MovieChat Forums > Speed Zone (1989) Discussion > Am I the only person alive who actualy l...

Am I the only person alive who actualy likes this movie?

posted 19 years ago by MikeHunt1075
27 replies | jump to latest

I dont understand why this movie gets bashed so much?

It is not Hal Needham, and I dont think a role was ever offered to any of the original cast members. I think the only connection between the this and the original 2 is Jamie Farr playing the Shiek for a brief moment.

But come on? It's a fun movie, a great cast, and it's got a great soundtrack. What is wrong with it, honestly? It's no acadamey award winner, but neither where the others. Consider it a John Candy movie and give it a go will ya's, there is far worse films then this.

The first 2 movies brought together the talent of the day it was being made. And then when this one was made it did the same thing. Look at the cast! It's a great cast in this movie. The humour can be a little weird, but come on, some of it's really funny.

The scene on the plane with the Smother Brother talking to the French guy who cant speak English too well I thought was hillarious.

Man:"I wonder if there going to feed us on this flight?"
Frecnh Guy "You would like my penis?"
Man: "err, going to see my wife and kids"
FG: "you would like my penis?"
Man: "look, i'm not interested ok, I have nothing against it, it's just not my think, ok?"
FG: *Holds up bag of penuts* "you'd like?"
Man: "OH! Penuts! I thought you where talking about something else"

[–] KILO15-1 19 years ago

A billion times better than fast and the stupid

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MikeHunt1075 19 years ago

Well, Hal Needham didnt direct it... I dont think he had anything at all to do with it.... I could be wrong, but I'm sure the end of the credits doesnt mention anything like, "charactors and names created by Hal Needham"... plus, this films official US title is SPEED ZONE. It's known as "Cannonball Fever" here in Oz and "Cannonball 3" in Europe. But I dont think it is actualy meant to be a 3rd sequel... it's just regarded as one.

Simmalarities and things make it easy to mistake it as a 3rd installment, but like I said, it's only regaurded as a sequel instead of ofiicialy being a sequel. I got a feeling Hal mentions it in the Cannonball commentary.

I think it's because people mistakend it as a 3rd Cannonball are cracked the *beep* that Burt Reynolds, Dom Deluise, The Rat Pack, Jackie Chan etc.. wernt in it... no one was in it except for Jamie Farr who only made a cameo as the Shiek, not a major role.

But I mean, the movie is great... it just had the wrong veiwers expecting the same cast as the last 2 and didnt like them not being in it, and everyone else never heard of it.

It's sad that such a great cast for a film has been dismissed by a bunch of veiwers who where expecting something that it wasnt meant to be.
The cast where highly talented, just look at the list here in IMBD and it's amazing that a cast like that was put together (same as the other 2 CB's)

Matt Frewer (alec) & Joe Flaherty (Debrueben) did a terrific job creating those characters. For years I didnt even know that was Joe Flahertty, it's one of his best characters if you ask me. And Frewer convinced me he was really English untill i saw him in "Senior Trip" a little while ago (for me) and decided to look him up on here to see what he'd been in and I was amazed!

And I was suprised thats Donna Dixon (Tiffney) in Waynes World as Garths dream weaver women!

And who cant love Everyone Loves Raymond/Young Frankenstien co-star, Peter Boyle..."Use unnecessary force, if necessary!"

I always loved the song in it called "Rattle Snake Shake" by Omar & The Howelers. Infact the whole movie got a kick ass soundtrack.

"Sucker this"

[–] Kottandogi 19 years ago

I like it regardless if its stuck in the 80's. i remember watching it as a kid mostly for the Lamborghini Countach but as i got older i realized to appechate the movie for what it is compared with the crap today.

I would watch this over the fast and the furious any day!.

[–] MikeHunt1075 19 years ago

Yeah, it has some great scenes in it... like i said 100 times already, the ones putting it down are the ones comapring it to the other Cannonballs and hate that Reynolds and DeLuise and all them had nothing to do with this one.

You gotta love the opening chase, over the top, silly, but man Bo Duke handles that thing well. You gotta love the stunts of jumping cars over rivers, getting the car onto the back of a truck at high speeds, driving a plane through a road block, all while being able to still have time to point out Stallone and Lucille Balls house!

