User reviews

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!!!

This film is a light-hearted comedic gem that received a rather unfair series of reviews by "professionals" who seem to be mostly interested only in content if it fits a cookie cutter slate for "Oscar Worthy". This is no Academy Award Winning movie, but it is entertaining, well done, and all around a joy to watch.

The overall premise about an unlucky fellow turning his luck around while still trying to do right by his wife is touching and delivered in a sincere fashion if not a serious one. While Jay Trotter (Richard Dreyfuss) may seem like a shallow, self-obsessed character it becomes evident through his actions and eventual decision to "Let it Ride" that he has a level of complexity to him. In the end it is a story about the underdog getting his due.

If you haven't seen this film and are on the fence I highly recommend you give it a try. The professional reviews about it are mainly the same dry "It won't win an Oscar" crud that you expect from professional reviewers watching a movie that was not meant for Oscar Candidacy anyway. Take it for what it is: a funny film about a man turning his life around with just a little bit of luck and a lot of perseverance.

Recently watched this again on ESPN Classic's Sunday night movie, and it certainly holds up well. Laughs abound. Dreyfuss was never better in a comedy, and David Johansen turns in another classic supporting turn (see "Scrooged" for further proof). All the other supporting parts, both at the bar and the track, are terrific as well.

The hosts of the ESPN Reel Classic movies joked that they probably had to lower Jennifer Tilly into her dress. They also had interviews with the director (Joe Pytka) before they cut to commercials, and he had one really funny revelation. At first, they couldn't figure out why this bombed big time when it was originally dumped in theaters back in '89, despite decent reviews. After a little research, it was determined that people who frequent horse racing (a/k/a a good chunk of the target audience) almost never go to the movies. They're too broke!

I love Richard Dreyfuss the 1st film I saw him in was Jaws I think in 1974 or something, he was 23 or so.In this particular film he plays a fair dink um loser who does not know when to stop, despite risking all he has(which ain't much)and decides to have one of those days out we all dream about.

Out at the track nothing seems to be going wrong.Or is that right? You will have to see, although it is funny no matter which way you look at it. If you have ever been to the races you will see plenty of characters you can relate to as well. The bragger, the tipster(s), the trainers, the colorful characters commonly referred to as it sounds better than criminal, the loan sharks and the guy who is always out to bite everyone for a loan.

The problem is was that I saw this movie whilst in rehab for a gambling addiction myself. Funny but meant so much more to me

Cheers

This movie is on cable a lot. My intention to watch a few minutes invariably turns into my watching until the end. I love this movie.

It is a simple and very funny movie with a fine cast portraying an array of eccentric characters. Yet there is often a sweetness in this film reminiscent of a movie like Roxanne.

The premise is that at times the universe can align in such a way that you just know in your bones that nothing can stop you from having a really good day. Watching Richard Dreyfuss come to this realization and watching him savoring it while it is happening is appealing.

It struck me last night that of all Mr. Dreyfuss's admirable body of work, I like him the best in Let It Ride.

Funny, well written, well performed and no preachy moralising. No wonder this one bombed at the box office. Obviously written by somebody who loves gambling for people who love gambling this is a very pleasent way to spend 90 minutes. Good to see a film brave enough to treat a subject like gambling without becoming a sermon. Check it out if you get the chance.

I love, love, love, love this movie! I have probably watched it beginning to end 25 times and never tire of it. Probably the only other comedy I have seen as many times is Blazing Saddles.

Dreyfuss, Garr and Johansen and especially Tilly are great. I couldn't think of anyone else playing these parts.

This is the type of movie that gets lost on the shelves of your local video store. The actors are solid, but not stars, and the movie is not geared to the "moron" crowd. But it constantly delivers belly laugh after belly laugh.

And to think it's just a little story about a guy at the track that is "having a very good day"!

