Safari 3000

Another unforgettable cinematic trend that was particularly popular during the late 70's/early 80's were the illegal Grand Prix race and carsploitation movies. There were a whole lot of exhilarating titles varying between extremely violent and hilariously gleeful, but they all had a few trademarks in common. Impressive stunt work and flamboyant vehicles, of course, but also all-star casts that practically always featured David Carradine. Ever since the tremendous success of "Death Race 2000", Carradine starred in numerous more car movies including this latecomer "Safari 3000". This is basically a very mundane and derivative race movie, but with one unique selling proposition namely its African setting. The race in question takes three days and covers over 2.500km of routes full of obstacles, wildlife and sabotaging danger. Eddie Mills is a former movie stunt man who likes to drive the race, but he doesn't have a car. JJ Dalton is a quirky Playboy journalist who'd like to report live from inside a race car, but she doesn't have a driver. They team up, fall in love in between all their bickering and combine forces against their biggest rival; the obnoxious but cheating Italian multimillionaire Count Borgia. The screenplay of "Safari 3000" is a non- stop series of clichés and stereotypes, but luckily enough it's all very charming and amusing. The lesser important competitors in the race can easily be recognized by their exaggeratedly amplified nationality facets. The French only talk about wine and cheese, the Brits about London and the Australians talk in … well … incomprehensible accents. The most impressive sequences in "Safari 3000" all feature, and I suppose most of it is stock footage. There are extended images of galloping zebras, gazelles, giraffes as well as lions, elephants and buffaloes. The chemistry between David Carradine and Stockard Channing (most known for her role in "Grease") is excellent and Christopher Lee obviously had a good time playing the textbook villain Count Borgia. There are a few notable moments of action and stunt work, like a Peugeot diving into a lake in slow-motion, but overall this is a rather tame movie that primarily revolves on scenery. If you want dazzling action and loads of crashes, I suggest you check out "Cannonball!" instead.

*Note: Given the (completely meaningless) number in the title, it's not coincidentally that I selected to watch "Safari 3000". This is review number three thousand that I have written for IMDb. Thanks for reading.

"Safari 3000" has all but been forgotten today, and I don't think that MGM will be releasing it on DVD any time soon. It doesn't take long when watching the movie to figure out why this movie has drifted into obscurity. True, the movie has a notable cast - Carradine, Channing, and Lee. Carradine and Channing are somewhat likable and generate a little chemistry, but the surroundings seem to be restraining them from making really memorable characters. It's bizarre to see Lee ham it up, wearing a Darth Vader helmet and singing opera. I hope that he only took on this role to get a free trip to Africa. Speaking of Africa, while the movie shot on location, much of the movie looks surprisingly generic, almost as if the movie actually shot in southern California. The racing elements and vehicular stunt work are completely unexciting, and the comedy is childish slapstick. Change the channel should this come on your television.

"Safari 3000" is a movie which was shelved for two years before it was ultimately released. This usually is a very bad sign, as most of the time it means that the folks at the studio have no faith in the movie...or the production was small time and they ran out of money. Neither is a great alternative. And, after watching the movie, I can say the big problem with it is that it isn't sure WHAT it should be...a drama, a comedy or a romance. In some ways, the film is like combinging "The Gumball Rally", "Death Race 2000" and "The Cannonball Run"...which a tough of "Spaceballs"! Why do I add "Spaceballs"? Well, look at Christopher Lee's character, the Count...he looks like Dark Helmet's brother!!

Eddie Miles (David Carradine) works for Count Borgia (Lee). But the Count is a jerk and fires him right before the big race acress Africa...and Eddie is in need of a car. At the same time, an idiot reporter (Stockard Channing) has bought a terrible used car and plans on finding someone to use it in the race. Eddie agrees but the car is a mess...and it needs a new engine. So do they stand a change against the unscrupulous Count as he drives in the race?

I wish the film had chosed to be a comedy...period. But it's not especially funny...other than Christopher Lee's ridiculous outfit in the race. It could have also worked as a drama...but the dialog and helmet ALSO work against that. And, as a romance, it doesn't work especially well either as the chemistry between Carradine and Channing is poor at best. Overall, not a terrible film and it probably didn't deserve to be shelved...but it is NOT a good one by any standard.

My review was written in December 1984 after watching the movie on MGM/UA video cassette.

Once upon a time, stuntman Chuck Bail directed "The Gumball Rally" for Warner Bros., Pual Bartel directed David Carradine in "Cannonball" for New World and later on, Hal Needham piloted Burt Reynolds and friends in the "Cannonball Run" pictures. "Safari 3000" comes midway during this car-racing trend, with the novelty of location lensing in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Minor pic, inoffensive but not very stimulating, was originally titled "Rally" and "Two in the Bush", filmed in 1980, test-booked by MGM/UA in 1982, surfaced later on pay-cable and is now a home video entry. Carradine toplines as a former Hollywood stunt driver ("I'm a real Burt Reynolds" he cracks) competing in the African International Rally against Count Loenzo Borgia (Christopher Lee), a descendant of the murderous family, and other teams from around the world. A gung-ho Playboy Magazine reporter J. J. Dalton (Stockard Channing), tags along as Carradine's navigator.

Up until its who-cares, end-of-race ending, pic offers mild humor, effective camaraderie between the pleasant leads Carradine and Channing, and attractive visuals of the African landscape and fauna. Unlike the Reynolds' pics, the cast is thin, with other teams barely in evidence.

So, it's a rally movie. From my own experience, the rally movie craze started with the real life rally Canonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. Brock Yates, a Car and Driver writer created the race to protest the double nickle national speed law.

Inspired by this event there have been a number of movies. The main list is probably Canonball (76), Gumball Rally (76,) The Canonball Run (81).

Before those was another Carradine car movie, Deathrace 2000. Carradine was also in Canonball.

Which brings us to this 1981 "classic", Safari 3000.

This movie is not like those other movies in some ways. It focuses mostly on the Carradine/Channing team, and their nemesis, a count.

The movie is innovative in no obvious way. That's not a terrible strike against it, how many movies are? The movie is a comedy/adventure. So it should be funny. And it is, in spots. I laughed more at the clichéd lines than anything else, which is fine. I don't mind laughing AT a movie, as that's also legitimate entertainment.

Don't expect much for adventure. It's not like Indiana Jones or similar movies. You never feel like the protagonists are in any real danger. I hope that's intentional, or the movie makers are pretty bad at creating real tension.

This all sounds like I am down on this movie. In fact, I sat and watched most of it. That means I was entertained. I don't love Carradine but he has his moments. Channing is cute at times, and pretty likable. Reminds me a bit of Sally Field in Smokey in the bandit - a cute chick riding along in the car with a cute voice and a cute personality.

If you dig 80s cheese, rally movies and comedy-adventures with more silliness than substance, you might like this. And there's some nice scenery of African animals I thought was well done.