Cannonball

David Carradine takes part in an illegal anything goes cross-country race from California to New York. Paul Bartel's second attempt at the race movie, while good isn't as fun as his previous "Death Race 2000". It's still fun in parts, but lacks the pacing and memorable characters (except for Carradine and the always watchable Dick Miller)

My Grade: C+

DVD Extras: Interviews with David Carradine, Mary Woronov, and Roger Corman; Poster and Stills gallery; 3 TV spots; and Theatrical Trailer

1 Easter Egg: Highlight a hidden car in the Extras menu for a Carquake/ the giant spider invasion combo trailer

'Cannonball' is one of the least remembered of the short-lived but successful 1970s car race/car crash genre begun by 'The Gumball Rally'. What really makes this one stand out is that it was directed by the late Paul Bartel (in between his immortal black comedy classics 'Death Race 2000' and 'Eating Raoul'), and features an impressive supporting cast of cult actors and Bartel buddies. 'Death Race 2000's David Carradine once again stars, this time as "Cannonball" Buckman, an ex-con who desperately wants to win the illegal Trans American road race. His older brother Benny (the legendary Dick Miller) gets him set up with a car, and bets enormous sums of money on him, mainly with the eccentric but ruthless bookie and amateur songwriter Lester Marks (played by Bartel himself). If Cannonball loses Benny will enter into a world of pain, so Benny tries any and every trick he can think of to ensure Cannonball's competitors lose. Cannonball's main competition is the borderline psychotic Redman ('Deliverance's Bill McKinney), but the race also includes Cannonball's sidekick Zippo (Archie Hahn), his parole officer girlfriend (Veronica Hammel), a bus full of babes led by frequent Bartel co-star Mary Woronov, an aspiring country singer (Gerrit Graham), and surfer types Robert Carradine and Belinda Balaski. 1970s exploitation fans will recognize these actors, and several others that make appearances throughout this stupid but fun movie, and buffs will also spot various film makers in cameos including Roger Corman, Martin Scorsese and Joe Dante. The whole thing is very incestuous and self-indulgent, but the cast looks like they're having a lot of fun. Maybe not as much as the viewer will, but it's still an entertaining ride if you kick back and have a beer or two when watching it.

Not to be confused with the widely popular Cannonball Run series - with Burt Reynolds, which came a few years later than this. This has a different approach and is more serious or let's say the comedy is more subtle at places. And it can get quite violent to say the least. It also does contain a lot of really well known actors too though.

The Carradines for example. But also some cameos (from Martin Scorsese and Sylvester Stallone no less, to name two of them). All that may not help elevate the movie further in your mind. What does elevate (the cars) are the multiple explosions you can witness here. If you are into that stuff you will be satisfied ... while most watching may wonder if this is spoofing the whole notion of cars exploding for no reason at all others may rejoice in that and celebrate it.

The movie has its nice moments, but also has its downfalls ... it has not aged too well (apart from the exploding element I reckon, again if you are into that stuff) ...

Made a year after the 70s cult b-film Death Race 2000. Paul Bartel (as director) returns to the genre with another Corman produced feature of the same ilk. Instead of the futuristic dystopian setup of Death Race, it goes for a randomly breezy and thinly plotted Cannonball Run route of an outlaw cross-country racing event. However it was made years before Burt Reynold's iconic film, but around the same time as the similar plotted 'Gumball Rally'. One thing though, those aforementioned films never matched the striking tone of this very Bartel film.

Leading the way was the impressive amount of mass destruction occurring on the roads, sometimes quite violent, dangerous and disturbing in the details. Making it somewhat jarring with it also wanting to be humorous in its characters struggling to catch a break, or a comedy of errors turning lethal. The tip of the iceberg was the climatic vehicle pile-up which doesn't shy away from casualties and how they're presented. As the humour is strangely dark with ironic shades mixed with a cynical morality tale in some character fates. While sort of generic in what happens, the levity of the script and outrageous set-pieces can amuse, but at the same time shock. While the ensemble cast (led by David Carradine's fashion sense) really do push it along. So many familiar character actors, film-makers from Corman's staple show up. And it's quite fun picking up on them.