Even though he's promised his wife he won't bet anymore, cab driver and racetrack-junkie Richard Dreyfuss acts on inside information and wins on an underdog horse--and his lucky streak is just beginning. Overtly nutty and eccentric comedy takes a while to adjust to; one assumes this is going to be a lessons-learned, bittersweet fable about addicts, but in fact it's just the opposite. Dreyfuss doesn't bet on instinct, he feels a sixth sense guiding him (and, as he tells buddy David Johansen, "It's not gambling, it's a business opportunity"). Terrific actors pop in and out of the scene as Dreyfuss joins the high-stakes betters in the Jockey Club and works to convince spouse-on-the-rocks Teri Garr that he's a winner this time. "Let it Ride" is a doodle, a character comedy done in broad strokes. It isn't a big night at the movies, and yet it introduces a lot of colorful people to us and gives Dreyfuss a chance to do his self-confident strut, which is a pleasure to see. ** from ****

This is one of the all time most underrated films. It is a little film , but rarely do you see so many wonderfully funny characters in a comedy. Along with "Breaking Away", and "Harold and Maude" it falls in a special category of films I like to watch when I'm feeling life sucks. Richard Dreyfus and Teri Garr give their best performances; and the supporting cast, especially Robbie Coltrane, is terrific. Don't miss this little gem.

"let it ride" could haven been a better movie if it had been more realistic, I am not saying a serious movie but without many unrealistic sequences that are a little funny but not intelligent that diminish the category of the movie.

I liked the characters, but the performances were over the top. I think with a more serious plot this would have been a much better movie, instead of one of many little feel good movie which we can watch on TV.

the plot of the movie is about a gambler who promises his wife giving up gambling in order to return home, but a horse race tip is going to change his mind and he will give one more chance to his luck.

Great movie! I'm surprised that it didn't do too well. My husband and I constantly quote it.

"God likes me! He really, really likes me!"

If you like Richard Dreyfuss, you'll love this movie. It highlights his comedic talent perfectly!

Jay Trotter (Richard Dreyfuss) is a superstitious habitual gambler. His fellow cab driver Looney (David Johansen) has a secret microphone in the backseat. It records insider information on a horse race. Despite promising his estranged wife Pam (Teri Garr), he places a bet not considering it gambling. It comes up a winner but he can't stop when he gets another tip.

It has a light wacky view of degenerate gambling losers. It's not that funny but I like Dreyfuss' hopeless gambler character. His manic craziness gets fun sometimes. It's not big on laughs but there is an odd fun sense of this world. The group of weird characters are interesting. The movie does need actual jokes and actual laughs.

Someone had recommended this movie to me because I liked Dreyfuss especially in comedies such as "Down and Out in Beverly Hills", and "What About Bob?", one of my all time favorite movies.

This is nowhere near as funny as the aforementioned two films but it's funny for what it is. Dreyfuss and Terri Garr reunite 12 years after co-starring in Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind again as a married couple and it's a nice small reunion for them.

The rest of the movie has its laughs but it has more of a made for TV movie feel to it. It was directed by the same guy who did Space Jam 7 years later and this was his first actual movie coming off of documentaries.

I think that is where some of this has that rushed TV movie made feel to it. Having a first time director who didnt direct enough movies at the center of everything.

Still there are plenty of laughs to be had but I would only recommend it as a lazy day off or rainy day movie, I wouldn't seek it out when you are in the mood to watch something truly good.

Its perfectly watchable and funny at times but I expected a bit more laughs and they got fewer as the movie went on.

Apparently this was adapted from a book by the same author who wrote the book for the movie Funny Farm with Chevy Chase which came out a year before this movie did. That movie is far funnier than this one and if you had to choose between the two of them go for Funny Farm instead.

Looks like 1989 was a year where Dreyfuss made some forgettable movies. He reunited with Steven Spielberg the same year for Always which was released four months after this movie.

I would recommend this film over Always but as aforementioned it is nothing spectacular and while mildly funny this cast have all done much better comedies.

Watch "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" and "What About Bob?" first for a great Richard Dreyfuss comedy. And then if time allows watch this to kill some time and relax but as mentioned it is not on the same level with either of those great comedies.

