Fuga per la vita

Sundry video titles for this sloppily made movie include DESPERATE MEN, BACK IN THE U.S.A., and PANIC ESCAPE, but by any name it is fundamentally a mess, with weak performances on display throughout, and with production values being wantonly neglected as are normal measures of logic and continuity. Set in 1961, the scenario involves two young GIs: Chas (Ken Wahl) and Leroy (Judge Reinhold), freshly mustered out from tours of duty in Panama, who while hopping an Army cargo plane to Florida, native state of Leroy, take advantage of an opportunity for the latter to test his new infra red capability camera by snapping a picture of what turns out to be a clandestine U.S. military base, and when it is revealed that such a photograph is made, a less than cordial reaction is naturally forthcoming from Army intelligence officers. These latter, preparing for the Bay Of Pigs invasion of Cuba, pursue the former servicemen, and although it is not explained how their identity is learned, this is apparently of little concern to those responsible for this foolishness, and it will come as no surprise that the chase after the two young men is enacted by only Cuban soldiers who cavort about the Everglades terrorizing U. S. citizens while utilizing weapons and vehicles not manufactured until well past 1961. In the course of their flight, the youths are reluctantly joined by Sally Mae (Annie McEnroe), and the trio is tasked with surviving numerous rounds of machine gun ammunition fired at them, bombs dropped from a plane upon them, and so forth, all this while doing a good deal of shouting and screaming, with Leroy determined to lug his Army issue foot locker with him no matter the hazard or whenever the writers are disposed to remember this particular plot motif. Poorly written, directed, and edited, the film wants focus from its outset, and only one filled with admiration for a featured player is likely to weather these moronic goings-on, as the dialogue is woefully trite, with Reinhold particularly unbridled.

Chas McClain(Wahl) and Leroy Beecher(Judge)are returning home to Florida from military service in the Panama Canal zone as stow-aways on a C-47 cargo plane. Leroy is smuggling a trunk full of guns, cameras, and other goods he has appropriated as his Army "discharge bonus"

When the C-47 makes an unexpected supply drop at a secret military base, under preparation for a Cuban invasion, Leroy innocently takes a photograph while testing his new infra-red camera.

Chas and Leroy's civilian freedom is short-lived because a paranoid intelligence agent has discovered evidence of Judge's photography and assumes the boys are spies. Captain Munoz(John Saxon)doing his best Cuban,officer in the invasion force, is ordered to bring in the boys for questioning. Order are to stop at nothing, including torture, to get the answers they want. This is some of Reinhold best acting, he shows skill he hasn't use since. A good late-nite actioner. Oh yeah lots of cool cars from late 50's and early 60's.

Borrowing its title from a famous Roy Orbison song,this film is much fun ,humor and entertainment.Its political background might elude the young generations but it inspires its vital madness:all the secret agents paranoia hot on the heels of two poor guys -soon to be joined by a girl -make a funny spoof on the spy thrillers.Even the ending recalls that of "Thunderball".The characters are all caricatures ,from the boy's fathers to the paranoiac villains (John Saxon )whose one and only fear is the commies.

Judge Reinhold is much fun to watch :Here,he looks like the missing link between Jerry Lewis and Jim Carrey.He is not far from a cartoon character (Goofy).His best moment happens when he is aping Del Shannon singing "runaway" while his enemies shows themselves.

Suspected of being spies, two former military serviceman with a stolen box of hi-tech military equipment find themselves on the run from their own government in this action thriller set in the early 1960s. The time period is no coincidence, coming off as an intentional tie-in to the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba and all the paranoia of the military in the lead-up to it. What the filmmakers intended to say by linking their heroes' plight to the historic event is hard to work out though. The military are portrayed as extremely inept, constantly losing the two ex-servicemen after capturing them (the pair jump out of the back of a moving van at one point), so perhaps the intention was to hint at the notion of the Bay of Pigs failing due to the military being distracted when they should not have been? In any case, the movie unsteadily walks a fine line between serious thriller and straight-out comedy. With Judge Reinhold imitating a monkey in order to hitch a ride at one point (!), the film certainly has its humorous moments, but the action for the most part comes off as grim and serious. On the other hand, there is little sense of danger in the air since the military are really that inept here... and the list goes on. Most disappointing in any case is how seldom the servicemen actually use all the nifty gadgetry that they have smuggled out in the box. A captivating thriller could have easily been shaped through the pair eluding the military MacGyver style. Never to mind, 'Running Scared' is a film that certainly has its moments, but they far between if not necessarily few.

1980's "Running Scared" hasn't been seen on the TV airwaves since its heyday in the 80s, and its ongoing obscurity is rather mystifying to me (I caught its HBO debut in 1982). After all, it boasts a terrific cast for a low budget actioner of the time, with rising stars Ken Wahl and Judge Reinhold supported by veterans such as Bradford Dillman, John Saxon, and Pat Hingle, all of whom contribute good performances. Still, it's the relatively unknown Annie McEnroe who steals the film as the tough rich girl who helps the unwitting fugitives fight back against the odds (she prevents things from becoming too grim). I first saw the pretty brunette topless in 1981's "The Hand," liked what I saw (who wouldn't?), then caught her in this, her feature debut after a pair of TV movies. She is so solid and dependable that I would have thought her career would skyrocket, but such was not the case (perhaps "Howling 2" really did turn out to be worse than I first believed). Other reviewers are throwing brickbats at this feature, and it's rather unfair, as it was never intended as anything more than the PG rated quickie it clearly is, delivering on everything promised (including the happy ending). Were it rated R, and failed to deliver on violence or nudity, that would be different. Catch it and find out what others seem to be missing. As for Annie McEnroe, thanks for the memories.