Scavenger Hunt

While not one of my favourite movies of all time, Scavenger Hunt is one that I do consider very underrated. The ending is predictable sure and some people may find some parts too on the cruel side. But the backdrop is lovely and it does look good still. While the story has a premise done a lot before and since and may feel thin to some, I personally found it never dull. If I were to compare it to It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World(which I've seen a lot of people comparing it to), which I do like very much, Scavenger Hunt is a lot shorter and the pace brisker, so first-time viewers of both movies may find themselves less exhausted-feeling depending on their patience levels watching this. I do agree that Scavenger Hunt is hilarious, the dialogue is plentiful, endlessly quotable and often enough to split the sides though you may be in danger of missing things from laughing. It isn't just the dialogue though, Cloris Leachman in 3-inch heels, Georgie's nasal whining("They killed Buzzy"), the laughing gas scene, the four servants overflowing the lab with suds, Scatman Crothers with the wedding veil and Richard Mulligan's priceless facial expression, James Coco trying to rob the market and the toilet-stealing scene are enough to raise a number of laughs. The cast show great comic timing and have plenty of star power. I personally don't think this is a case of a great cast working against the script. And this is not just the main parts(James Coco, Richard Benjamin, Stephanie Faracy and Scatman Crothers stood out), but also the cameos especially from Arnold Schwarznegger and Vincent Price. All in all, a hilarious and underrated if not perfect or award-worthy movie. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Some would say over-acting. Almost a parody. And, it had Cloris Leachman.

Okay, I don't know who it is that hates this movie, but it is one of my favorite movies of all time. I laughed as the funny characters gathered up kayaks, moose heads and ostriches. How could anyone hate this movie? If you liked this movie, you should also check out Midnight Madness!

This is a fun, adventurous, witty movie that the gang will love. In tradition of the original "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" and the "Cannonball Run" series, this is another fun movie where you see your favorite t.v. stars of the 70's in situations that you normally wouldn't see them in. It's great comedy and you don't have to worry about harsh language and the adult humor you would see in more recent movies of the same sort. It's a good summer movie for the whole family to watch on a Saturday afternoon. You'll be surprised at who you will see in the film.

In our series of "dumb, forgettable and tremendously entertaining 70's movies" we today proudly present "Scavenger Hunt"! It's an irresistibly silly flick with a rudimentary plot and predictable denouement, but the enthusiasm of the (tremendous) ensemble cast and incontrollable laughs caused by stupid jokes pretty much compensate for all its defaults. The script is a non-stop series of clichéd situations and stereotypical characters, but the beauty is that you expect everything to be like this! By today's standards "Scavenger Hunt" looks extremely dated, because it doesn't feature any vulgar humor or hi-tech devices, but the charming atmosphere will catapult you straight back to the 1970's. The cynical old millionaire Milton Parker (outstanding cameo of Vincent Price) found an inventive to divide his fortune between his greedy vultures of inheritors. All names mentioned in the testament, including direct relatives as well as servants and even a completely unrelated taxi driver, are put in small groups and send out on a giant scavenger hunt. The list includes the oddest items that can't be bought (public toilets, obese people, an ostrich …) and the winners are whichever group that collects the highest number of stuff by 5pm that same afternoon. Needless to say the game quickly turns into a hectic game full of cheating, fighting and public disturbance. "Scavenger Hunt" is a lot of fun and I'm nearly inclined to say that only a true sourpuss can sit through this movie without a single smile on his face. Heck, even the prominent cast members enjoyed themselves very much in their roles and clearly didn't care too much about the inferior artistic value. The cast list is impressive to say the least, with Scatman Crothers, Cloris Leachman, Roddy McDowell, Cleavon Little, Richard Mulligan, Dirk Benedict, Tony Randall and many others. There even are big names in small cameo roles, like the aforementioned Vincent Price as the sadist patriarch, Meat Loaf as a sleazy biker gang leader and governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as – surprise – a fitness teacher! Good fun, no more … no less!