Storyline
A cross-country road race is based on an actual event, the Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, organized by Brock Yates to protest the 55 mph speed limit then in effect in the U.S. The Cannonball was named for Erwin G. "Cannonball" Baker, who in the roaring 20's rode his motorcycle across the country. Many of the characters are based on ruses developed by real Cannonball racers over the several years that the event was run.
Directors
Cast
Rick Aviles, Jackie Chan, Farrah Fawcett, Burt Reynolds, Peter Fonda, Valerie Perrine, Terry Bradshaw, Adrienne Barbeau, Michael Hui, Jack Elam, John Fiedler, Roger Moore, Dom DeLuise, Alfie Wise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bert Convy, Jamie Farr, Bianca Jagger, Molly Picon, Mel Tillis, Tara Buckman, Robert Tessier, Johnny Yune, Norman Grabowski, Joe Klecko, George Furth, Jimmy Snyder, Warren Berlinger, Laura Lizer Sommers, Richard Losee, Lois Hamilton, Kathleen M. Shea
Trailer
Reviews
60
The highway is alive with the sound of a loud musical score, spectacular car crashes, pursuits, sudden breakdowns and jokes, practical and impractical. Some of it is ingenious, and all of it is breathless...The Cannonball Run is inoffensive and sometimes funny. Because there are only a limited number of variations that can be worked out on this same old highway race, don't bother to see it unless you're already hooked on the genre.
60
What saves the movie is its relaxed sense of self-awareness. Reynolds all but winks at the audience with his collection of Dick Dastardly sneaks and dodges, but holds onto that winning, hangdog warmth that got him to the top of the pile in the seventies.
40
Cross-country race of the title comes off as almost entirely incidental to the star turns. Overall effect is akin to watching the troupe take a vacation.
40
Looks like something knocked off on rest days from Smokey and the Bandit II. The last five minutes, when they show out-takes of flubbed lines, etc, are hysterical. The rest is strictly for those willing to pay for a series of TV chat show performances.
38
Chicago Tribune
A truly stupid film based on what should have been a surefire hit - a cross-country car race. Too many stars spoil the action, including Burt Reynolds, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. [19 June 1981, p.2-8]
