Cannonball Run

The Cannonball Run

1981

Director: Hal Needham

Stars: Burt Reynolds, Jackie Chan, Michael Hui

Reynolds leads a pack of "wacky" drivers competing in a cross-country race. Chan and Hui (who worked on the movie at the "insistence" of Golden Harvest chairman Leonard Ho, who wanted to build a more international audience for his company's films) portray Japanese race car drivers. The role is an insult to Jackie Chan fans, and the movie as a whole isn't that much better, full of washed-up 70's stars and bad sitcom jokes. The only positive bit that came out of this mess (at least for HK fans) that it inspired Chan to create the (much better) Lucky Stars films.

RATING: 4

 

 Cannonball Run 2

The Cannonball Run II

1984

Director: Hal Needham

Stars: Burt Reynolds, Jackie Chan, Richard Kiehl

Another "nutty" race across the country. Chan (who was contractually obligated to appear in the movie) returns as a Japanese race car driver, but this time for some reason, he's paired with Richard Kiehl ("Jaws" of James Bond fame). The stars are even more washed-up (it's particualrly painful watching the aging Reynolds still trying to be a player) and the "jokes" are even lamer.

RATING: 2

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