[1][2] A boy (Melvin Van Peebles) travels from Chicago to New York to find adventure and riches, later crossing the ocean to Africa in order to reunite with his lover.

[1][3] Van Peebles was a part of the Merchant Marine as a child and used his memories of people back then to write a graphic novel.

[5] Mike Hale of The New York Times wrote, "Ex-Doofus is a better film in every technical sense – people who had trouble sitting through Sweetback are likely to find Ex-Doofus tolerable and even pleasantly diverting – but a lesser one when it matters".

[5] J. R. Jones of The Chicago Reader gave a positive review, stating, "The video has a funky, loose-limbed feel, but Van Peebles has been celebrated so much already you have to wonder how many victory laps a man needs.

"[3] Kevin Thomas, writing for the Los Angeles Times gave a mixed review stating, "Van Peebles' persona and sensibility remain engaging, as do his way with his beguiling score and songs, but his film desperately needs tightening to eliminate tedious moments, especially in the African sequence.