Pam Grier is absolutely dazzling in her outfits in this film, of which there are about a dozen. She's obviously the reason to watch this film, and her character, Foxy Brown, is a strong, smart, sexy black woman, which is a wonderful thing. Aside from Grier's charms, the film features revenge for a brutal rape sequence and entertaining grindhouse moments, so it's no wonder it's a Tarantino favorite. Despite the B-movie vibe with a script that seemed written by a high school boy (apologies to Jack Hill),the film has a feminist streak to it because of its lead character.

As for the exploitation elements, I have to say, it was tough to hear a black man say this when asked about getting a normal job: "Foxy look, I'm a black man, and I don't know how to sing, and I don't know how to dance, and I don't know how to preach to no congregation. I'm too small to be a football hero, and I'm too ugly to be elected mayor." It just reinforces all of the stereotypical roles usually assigned to African-Americans by Hollywood (though in the film, we do see a black man with a normal job briefly as he attempts to rescue his wife from sex slavery). On the other hand, I guess you could view it as a statement on limited opportunities in a white man's world, and the film does critiques the racism of its white characters as well as corruption in the justice system.

If you're willing to put up with low production quality (or laugh along with it) and enjoy the sight of Pam Grier dole out some beatings, this could be your film. I liked Coffy from the preceding year a little bit more, but this one is entertaining too.

I am a huge fan of blaxploitation goddess Pam Grier, and Jack Hill's "Coffy" of 1973 is both my favorite Grier-film and one of the absolute greatest Blaxploitation films ever made. While this "Foxy Brown" of 1974, which is very similar in its premise, is not quite as cool as "Coffy" it is yet another immensely entertaining and bad-ass blaxploitation classic. It is funny how director Jack Hill often repeated a successful idea - he made two WIP (Women In Prison) flicks, "The Big Doll House" (1971) and "The Big Bird Cage" (1972),both starring Grier, and then went on to make two 'Female Avenger' themed Blaxploitation flicks, also both starring Grier, "Coffy" (1973) and "Foxy Brown" (1974). And it is no wonder that the ravishing Miss Grier was always chosen to star as the foxy female ass-kicker. Grier unites incredible sexiness and incredible coolness, and is therefore predestined to play exploitation heroines of the kind.

Storywise, "Foxy Brown" is quite near to what "Coffy" was, a film about a black beauty with style, Foxy Brown (Pam Grier),who is taking on ruthless mobsters in order to take bloody revenge for a loved one... At first I had the impression that the film would be a little tamer than "Coffy" in sleaze and violence, but "Foxy Brown" really catches up on these qualities a bit later in the film. It is not quite as cool as "Coffy", but still stylish enough. I personally preferred the character of Coffy to that of Foxy Brown, as well as the reasons of the revenge, and I especially preferred the villains in "Coffy" to those in this one. Out of all the blaxploitation films I've seen so far, however, "Coffy" is my favorite, and while "Foxy Brown" is certainly inferior, it is nonetheless great fun and a must-see for blaxploitation lovers. As mentioned above, sexy Pam Grier is great in the role, and the film has an overall wonderfully funky atmosphere. The groovy theme song in the very beginning ("Supabaaaad") already promises 90 minutes of great fun. The supporting cast includes the great Sid Haig, who was in plenty of films with Grier around the time, in a small role. Overall the film is no "Coffy", but it is definitely an immensely entertaining blaxploitation classic that cult-cinema fans should not miss!

Exploitation king Jack Hill made FOXY BROWN as a follow-up to COFFY, another blaxploitation epic starring Pam Grier. FOXY BROWN starts off on a slow, rather uneven keel, and I wasn't too sure what I was making of it. The acting is adequate rather than entrancing and the occasional threadbare parts of the storyline are pretty difficult to miss.

Sure, the story is enlivened with a funky soundtrack, bizarre supporting characters, and the odd burst of violence, but overall it feels very predictable. And then things change around the halfway mark. Pam Grier kicks into high gear playing a female avenger, out to take vengeance on the various hoods, thieves, murderers, and rapists who stand in her way, and the film becomes a fantastic slice of exploitation entertainment.

What follows is an odyssey of ultra-violence featuring some fantastic and gratuitously gory effects sequences. The bit with the plane is my favourite, but there are customary immolations and castrations and it's all played out in a matter-of-fact way by the great Hill. Grier is obviously in her element here and there are fun supporting parts for Antonio Fargas (sleazy),Kathryn Loder (kooky),and Sid Haig (funny). As FOXY BROWN comes to an end, you realise you've been having a great time - at least, after that slow start.