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List Price: $5.98 | | Label: Hbo Home Video
Salesrank: 7405
Released: June 5, 2001 |
| Our Price: $4.48 |
| Used Price: $2.84 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A wide variety of characters participate in an illegal cross-country road race. It's a hilarious comedic chase as the eccentric participants are willing to do anything to win.
Description of The Cannonball Run:
Like The Gumball Rally (1976) before it, former stuntman Hal Needham's The Cannonball Run was inspired by the same real-life cross-country road race. If The Gumball Rally was the critical favorite, The Cannonball Run was the box-office favorite (spawning the almost-as-successful sequel, Cannonball Run II, a few years later). Aside from top-billed stars Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise (stars of Needham's Smokey and the Bandit series) plus Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. (as horny priests), the movie features many of the same actors (Bert Convy, Jamie Farr) that could be found on a typical '80s episode of The Love Boat (along with the same caliber of writing). But as the tagline notes, "You'll never guess who wins"--and it's true. As in most road-race movies, it's the journey that counts, not the destination. This particular journey includes cool cars (like Adrienne Barbeau's black Lamborghini), crazed bikers (led by Peter "Easy Rider" Fonda), hot martial arts action (from Jackie Chan as a Japanese racecar driver), a conspicuously braless Farrah Fawcett (recipient of a Golden Raspberry nomination for her performance), and possibly the most egregious use of product placement featured in a movie up until that time (one vehicle has "GMC Trucks" noted prominently along the top of the windshield, another has "Hawaiian Tropic" painted on the hood). As with many of the films Jackie Chan has made for Golden Harvest, the Hong Kong-based production company behind The Cannonball Run, wacky outtakes are included during the closing credits. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
The Cannonball Run Reviews:
Hilarious comedy based on a real race 
2009-10-02 - If you love classic comedies, "Cannonball Run" is a must own, especially for all of the celebrities that take part in it. But, don't get the 2001 release which is only in DD 2.0 and that annoying clipper case. A brand-new 2009 DVD was released recently with 5.1 audio, superior picture and a fantastic audio commentary with director Hal Needham and producer Albert Ruddy. You learn so many fun facts about the film from it. For example, Burt and Dom's ambulance was a real race vehicle used by Hal and Brock Yates for one of the five real Cannonball Run races before the film was made where they raced it from Darion, Kentucky to Long Beach, California. It held 90 gallons of gasoline and they would get up to 145 MPH at times. A lot of the situations and characters in the movie were based on real events and people from the races. Burt, Dom, Jack Elam and Farrah's characters were all based on Hal and Brock, and a doctor and his wife that road with them during a race to make it seem like a legit ambulance if pulled over. One of the best audio commentaries I've heard in awhile and very funny. If you just want the commentary by itself, write me and I'll share it. Don't miss this movie if you have never seen it.
The Cannonball Run DVD 
2009-09-26 - I first saw this movie as a kid. A very good choice for any young boy, funny, exciting and most of all a classic! You never see movies like this no more.
Great Condition
2009-09-03 - This is a DVD in very good condition and the original case. It was shipped and received in a very short time. I was quite satisfied with the transaction and would buy from this seller again without a second thought.
Like Smokey and The Bandit
2009-07-02 - Like Smokey and The Bandit:This film stars Burt Reynolds,combined great stunts with souped up cars,Was panned by critics,went on to become one of the Highest Grossing films of it's year,and like Smokey, has become A cult classic.To sum it up if you liked Smokey and The Bandit,you'll enjoy this film. Fast Cars(Ferraris,Lambourghnis),Big Stars(Roger Moore,Sammy Davis Jr.,Dean Martin,Dom Deluise,Jackie Chan,Farrah Fawcett,Jamie Farr,Adrienne Barbeau),and big laughs at 125 mph,all mixed together in this laugh out loud comedy. 4 stars for this laugh filled race,from sea to shining sea.
I'm sure that doctor's a very sweet man, basically. But don't you ever tell me where you found him. Ever.
2009-06-11 - The Cannonball Run was one of those flicks I saw constantly on TV growing up in the 80's. I think it was a law that all UHF or like Fox had to play it on the weekends at least once a month or something; this and flicks like Red Dawn or the Outsiders.
For me, this is the prime example of the type of flick that I'd buy in a heartbeat when I see it in the $5.50 bin at Wal-Mart, something that I know I'll watch at least once a year and just has a bunch of fun nostalgia memories to it. Though while I just showed it to a friend recently and was sort of disappointed by it (we watched this directly after Smokey and the Bandit which is a much tighter film, though it's the same principal creators and actor), I'd have to say this when I was a kid this was my favorite "grown up" movie. There's just something magical about the duo of Dom DeLuise and Burt Reynolds, between the appearances of "Him" and the relentless self-mockery of Reynolds, it's just gold to me.
Add to this Adrienne Barbeau's "Barbeaus" clad in tight purple Lycra, the Black Lamborghini, Jackie Chan, a silly cameo by Peter Fonda, the amazingly drunk and on-his-death-bed Dean Martin, and some really funny lines from the crazy Jack Elam as Dr. Nikolas Van Helsing and this is a comedy smörgåsbord. Unfortunately it is pretty choppy in terms of editing and flow (the cannonballers don't even start the race until like 50 minutes in) there is a lot to love.
If nothing else this flick was a labor of love for the writer, Brock Yates, and the Director Hal Needham (who organized and participated in the actual Cannonball Run race) which weird gives a little bit of credit to an otherwise insanely over the top madcap romp. In fact a lot of the background actors and most of the vehicles used were from the real race including the ambulance and the Ferrari. It's also one of five or so pairings Needham had with Reynolds in the 70's and 80's including Smokey and the Bandit I+II, Hooper, Stroker Ace, and the Cannonball Run sequel.
