55
Metascore
7 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 75Chicago TribuneGene SiskelChicago TribuneGene SiskelRichard Pryor and Cicely Tyson star in a thorougly likable comedy about an ex-con and a schoolteacher who take a bunch of ghetto kids to a farm in Washington. Some foul language gets in the way of this being a film suitable for the entire family.
- 60Time Out LondonTime Out LondonA warm-hearted comedy involving a bunch of orphan kids promises neither a rewarding evening nor the best use of Pryor's considerable talent. The plotting is sloppy at times and this is undoubtedly a minor film, but its rewards are surprising.
- 60Washington PostGary ArnoldWashington PostGary ArnoldAn inconsistent but good-natured ramble, Bustin' Loose looks like a secure investment for Richard Pryor fans.
- 50The New York TimesVincent CanbyThe New York TimesVincent CanbyBustin' Loose is not unbearable, though a soft-hearted Richard Pryor is not a terribly funny Richard Pryor.
- 50NewsweekDavid AnsenNewsweekDavid AnsenBustin' Loose has a fair share of laughs, none of which is supplied by Tyson, who is totally wasted in an oppressively upright role and lacks the light touch that might have transformed it into something more quirky. For his first effort as producer, Pryor earns a mixed report. He's given himself a good showcase, but his gifts as a dangerous, subversive comic are undermined by his desire to make Uplifting Statements. [01 June 1981, p.91]
- 40TV Guide MagazineTV Guide MagazinePryor--whose customary profanity cuts into the story's essentially sentimental nature--is able to energize the material, but in the end Bustin' Loose remains a minor effort from a major talent.