experience with the ladies.Clifford gets home in the morning,is greeted by his mother,Margaret Skridlow,played by Nan Martin(The Thorn Birds,A Nightmare On Elm Street 3 and Shallow Hal),his dad,Arthur Skridlow,played By George Furth(Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,Blazzing Saddles,and Megaforce)tells him about Monroe College's need for the endowment check it will be getting from benefactor,Harmon Rousehorn,played by Andrew Duggan.Smooth Walker decides to skip town and dump his problems in the hands of Clifford Skridlow,after Cliff gets Thelma out of jail,he agrees to help them out.Mom comes into the penthouse and wants to take over the ladies,but Cliff won't allow it,he gets Mom and her boys to leave.Cliff agrees to be Doctor Detriot and agree to the meeting with Mom at the junkyard,though he has to pick up Harmon Rousehorn from the train station.Cliff gets his costume for being Doctor Detroit and starts his roll.The showdown between Doctor Detroit gets underway as he deals with Mom by using a tractor's clamps to lift Mom and drop her on some cars,Cliff,Diavolo,and the ladies escape and head to the train station to pick up Rousehorn,but he left cause he was waiting to long for Cliff.His dad is not too happy with Cliff cause Harmon is missing,but everything is alright when Harmon shows up and is alright.Later on is a dinner for the college faculty,The girls are the caterers,everything is OK.Cliff has to make an appearance in downtown Chicago for some people to thank him for what he did to Mom.Cliff has be be at the Excelsior Hotel for the presentation of the endowment check for the college,but he needs to make an arrangement for "The Players Ball",a pimps and hookers convention,things are arranged for "The Players ball"to be at the Excelsior Hotel and the night gets more interesting.The celebration starts,a famous celebrity is at the ball,James Brown is performing there.Things are alright till Mom shows up.the final showdown between Doctor Detroit and Mom starts and will end in Mom's defeat,she is spared and exiled out of Cook County.The endowment check is presented and the celebration begins.This movie I give 2 thumbs up and 10/10 stars.You might recognize a few faces like John Kapelos(The Breakfast Club.Sixteen Candles,and Forever Knight) and Steven Williams(Missing In Action 2,Better Off Dead,and 21 Jump Street)in the movie.