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The Cannonball Run [1980]


RRP: £9.99
Our Price: £3.38 (subject to change)

This film inspired a whole generation and I'd like to be amongst them.
Review date: 2007-09-27 Rating: 10 out of 10

Greatest film ever? Maybe that is pushing it a bit (the likes of Robocop and Jaws 2 might have something to say about that). But Greatest car chase film ever involving Reynolds, Burt? Definitely. (Actually, Smokey and the Bandit might have something to say about that).

They simply do not make films like this any more. As a taster it involves Mr Foyt, 2 priests in a Ferrari, the crazed Doctor Nicholas Van Helsing, 2 bombshells in a Lamborghini, Roger Moore (as himself) sending himself up in possibly his best outfit since Live and Let Die, tree-loving bra-less Farah Fawcett, a manic Jackie Chan driving a souped-up Subaru and cool-as-ever Burt Reynolds with his side-kick Captain Chaos.

There is also a delicious scene where a man doesn't like fruit in his drink, a theme generally ignored in modern cinema.

The plot doesn't quite work, but this film is g-r-r-r-r-eat!


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Reviews


"We feel terrible about this, but if they can't take a joke......"
Review date: 2007-07-15 Rating: 10 out of 10

Anyone looking for highbrow sophistication, or any semblance of political correctness, look elsewhere. For anyone looking for a feel good movie with a complete collection of THE acting talent and four wheeled pinups of the time, this is about as good as movies get.

Burt Reynolds, Farrah Fawcett, Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin, Jackie Chan, Roger Moore, Dom DeLuise and Peter Fonda head up what has to be one of the biggest concentrations of megastars and acting talent ever brought together in one movie.

Yes, the script is hardly the last word in sophistication, but it pokes fun at all manner of things that wouldn't be allowed today. The Japanese, the Middle East, the environmental movement, the mentally ill, the police, the medical profession, and black people are all the object of ridicule, or the butt of some cruel jokes throughout the film.

But forget all that. Watch and enjoy as the stellar cast clearly enjoy every second of working their way though a script that delivers one-liners by the bucketful, and enjoy some truly memorable on screen chemistry. Yes it's dated, and yes I daresay some Guardian readers among us will tut and scoff at the humour, but to do that is to spectacularly miss the point of the movie. There's no message, no depth and no intellectual stimulus here. Just good old fashioned fun from an era when people could laugh without having to analyse whether it was appropriate or even legal.

It is the dictionary definition of a feel good movie. After a hard day at work, grab a couple of beers, pop this on and switch into brain candy mode for a couple of glorious hours. And prepare to laugh a lot.

A great film, and an all time classic. Don't try to make it out to be something it isn't, and it will not disappoint.

Can't help liking it!
Review date: 2006-01-15 Rating: 8 out of 10

It is easy to forget that in the 70's Burt Reynolds was a HUGE star and the CB radio was on people's Xmas present lists. Along with Smokey and the Bandit, the Cannonball Run shows Reynolds at his entertaining, larger than life, macho best. I shouldn't like this film but I do. Silly, bawdy, un-PC but laugh out loud funny with people like Sammy Davis Jr and Roger Moore obviously having a whale of a time. It looks as if they all had great fun making this film, and it shows in the performances. My favourite characters have to be Dom Deluise as Captain Chaos, and especially, the Doctor. I can't help it, whenever he appears in the film and that music starts to play I just crack up laughing. I think of films like this as the American equivalent of Carry On films, part of you cringes at them but part of you loves them for their irreverence and their ability to encapsulate a particular time and place in our culture. If you like this film you must check out Smokey and the Bandit because Jackie Gleason is a joy as the evil Buford T Justice..

A bit of Cannonball Fun
Review date: 2005-04-21 Rating: 6 out of 10

This is definately a film that appeals to my childish side... The fact that none of the actors take this film very seriously is probably what actually makes it quite amusing (look out for the outtakes during the end credits for some examples).
Perhaps they dont take it seriously because there isnt really any point to the film, its about an illegal road race across America, for which there is a cash prize, but no-one seems very bothered about it.
I think that is why I like this film so much, it doesnt try to be anything special, its just silly. There are some funny performances by people you wouldnt really expect to see in a film of this type, noticable Roger Moore, who makes lots of sarcastic references to Bond films and Jackie Chan, who plays a very steroetypical Japanese stunt driver.
The huge range of characters in this movie meant that they didnt have to do much in the way of character development, although the movie is centered around J.J. McClure (Burt Reynolds) and Victor Prinzim (Don DeLuise), his co-driver whose alter-ego, Captain Chaos occasionally appears to save the day.
Given that this film was released in 1981 its still really easy to watch, and there are some genuinely funny laugh-out-loud moments in it.

Verdict: Definately one for a boring Sunday afternoon.

Lack of Subtitles/Captions for hearing impared
Review date: 2005-03-18 Rating: 6 out of 10

I love this film, its 70s nostalga knows no bounds for us 30+ viewers. However it DOES NOT HAVE ENGLISH SUBTITLES so hearing impared people beware. It only has Dutch subtitles, but not being fortunate enough to speak Dutch I was left guessing half the films wonderful and witty jokes as loud engine noises drown out much of the speech, funnily enough. Come on Amazon, your site rocks but how about adding caption/subtitle information for us hearing impared people!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Dom DeLuise
Roger Moore
Dean Martin
Farrah Fawcett
Burt Reynolds

Creators:
Burt Reynolds (Primary Contributor)
Roger Moore (Primary Contributor)
Michael C. Butler (Cinematographer)
Donn Cambern (Editor)
Albert S. Ruddy (Producer)
Andre Morgan (Producer)
David Shamroy Hamburger (Producer)
Raymond Chow (Producer)
Brock Yates (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Contender Entertainment Group
Manufacturer: Contender Entertainment Group
EAN: 5032438505685
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2001-10-29
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Running time: 91 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1981-06-19
Language: Arabic (Original Language)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Japanese (Original Language)

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