Million Dollar Mystery

This might not have the star power that Rat Race or It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World had, but it has quite a manic energy and some pretty entertaining characters. To me the funniest were the crazed 'vietnam vet' Buzzard ("It's pronounced Boo-zard") who clearly picked up his military jargon from Rambo movies, Eddie Deezen (better known as Mandark from Dexter's Lab) as a nerdy newly-wed, and the two hapless FBI agents with their hilarious banter. It's not an earth-shatteringly funny movie but a good afternoon of entertainment, and with some exciting car chases to boot. Probably the funniest moment in it was the rather short lived plane hijack scene where nobody is what they seem, and the short but funny gun exchange afterwards.

Recommended if you like such "chase for the money" movies.

Richard Fleischer's "Million Dollar Mystery" has essentially the same plot as Stanley Kramer's "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". Here a strange man (Tom Bosley of "Happy Days") dies in a diner and tells everyone in the vicinity that there's $4 million buried, and so they spend the rest of the movie experiencing a series of mishaps trying to find it. Obviously it's not even in the same league as "IaMMMMW" - and the product tie-in certainly weakens the movie - but it's good for a few silly laughs. As can be expected, Eddie Deezen is a riot. Equally funny is Kevin Pollak as a cop who's more into impersonations than crime-fighting. The movie's probably OK seeing once. I recommend the original version more.

Watchable It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World wannabe starring Tom Bosley (briefly), Rich Hall, the guy who did the voice for the nerdy kid in Polar Express, and a bunch of other forgettable faces. There isn't much creativity in this and even less originality, but the whole thing moves along quickly and I was grateful for that. It's nothing I would seek out but if it's something you stumble upon it's not a terrible way to kill some time.

In a small Arizona town, Sidney (Tom Bosley) drops into a diner for a bite. Asking what is good to eat, he learns the chili is very hot but tasty. Despite uttering words that it wouldn't matter if his stomach gets upset, Sid orders it. Not two minutes later, he is on the floor dying. But, before his final breath, he gives notice that he was a government worker, stole some money as revenge, and has hidden a cool million under four Arizona bridges. Whoa, that's incredible news! In the diner at this moment are the chef and his wife, an accountant with his wife and precocious son, a ladies man and his entourage, and a honeymoon couple. They all heard the news and start off on a wild chase for the money. Along the way, they pick up a crazed Nam vet, Slaughter (Rich Hall), a pair of law enforcement officers and two FBI agents in pursuit of Sidney. Only the smart kid seems to have a brain to figure things out, while the honeymooners have to stop often for a sly tryst. As they all locate the first million, the suitcase holding the dough opens and money blows in the wind. Aargh!. As they move onto the next bridge and the next, does this group of bumbling folks have any chance of becoming rich? In the tradition of Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World and coming before Rat Race, the concept of ordinary folks making fools over themselves in an impossible run for the money is still very entertaining. Most of the cast is unknown, although nicely adept, while Bosley, Hall, and Kevin Pollack are big hoots. The clever script is a huge asset, while the Arizona highways and byways are a delight, too. Naturally, the direction keeps up a fast, fast pace. Folks, why buy cable or watch reruns when you can entertain the family with gems like this?

Apr 2021

Yes not as good as the excellent Midnight Madness but still very likeable, theres only about half a dozen films in this little genre and i am fan of them all.

Eddie deezen is great as always and Kevin Pollak does some fabulous impressions which are the funniest parts of the film.

For some reason this is virtually impossible to get hold of on dvd, you have to pay really big money.

So all in all plenty to like here.

8 out of 10.