As Incríveis Peripécias do Ônibus Atômico

Saw this when first released, and it was a howler...but only to a genuine movie and TV fan.

In addition to the various disaster films of the 1970s, it also harkens back to some classic WWII films, the smarmy romances of the 60s and 70s, and not a small number of tidbits from television.

Our circle of friends who saw it together are all film nuts, and we spent days picking the film apart and identifying all of the references and parodies, and still find ones we missed whenever we catch it again.

It's not a spectacular film...hell, it's not even that great of a comedy if you don't get the parody references...but it _is_ one of those films that "hangs together" into a working product.

If you aren't a film buff, then simply sit down on the couch with your favorite nosh, and empty your mind to accept the totality...

And don't cut yourself on the broken milk carton.

This film was a great way to spend an hour and a half winding up the day. I went to bed with a smile on my face!

It is not quite a "it's so bad it's good " type of film but it came close.

Don't take it seriously, let them off with a few flat jokes, and you'll have a giggle!

This is a stupid film. I admit it. The acting is very broad, the script is dopey as can be and every element of the film says "DUMB" but it all works because the film never takes itself seriously and makes no pretense. Yes, it is meant to be stupid! I mean, just think about the plot--an air or sea disaster movie that instead occurs on a bus! And, this is no ordinary bus, but seems about 25,000 square feet (minimum) inside--complete with a huge lounge, seating for a huge number of passengers and even a bowling alley!! Plus, you add other plot ideas like a co-driver named "Shoulders" because he keeps driving over the shoulders of the road, a bomb planted aboard and the bus is actually NUCLEAR-POWERED!!! This movie is pure escapist fun. If you want something deep or really enjoy the films or Fellini or Truffaut and hate anything else, then this movie is not for you. If you like pure dopiness and could use a laugh, then this film is exactly what you need.

Technology has brought us many wonderful things – but at what risks? One such advancement is the creation of a nuclear bus that runs direct from New York to Denver. However the sinister Oil Lobby are out to stop the bus from succeeding (wouldn't they!). When the driver is injured washed up driver Dan Torrance is brought in despite his history with the inventor's daughter. Can they survive the dangerous maiden journey?

Disaster spoofs were big business around this time – mainly because the genre had been done to death and it was a very easy target to lampoon. However not all worked because they weren't funny. Airplane will always be the best but this little jewel is still pretty funny. It doesn't feel as funny as Airplane simply because it's taken the action and put it in a spoof location rather than spoofing a normal location. However it still allows plenty of laughs and manages to be really funny.

Bologna is a good lead, but Beck steals a lot of it with his role as shoulders. It's funny seeing Stockard Channing drowning in soft drinks and the rest of the cats is filled out with some names – Hagman, Kellerman, Beatty etc.

Overall it may not have the fame of Airplane, and many of the jokes just aren't fresh 20 years on but it's still worth a look if you like spoofs.

How marvelous that this has just come out on DVD! This movie has been a fave since I was but a lad. It predates "Airplane" by about 4 years, and is about 4 times funnier, but inexplicably bombed at the box office. Guess it was ahead of its time.

The funniest bit is the lounge piano player with his "Six months to live" and "Doggy doctor" improvisations, and how he welcomes new patrons into the bar with "Hey, welcome to the Oriental Lounge!" accompanied by a little piano twinkle.

So it isn't "Citizen Kane" ... but the laughs are bigger!