Rat Race (2001)

Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., Seth Green
Director: Jerry Zucker
Synopsis: Madcap road-trip comedy about Las Vegas billionaire (Cleese) devising a race where six contestants compete to be first to reach train station locker containing $2 million in cash. (Paramount)
Runtime: 112 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13

When I first saw the previews to this movie in theaters, my first inclination was “whatever.” I knew this was a movie, I would wait and end up watching on video.

This movie is based on the premise of a really, really bored casino owner Donald Sinclair, who has put together this high stakes “race” for his high rolling buddies, by placing 2 million dollars in a locker hundreds of miles away.. He then lures 6 unsuspecting guests of his casino, and indicates to each of them the rules, to which there is only 1. “Get there first, and you win” Then they bet on who will win. This film has some wonderful acting talent in, Cuba Gooding Jr. Whoopi Goldberg, Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) John Lovitz, and John Cleese.

There were a number of things that I loved about this movie. Each of the “contestants” has some sort of personal handicap. There were also a number of funny lines, and scenarios in this movie. The short on IQ brothers, and one their pierced tongues. Rowan atkinson and his “eets a rrrace, I hope I ween!” Overall, I thought the movie could have been a little better, but with this cast, you won’t go away completely disappointed, they do a good job of holding a poor script, and making it somewhat appealing. See if you can stay awake long enough to catch some of the off-takes from other movies, such as the scene where you see the words, “you should have bought a squirrel”, then come back and tell me, what movie that premise was based on.

and 1/2

I didn't rush to this move when it was in theatres but instead went a few weeks after it's release because of word of mouth. The "word" tended to be true and I was not dissappointed. Rat Race is a comedy that while does rely on some slap-stick, creates a world of humor that keeps you laughing at every turn. With a diverse cast of characters that makes you wonder how, why, and what they got paid. There is even an uncredite cameo roll by Kathy Bates and the squirrel lady.

This movie also introduced me to Rowan Atkinson. I always thought his name was just "Mr. Bean". But the entire cast is superb, in this quick moving, highly comical movie. You even get to boogie with Smashmouth at the end.

Many times you see a trailer for a comedy that looks funny only to have all the best parts of the movie available in the trailer. This is NOT the case with Rat Race, it is a comedy that you don't want to miss.

Even after purchasing the DVD and my kids adopting it as the movie of the moment, I found myself stopping from time to time just to catch a specific scene. This is a sure hit for a laugh.

Posted by Mutato at July 15, 2002 08:23 AM