A Grande Barbada

This film just makes you feel good when you watch it. You identify one way or another with Richard Dreyfuss, who plays the down on his luck gambler who wishes for one last lucky streak. The supporting cast is a great collection of colorful characters. Jennifer Tilly and David Johansen especially help keep this movie rolling. At a running time of only 90 minutes it doesn't really lag and it's genuinely funny. Watching this movie makes you wish you had Trotter's luck. Bottom Line: A competent comedy that keeps it's charm even after repeated viewings. Worth having in the collection.

What a ride!!! :-)

This is one of my favorite "forgotten" comedies from the late-80s. It has a wonderful cast of character actors who perfectly back up the true star of the film, Richard Dreyfuss ("Trotter"), who pulls out all the stops in his comic repertoire to exhibit quality humor throughout this little film. This movie starts slow then builds up steam and doesn't let up until the exciting climax that mirrors the real-life feeling of betting on a horse race.

The story of a down-and-out "loser" who has just sworn off gambling, boozing, and is returning to his estranged wife on the exact day his life changes with a "tip" on a horse that literally changes his fortunes for the better. Dreyfuss infuses humor, desperation and good luck into a comic transformation from lovable sap to the luckiest man walking within the matter of nine horse races during the day.

The joy I get from watching this is all the interactions with the minor characters throughout the day. The "Looney" character is the perpetual failure as the best friend who can't catch a break, even though it kicks him square in the teeth. When Trotter wins on the sure-thing bet in the opening then asks Looney, who didn't bet the sure-thing, who he likes in the next race - then promptly scratches that horse off as a failure right in front of the guy... It makes me laugh out loud even though I've watched the movie over a dozen times. The rest of the interactions - from the dive bar across the street, standing trackside during the race, the betting window (with the hilarious Robbie Cochrane), or even at the upper-class Jockey Club - we are treated to a feast of quirky characters that not only keep the action moving, but creates new ways for Trotter to marvel at the luckiest day of his life.

This movie was forgotten because it's target audience was the exact people who bypass the movie theater and head straight for the racetrack. What a shame. This movie deserves a place in our comedy landscape for the charm, simplicity, and fun it creates along the way as Dreyfuss breathes life into a loser who realizes, while it's happening, what it feels like to hit a winning streak and enjoy the ride the entire time. This is a comedy classic. There's a reason it's so hard to find on DVD. Not because it was in limited release. It's because the people who own the out-of-print DVDs never want to part with them. This movie is a joy. Let it ride indeed!!!

All I can pretty much do is conquer with what everyone else said. This is an extremely underrated, hardly known, right on the money racetrack pic. Dreyfuss (playing a guy named "Trotter") is a gambling obsessed cabbie who's been waiting forever for that one perfect day at the track. He gets a tip from his buddy Looney (crack up Johanssen) and the two head off to bet on the doctored up horse. Dreyfuss wins 710 dollars which kicks off an incredible run of luck over the day, but the real core of the film is the truckload of laughs to be found. Literally every one of the oddball characters has a great scene and contributes largely. From the other losers at the bar across from the track to the snobs in the Jockey Club, I loved everybody. A real treat is the rapport between Dreyfuss and Johanssen, who are great as the wiser bettor and the dopey friend. And I couldnt believe the suspense I felt during the final race, there was a tremendous amount of genuine tension. Great score, too, capturing both the upbeat and dramatic moments. Dreyfuss best film.

Richard Dreyfuss is a funny little actor, I have seen most of his films.. and this one was great. He is hilarious and so is Jennifer Tilly as the millionaire's girlfriend. Would recommend this movie to anyone whose life sucks, especially on a bad day. Good to watch with a crowd too.

I used to bet the horses, so I related a bit to this movie. No, I never had a day like Trotter had, but how I wished. :)

This movie had lots of support in the comedy that ensues in the movie. "Cheeseburger" was so good, as was the cashier he returned to after every race he bet. Not a blockbuster, of course, but worth your time to view it.

One reviewer said he felt the tension as the last race started and I have to agree. It was rather predictable, but as the horse trainers told Trotter after he returned the audio tape, "You never know!"

Fun fun flick!Enjoy!