Eat My Dust

"Eat My Dust" is a broad, cartoony action comedy from the Roger Corman hit factory. Just one of a number of car chase / car crash movies he made during this period, it stars ever likable Ron Howard, at the height of his 'Happy Days' fame. Ron plays Hoover Niebold, a young man who's determined to impress a sexy rich girl, Darlene Kurtz (luscious blonde Christopher Norris). So he steals "Mabel", the prized vehicle of race car driver Big Bubba Jones (Dave Madden of 'The Partridge Family'). He, Darlene, and his entourage (including Rons' younger brother Clint) then partake in an epic pursuit that takes up most of the hour and a half long run time.

People who love high speeds, lots of energy, impressive camera work, and grand scale vehicular mayhem are certain to have a fine time with this one. It's not for you if you're looking for depth, meaning, character development, and a really meaty story. Fortunately, writer / director Charles B. Griffith, a longtime Corman collaborator, knows how to satisfy the target audience, and gives "Eat My Dust" quite a bit of humor as well. It definitely has a chaotic feel to it at times, and characters often don't so much speak their dialogue as yell it. David Grisman composed the infectious, flavorful music score, serving as the perfect accompaniment. The stunt work is first rate, with Barbara Peeters ("Humanoids from the Deep") and the second unit giving it 100% percent.

Many of the performances are appropriately broad. With so many of the adult characters coming off as boobs, it's not too hard to root for Hoover and company. Warren J. Kemmerling plays Hoovers' lawman father, and there's a fair amount of familiar faces among the supporting cast: Brad David, Peter Isacksen, Rons' actor father Rance (as one of the deputies), Paul Bartel, Corbin Bernsen (as a slow witted gas station attendant), and Beach Dickerson. Ron is as engaging as he's ever been, and Norris is tantalizing as the object of his lust.

Overall, "Eat My Dust" is good of its type.

Seven out of 10.

"Eat My Dust" was one of producer Roger Corman's biggest hits. Seeing the movie today, most likely you will wonder why. To be sure, top-billed star Ron Howard is a likable actor, but he doesn't get that much of a chance to shine in a movie that's basically centered around one big chase. Speaking of characters, the lead female character is so stuck up and snotty you will wonder why Howard's character is attracted to her. And I'm sure even younger viewers will question how the youths in the movie think that all the destruction they cause is hilarious. I am sure some viewers will dismiss these charges, thinking that they will still get plenty of entertainment from the many, many car chase sequences. Think again. Most of the time, the cars involved in the chase don't seem to be travelling at top speed, and the movie keeps cutting to the idiot sheriff and his dim-witted helpers in sequences that contain no laughs. This movie isn't aggressively bad, but it's flat and unmemorable.

Hoover is a real speed freak and he steals the fastest race-car at a racetrack to impress Darlene. Who by the way has a thing for fast cars and whoever's behind the wheel. So Hoover takes her (and some unwanted passengers) on a cross-country trip with his father, Sheriff Harry and the rest of the police force hot on their heels.

Lets burn rubber in this tooting and yahoo of an outgoing car chase romp! This Roger Corman produced drive-in feature was a big hit for him and really did launch actor Ron Howard's filming career afterwards. The accelerating story is as simple as the outline suggests with a roller coaster-like ride that transcends into a domino effect of chaotic accidents and humorous outcomes. The elastically joyous script is streamlined with extremely witty one-liners and always snappy and colourful characters. Charles B. Griffith (Death Race 2000) wrote and directed this top-gear feature with a sprightly combination of amazingly smoking action and reckless fun, which does come together to equal quite a speed rush with a nice dose of irony. It never seems to take a back-step, even when it does run out of gas. Giving the flick a real lift was a pleasantly, rousing country music score and energetically crisp camera-work with inventive framing and show-stopping images. As with most Corman flicks, an all-studded cult support cast was on hand in small parts. With the likes Clint Howard, Paul Bartel and Corbin Bernson. Ron Howard fitted perfectly as the gawky, but charismatic Hoover and Christopher Norris is great as the speed buxom Darlene. Though the best of the lot would have to be Warren J. Kemmerling as Hoover's cranky and always uptight father, Sheriff Harry Niebold.

Just sit back and take it all in, while you listen to the engines purr in this boot-kicking and spun-out trip!

Hoover likes Darlene. Darlene likes riding in fast cars. Hoover likes driving fast cars. That's enough to get Eat My Dust off and running. Who would've thought that a Roger Corman produced car chase staring Ron Howard would be so much fun. One thing that this car chase comedy has working for it, that many do not, is that it's actually pretty funny. One funny scene involves a young Corbin Bernsen playing a slow minded gas station attendant. The driving sequences are also very well executed and photographed. One crash in particular at the end of the film makes you think the car is going to jump right off the screen. It's no Oscar winner, but who cares. Shut off your brain for awhile and let Opie do the driving.

Hoover Niebold (Ron Howard) is a car-nerd, and a prankster with his friends. His daddy is the law. They're at the car race. Snooty hot girl Darlene Kurtz is willing to ride with him if only he gets the red race car. So he steals the car and they go on a joy ride.

Ron Howard wanted to direct his own movie and Roger Corman required him to star in this movie before giving him his directorial debut, Grand Theft Auto (1977). This is a thin script. I don't particularly care about any of these characters. Ron Howard is still a good lead. The rest can be left behind. There are some fun car action but that's the only good aspect. It's a B-movie with a named actor.