Very well executed

Some things I liked some I did not.

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Instant Favorite.

This had been, years ago, one of my favorites, but I hadn't had a chance to see it for many years until it cropped up on one of the cable movie channels recently. As a comedy, it certainly is never going to rank up there with Philadelphia Story or Young Frankenstein, but it is still worth seeing. It is definitely, as has been mentioned in this space, a product of its day, providing a very cynical commentary on civic institutions. It often appears a tad dated. However, as has been pointed out, it is probably the best movie that Bill Cosby ("Mother") - with his uncanny ability to pick lousy scripts - ever made, and he shines in it. It is one of Harvey Keitel's ("Speed") earliest movies, and we see here that his choice of making slightly off-the-wall movies was in evidence early. The fine character actor Allen Garfield puts in a fine performance as Harvey Fishbine, and it's great to see the late Larry Hagman in a well-played black sheep role. I wish I could say that we can see some sign of talent from Raquel Welch ("Jugs", natch), but honesty prevents me. As others have noted, the movie is indeed episodic, but a lot of those episodes are wonderfully done, my favorite being the attempt to bring the obscenely obese woman down the stairs on the gurney.

1976 was a year for fun movies. "Mother, Jugs, and Speed" has got it all: comedy, action, drama, and adventure. This movie deals with the life of being a paramedic. Bill Cosby plays Mother, a veteran ambulance driver with a history of uncouthness: Drinking on the job; carrying a firearm; and being slothful at the final moment. However, he gets the job done. Raquel Welch plays Jennifer aka "Jugs". I don't want to go there with that! Sorry! Harvey Kitel plays Tony aka "Speed" Mother's new partner after his junkie partner was killed by another addict(Toni Basil, way before she hit it big with her 1980's hit "Mickey"). This movie deals with a lot of issues in the business: racial, sexual, economical, etc. Most of it was pretty tame. Despite the "N" word, and the finger expression which "Jugs" gave to her superior. I liked the way the ambulance was made for the movie. This movie wasn't made for kids, if Richard Pryor was the star, this would be an R-rated movie. This is made for mature audiences. It's great though!3.5 out of 5 stars!

TITLE: MOTHER, JUGS & SPEED was release in theaters in the United States on May 26 1976 and the time it takes to watch this movie is 95 Minutes. Mother, Jugs & Speed is a 1976 comedy film directed by Peter Yates. It stars Bill Cosby (Mother), Raquel Welch (Jugs) and Harvey Keitel (Speed) as employees of an independent ambulance service trying to survive in Los Angeles. Allen Garfield plays the role of Harry Fishbine, the owner of the company. Larry Hagman appears in the movie as a driver obsessed with sex.SUMMARY: In this frantic black comedy, Harry Fishbine (Allen Garfield) is the proprietor of the F&B Ambulance Service, a low-budget free-lance rescue service which is struggling to keep up with the bigger and better funded competition after a law in Los Angeles decrees that the first ambulance to arrive at the scene of a distress call gets the job. F&B's best driver is Mother (Bill Cosby), a freewheeling ambulance jockey who likes to drink beer and play dance music while he makes his rounds. Mother's new assistant is Speed (Harvey Keitel), a former cop who left the force after allegations of drug use; Speed is looking for a new career and a chance to prove himself. In addition, Jugs is the accurate-if-sexist nickname for Jennifer (Raquel Welch), the company secretary who wants to get out from behind the desk and prove her skills as a paramedic. As F&B's driver's race through the streets of Hollywood, their adventures veer between the hilarious and the tragic. Mother, Jugs, and Speed also features Larry Hagman, Dick Butkus, Bruce Davison, and L.Q. Jones.MY THOUGHTS: I guess the reason I don't like this film as much as the rest is because I'm used to seeing Raquel in bath suits and shorts not in over hauls. Despite Welch clothing I still would give this movie 7 weasel stars.

Interestingly enough I was certified as an EMT in July of 1976. Much of what takes place in the movie was hype with some basis in fact. During this time EMS was in flux. The requirement for EMT certification went into effect in California in July of 1976. Between then and 1986 when I left the business due to injury, tons of things changed. In those years Paramedic Certification became universal, companies merged and merged again, working conditions improved dramatically (my hours were cut in half and my pay doubled). Generally everything in private EMS became much more professional. And women became commonplace. Few industries changed so quickly.I might say that to a lesser degree, the same thing happened during the same time frame with Fire Departments, especially Rural, Volunteer and Reserve Departments.What I like the most is the portrayal of what EMS workers go through, including the risks they take and the emotions the experience.All in all, it's one of my favorite films!