Everybody knows I turn out a ho faster than a hungry ho go through a box of Ho-Ho's, dig? Like popping a pimple--quick squeeze and don't say please! The Hughes brothers' documentary American Pimp is a genially unapologetic pimpfomercial, with plenty of swagger and flash from its proud pimps and nothing remotely "investigative." The Hughes intercut bits of interviews with a handful of renowned active and "retired" macks with clips from classic blaxpoitation pimp flicks, creating a fast-paced paean to pimphood that views its subjects with amused awe. We get precious little time with the prostitutes themselves, and all the uglier aspects of the biz are reported casually in conversation, but almost never caught on film. But much of what the pimps say is very funny, and there are some compelling stories--such as that of Rosebudd, whose epiphanic discovery of his calling ("on the road to Oakland, something came over me") is a flava-filled update of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus. The footage from a pimp convention in Milwaukee or wherever wherein the year's greatest achievements in pimping are rewarded with trophies, culminating in the Pimp of the Year prize, is also very funny, especially the celebrants' giant gold jewelry depicting classic fellatio and other pertinent skillsets.
As every pimp knows, you've got to put the goods on the street, and the movie's producers have done just that, with a worthwhile website [www.americanpimp.com/pimp.html] where you can familiarize yourself with the crew of pimps, from San Fran legend Fillmore Slim to NYC roughneck RP. Also included are the 15 Commandments of Pimping, among which are "Don't be acting grateful to the ho," and "Try not to let the ho come between you and your pimp friends." Best of all is the Pimp Game, a variant of Centipede where you can "earn your gators" by picking up cash and turning ho's. Whee!