The Cannonball Run

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​This is a fine example of a movie that one might not necessarily see as a "good movie", and I might have to admit to some of the material contained within to be somewhat dated (which I may just have to start referring to as the "General 80s/90s Comedy Warning" (it feels like I have to do that a lot with movies from those eras). However, this is a fascinating example of an all-star cast movie, as it covers a sort of all-over range of performers.

The film is as simple as a cross-country race that starts in Connecticut, and all the humour that ensues, as celeb vs celeb vs celeb races for the finish line. Our "mains" in this include a race car driver named JJ McClure (Burt Reynolds) and his mechanic, Victor Prinzi (Dom DeLuise) who choose do disguise themselves as paramedics and drive an ambulance fitted with a NASCAR engine, as that can cut through traffic like butter. Along for the ride with them is Doctor Nikolas Van Helsing (Jack Elam) who they kind of need for the whole operation.

As the race begins and progresses, we meet a group of colourful characters. This is a large cast, so I'll try to keep things simple. First, former F1 racer, Jamie Blake (Dean Martin) and his teammate, Morris Fenderbaum (Sammy Davis Jr.) in their Ferrari 308 GTS 1979, dressed as priests. Second, the lovely, but manipulative Jill Rivers (Tara Buckman) and Marcie Thatcher (Adrienne Barbeau) in their Lamborghini Countach. Third, Seymour Goldfarb Jr. (Roger Moore), who's a "Roger Moore look-alike" and even drives an Aston Martin DB5. Fourth, a couple of hilariously stereotypical southerners named Terry (Terry Bradshaw) and Mel (Mel Tillis), driving a replica of Donnie Allison's Hawaiian Tropic-sponsored NASCAR Winston Cup Series Chevrolet stock car.

Now, where the movie will probably really get offensive for viewers involves our fifth racer, Sheik (Jamie Farr), driving a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, and that's all I probably need to say about him. Remembering this was 1981, we still hadn't quite hit that point where "race face" wasn't acceptable anymore. However, speaking of multiculturalism, Lastly, we have Jackie Chan and Michael Hui, seemingly playing themselves, driving a computerized Subaru GL 4WD. That's right, 1981 Jackie Chan, in only his second American movie (the first being 'The Big Brawl', only just the previous year).

I'm pretty sure there are several other characters I haven't even mentioned yet, but as far as the main cast goes, that's pretty much it - two whole paragraphs worth. But despite some of these character perhaps being a little too much at times, there's a lot of real fun to be had with this movie. In many ways, it reminds me of 'Rat Race', which is practically the 'Cannonball Run' for the next generation - a race featuring an all-star cast, and it's much more fun than serious all the way through. I have to say, I got quite a few genuine laughs from this, but I also have to say, there was a lot of it (especially when it comes to the character Shiek) that I had to cringe at. I think this film is perfectly enjoyable IF you can accept the leeway of its time.

Having said that, I would probably suggest that this is far more made with my generation, or even the previous generation in mind, considering its cast. While a lot of those names will jump off the page to some readers, other younger readers will no doubt be asking "who?" So I recommend this mostly as a sort of Sunday afternoon comedy for anyone who knows and enjoys all (or almost all) of these performers. And they really do cover a wide range, from dramatic actors, to singers, to athletic talent, I think there's at least one character here for anyone to route for. Not for everyone, but if you like a good race featuring colourful characters, I might suggest checking it out if you can.

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