Clarence Reid had a prosperous career as an R&B songwriter in the '70s. It was the "party albums" of his alter ego---Blowfly, master of parodic rhymes about sexual positions and scatological functions---that cemented Reid's reputation as an African-American comedy icon. Jonathan Furmanski's doc skims over Reid's personal history and influence (his "Rapp Dirty" single is a precursor to hip-hop); instead, the film focuses on his road manager--drummer Tom Bowker's attempts to resurrect the 69-year-old cult performer's career. So-so contemporary shows and cantankerous arguments are favored over in-depth looks at Reid's legacy. Any genuine weirdness about a funky, filthy-mouthed freak running around in a costume is left AWOL.
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