"What's behind me is not important!"
I first saw this film some years ago, and recently, I recorded it. Fans of racing movies will not be disappointed as the actions on display here is brilliant!This film came before the CANNONBALL RUN films but is every bit as enjoyable as those films are. There are no real big name stars here (apart from the late Raul Julia) but the performances are all great.SPOILER WARNINGS:
Candy tycoon Michael Sarrazin is the arranger of the illegal race from New York to Long Beach, California (naturally).He presumably does this as he has nothing better to do with his time.He and long-time rival Tim McIntire are the two main racers.Unlike the Cannonball Run, there is no cash prize up for grabs, just a trophy shaped like a gumball machine.I guess the main prize for the racers is the fun they have along the way.Of course, the racers are a lovable bunch of eccentrics.Sarrazin races in a Shelby Cobra with a Harvard professor as his partner.McIntire and Julia (a real race driver brought in as a ringer) race in a red Ferrari.A Southern daredevil driver and his mechanic (a young Gary Busey) race in a yellow Camaro.Two elderly upper-class gentlemen drive a Mercedes.Two LA cops drive in their police cruiser (complete with cop car badges for every state they drive through).Two attractive ladies drive a Porsche and the main group is completed by a psychotic Hungarian motorcyclist.There are some other cars involved in the race, but none of them get really far (One car, a Jaguar, doesn't even get started!).Unofficially taking part in the race is the young mechanic Jose who is transporting a Rolls-Royce to California, and brings his crazy girlfriend along for the ride.
Trying to stop the racers every step of the way is Lt. Roscoe.He tries just about anything to try and stop the racers, but they more often than not dance rings around him.There are plenty of laughs in the film, but there are times when the humour doesn't always work.One example of this is when the two cops are pulled over by a Highway patrolman and they convince him that they are shooting a movie.I just didn't like that part.Also, the character of Angie, Jose's girlfriend is rather odd.At one point, a bunch of bikers leer at her and get ready to make trouble but she still goes and gets a soda, placing herself in danger.She must REALLY be nuts!
All in all, the film is great entertainment.The cars are all great looking and the driving is excellent.The performances are also very good, with Julia, McIntire, Sarrazin, Burton(who played Felix Leiter in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER), Jason and Busey being real standouts.Watch this one if you want a good time!
score 7/10
bannonanthony 14 January 2003
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0147546/35712
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