The last time anyone came close to making a movie like this about speeding, fun and comedy would be Rat Race. And tho most people say it's based on MAd,Mad,Mad,Mad World... I reckon it's based more on a lesser known movie of the 80's called "Million Dollar Mystery"(Money Mania)

Here's my list of the best car racing movies.

- Cannonball Run 1 & 2
- Cannonball Fever (Speed Zone) (Cannonball 3)
- Smokey & The Bandit 1, 2 & 3 (thats right, I said 3)
- Rat Race
- Money Mania (Million Dollar Mystery)
- Herbie (he he he)

[–] he-man-1 19 years ago

I would love to see a poster of that movie under the title "Cannonball Run III."

[–] MikeHunt1075 19 years ago

http://www.lamborghiniregistry.com/MovieCars/CannonballRun3-320x228.jpg

[–] Traianus 11 years ago

For years I didnt even know that was Joe Flahertty, it's one of his best characters if you ask me.

He was hilarious in this film. Many of my friends and I agree: it was one of his best roles. Even the idea of casting Joe Flaherty (one of the most non-threatening looking people on the planet) as some super tough & gruff hitman (capable of tearing up a car with his bare hands) is hilarious.

[–] bar1scorpio 18 years ago

No, you're not the only one to harbor an affection for this flick.

And not in that cheezy guilty-pleasure kind of flick that I like as well, this one I enjoyed ever since I first saw it as a kid. I was a big fan of the Smother's Brothers growing up, as well as John Candy.

Hence, if this is running on cable, I'll still check it out for kicks.

[–] sonofjabba 18 years ago

No this movie kicked A$$! I want the DVD DANG-IT

You know whatever. Bunch of freaks, animals, whatever you guys are!

[–] garyb79 18 years ago

This movie is fantastic! It was called "Cannonball Fever" over here in Scotlandbut i've never really considered it as a sequel to the "cannonball" movies.

John Candy and Eugene levy are brilliant in this! Check it out if you're considering it! The soundtrack is ace as well and i just got a copy on CD two weeks ago.

I want this movie on DVD.

if it sounds like *beep* and looks like *beep* then it must be *beep*
Jack Horner,
Boogie Nights

[–] syphus 18 years ago

The peanuts part was GREAT! I think the thing was people expected too much from this movie, you find out it is essentially Cannonball Run 3 in the first few minutes (it was even marketed in Canada with that title look here http://www.lamborghiniregistry.com/MovieCars/CannonballRun3-320x228.jpg)
then you expect it to be great. Its not bad for what it is but everyone expects so much more.

[–] qcramair 18 years ago

I am an ENORMOUS fan of this movie! Back in elementary, I used to watch this movie solely for the Lamborghini Countach (I was obsessed with exotics), but the movie grew on me. Now over 10 years later, I finally found a VHS copy on ebay and bought it (for 23 damn dollars lol, but hey this movie is priceless to me). I absolutely love this movie and can't hellp but to laugh (and pity) all the poor saps that put this movie down.

You truely have to have no personality to not get a kick out of this movie. It's not an Oscar-nominated movie, well no crap it's not supposed to be. All the cheesy acting and such is meant to be as such.

As someone mentioned earlier, this movie is worlds above all the crap that's been coming out in the past 5 or so years. This movie is about having fun with comedy and action and it has plenty of both. Speed Zone is a classic and literally one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. Great stars, awesome cars, and tons comedy and racing scenes. 10 out of 10 to me. I think it's awesome that you guys like this movie as much as I do. I was really starting to feel like I (and a few of my friends who worshipped it back in the day like I did, and still do) was the only one who absolutely loves this movie.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] fellenangels 18 years ago

I love this movie ever since I saw it as a kid. I want the DVD to be out soon!
Later

[–] Mr_Jiggy_Fly_PT2 18 years ago

I remember vividly when the movie was released. Ithink it might of sat on the shelf, several years before I remeber a friend saying he saw a teaser or trailor for Cannonball Run 3(1986?) then YEARS later this came out. Needless to say it's no Cannonball Run, but upon it's release it was VERY dissapointing for us big Cann. Run Fans. I would think there would be a market.-with all the crap that does come out.