We recently had the opportunity to spend an entire hour talking to Richard Dreyfus! Richard was surprised that this is our favorite Richard Dreyfus movie. Not Jaws, Goodbye Girl, Close Encounters, But Let it Ride. We left that chance meeting saying, "I'm having a great day." The film is all about characters and what a bunch of characters. If you break down the movie, a loser becomes a winner and has a great day at the track winning race after race. Snoozers! But what a cast of crazies that make every minute either hilarious or at least amusing. Dreyfus was great. David Johansen is exactly the kind of loser that hangs out at the track or a casino. Poor Terry Garr always playing the suffering wife (See Close Encounters and Oh God.). She plays the long suffering wife. Again! Lots of funny people in small parts. It was shocking that so many of the professional critics dissed this very funny comedy. One idiot goes off on cinematography and editing. The test of a good comedy is: "Is it funny?" The answer is yes. The other key to great comedy is "Does it speak the truth?" Again, yes. I grew up in Las Vegas, worked in Casinos for 6 years. I met everyone of these characters. The sad fact is that Yes Jay Trotter won a fortune, but he'll be back and eventually lose it all back. But see the movie, You'll have a great day.

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.

It's been a few years since I saw this film, but even though I remember very little about it, I do remember one important thing...I liked it. I recall that Richard Dreyfuss does a terrific job of carrying this movie, which is no small task considering how thin the plot is. I also remember that this movie has a good supporting cast, but make no mistake about it, this is a vehicle to showcase Dreyfuss' considerable talent. The rest of this movie escapes me, so I guess I have to call it a forgettable film, but to be fair, it was fun while it lasted.

I needed some couch time, and I almost always try to watch a movie I've begun to the end, but man, was this ever a slog. I'm giving it an extra star for Richard Dreyfuss's still-energetic performance, but "Let It Ride" suffers in any number of areas, first and foremost in its quite painfully unfunny screenplay, and one in which most if not all of the characters come across as mere caricatures. Dreyfuss's cab driver/compulsive gambler Trotter (get it?) also makes some decisions that are strictly unwise and reckless (um... returning the cassette tape to the mob types?), things that no thinking person would do in the real world, so it's hard to stay with this guy. Anyway, the plot has to do with Dreyfuss coming upon a "sure thing" at the horse track via his (caricature-goofy) co-cabby friend (David Johansen), after which various antics ensue, mostly at the track. He mingles with fellow down-and-outers (more caricatures) in the local dive bar, seems to think he's on his way up when he crashes the jockey club, and finally maybe realizes what his wife (Teri Garr) means to him. Jennifer Tilly, Cynthia Nixon, and Michelle Phillips show up along the way, but mostly have little to no impact on the story or on Trotter's journey. Some of the direction is also notably weak, and the movie's saddled (pun intended) by a late-80s pop synth score (with a couple of weak pop songs) as well. I feel like I'm possibly being a little too harsh: looking around at the other reviews here, it's obvious this movie has many fans, that it's even beloved by some. But the bottom line is, this didn't work for me at all, and I was so glad when it was over. By all means give it a go if it still sounds like it might be your thing, but otherwise, yes, let it ride indeed. (The Movie Czar 6/15/22)

A wonderful comedy! Richard Dreyfuss is having a very good day and so do I whenever I see this movie. Such characters! You WILL to root for Trotter if not for his band of misfit hanger-onners. And Jennifer Tilly does what Jennifer Tilly does best. I can't find a single thing wrong with this movie, and it held my attention and completely entertained. I give it a 10.

Teri Garr and Richard Dreyfuss are an actors match made in heaven. They already starred in the magnificent classic "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and now they both star in this throwaway comedy about addicted gambler Richard Dreyfuss, who just cant stop gambling till he loses everything. Or will he be lucky and win the biggest jackpot?

Great acting, but most of the supporting actors are very stereotypical, which makes it somewhat of an irritating watch at moments, because of all the over the top, almost slapstick, behaviour. Nothing special, nothing really funny, just amusing, charming with a feel good ending...

but this one is a classic. Its one of those movies that everyone you know either never heard of or makes fun of you for even bringing up. Let me tell you though, stranded on the island with only one movie available, I want it to be this uplifting film. It may not be my favorite, but I can easily watch it beginning to end and start it right over. The cast each grasped the characters to perfection, with one a better loser than the next! Looking for a little pick-me up, give Jay Trotter and Let It Ride one chance. Although you may still be embarrassed to mention you love it in front of your friends, I bet you will!