In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Blistering performances.

Dan Ackroyd in his prime essays the role of DOCTOR DETROIT, a comic superpimp. In his regular life, Doctor Detroit is a meek college professor right out of a Golden Era slapstick comedy like Cary Grant in "Bringing Up Baby" or Gary Cooper in "Ball of Fire" or even Danny Kaye in the remake, "A Song Is Born." Why and how the professor turns into this larger-than-life, scratchy-voiced pimp is what the movie is all about. And in the end, the Doctor must face down Mom, a notorious gangster. Problem with the movie is Ackroyd was not scheduled to play the role. If memory serves, it was John Belushi, who had died rather suddenly. So Ackroyd steps in to save the day, except he simply isn't funny as the Doctor. He is fine as the professor, however. Ackroyd's soon-to-be, real-life wife Donna Dixon is his love interest.

I loved this movie, so did my husband. It is so cute and so fun. It also never hurts to have a James Brown song and some dancing to make it more memorable. We are just partial to Dan Ackroyd, Howard Hesseman I guess. I also thought the Devo theme was hilarious. Let's not forget T.K. Carter and a certain nasal sounding female escort. A fun film even if it's not a genius work by Dan. Some of the lines and acting are still memorable to me to this day! I'm watching it now as a matter of fact. It's just so hilariously stupid! Good memories if you saw it in your twenties and loved it. Much better then "Nothing But Trouble", which was a piece of crap but had it's moments! Sorry, Danny.

The best thing that can be said about Doctor Detroit is that it has a very fun cast that try their hardest to work off each other and make the most of what is an otherwise appallingly unfunny piece of campy schlock. Most of the blame should probably go to director Pressman who doesn't even bother staging a joke throughout the whole movie.

Ackroyd's awkward professor role finds himself sucked into a secret wild life. OK, it's not very plausible, but it doesn't require more suspension of belief than most other comedies.At the end, there's a nice underlying message (which, depending on your mode can be subtle or cloddishly obvious) that if you have something to say and you stumble onto a bully pulpit, USE IT.In this case, what Ackroyd had to say isn't exactly original, now matter how true it and important it is. But the process he goes through to come out of his shell and make the most of his situation is heart-warming (when you're not laughing too hard) and inspiring.