I also remember the TV ad at the time did show a flash of Jamie Farr in Sheik uniform and me and a friend of mine KNEW it was some flop attempt at a sequel, and thought it must of been pretty bad if they couldn't even acknowledge that it was Cannonball Run 3. Smokey and the Bandit 3 did not hit so hard either.

[–] jasonstokes777 18 years ago

I didn't mind the film too much,however the one thing that did ruin it for me,(and this is with reference to the two post mentioning the countach)is that the car in question is blatantly a fake,what with the pop up headlights flapping about.Still,when you're 10 years old things like that don't matter

[–] stimpy532000 18 years ago

I like the music, too bad the soundtrack is hard to find! But yea now it makes sense at times why the back of the Countach changed at times, some were fakes and others were real, and I don't think a Canadian film company would have the budget to use real Countach's for the stunts on here.

[–] photoseller 18 years ago

It is a fast paced, goofy, funny movie, I love it, now it needs to be put on dvd, my video tape has about seen it's end.

[–] Kottandogi 17 years ago

The Countach was real at the begining of the movie that was the real deal. The rest of them was a well done replica using a custom tube chassis back by a Porsche tranny and a modified L98 Corvette engine and dispite it being a replicar, it will hold its own against an orginal Countach. The car was accrately replicated so well that pretty much was the birth of the Lamborghini replica.

The cars where built by a company called creative cars inc, which is nolonger here today and there last car was the f355 from the fast and the furious which was also a replica except based on a fiero chassis. I know currently on Ebay there's one for sale at the moment.

If you keep looking on ebay you will find them poping up once in awhile.

Get the *beep* off of my obsitical course!

Get the *beep* down off of my obsitical course now!.

[–] grayoo7 18 years ago

yes I agree with you 100%, this movie is funny and there are alot of good cars in it too ;)

The Centurions PowerXtreme 1986 on DVD at:
www.petitiononline.com/6600F

[–] london_beyonce 17 years ago

how come John Candy's BMW could catch up with the lamborghini?

[–] MikeHunt1075 17 years ago

Err, scripted that way... looking for a reality reason tho, ummm, they took a shortcut? Or maybe the detour they took against the Ferrari sent them of coarse? I dunno, its just a movie.

[–] moviegeek71 17 years ago

Good luck trying to find logic in any of the Cannonball Run movies, these were meant for fun! However, your concern should rather be how that BMW changed from a 735i (I-6) at the start to a 750i (V-12) by the end of the race. Now listen up and listen good, drop what you're doing and head immediately to the Santa Monica pier.

[–] MikeHunt1075 11 years ago

Well, there has always been something that did bother me and is a major plot-hole in the movie. Drivers start off by punching a clock, it wouldn't have mattered who crossed the finish line first, it's a matter of who had the fastest time from the time they left. Yet everyone is racing for the finish line in the end. The Jag wasn't really the winner unless it left the starting line first.

But like you said, it's a fun movie, not a documentary.

[–] info-14363 17 years ago

I too think its a funny and good movie, but you cant compare it with the two Cannonball Run releases, nor should it be, its only based on the same theme about conducting an illegal car race across the US. :-)

However a lot of the fx like the jag flying over the river seeming to crash nose first and then makes a perfect landing and a lot of other scenes, like the racing scenes between the different cars, the lambo and the jag, the Chevy truck and the Ferrari etc. all is pourly made.

But its a movie and everything cant be perfect, even some of the most "perfect made" movies ive ever seen had flaws like that and even tons of it!

The actors are great, they're all popular ones that everyone (even here in Denmark) knows about. :-)

[–] Traianus 11 years ago

I too think its a funny and good movie, but you cant compare it with the two Cannonball Run releases, nor should it be, its only based on the same theme about conducting an illegal car race across the US. :-)

Well, exactly - that's precisely why anyone CAN compare it with the other two Cannonball Run films. Aside from some different cast members, it's virtually the same film as the others. Same concept, same premise, same race, same dumb jokes, etc., etc.