The Cannonball Run (1981)

Director: Hal Needham

Starring: Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Jack Elam, Adreienne Barbeau, Terry Bradshaw, Jackie Chan, Bert Convy, Jamie Farr, Peter Fonda, George Furth, Michael Hui, Bianca Jagger, Mel Tillis

More info: IMDb

Tagline: You'll root for them all...but you'll never guess who wins.

Plot: A wild, illegal, and popular cross-country car race is organized, and the eccentric entrants will do anything to win, including low-down, dirty tricks.

My rating:8/10

Will I watch it again? YES!

I grew up on this picture.  Back in the late 70s/early 80s Burt Reynolds was THE MAN.  This flick's got so much to like.  Sure, it's ridiculous but it's fun.  The huge, eclectic cast is priceless.  Any time you've got Burt & Dom working together it's special.  Seeing Dean & Sammy together has magic, too.  Classic.  It's neat seeing Jackie Chan in one of his first (if not the first) non-Hong Kong picture. Jack Elam's ugly mug cracks me up every time.  But for my money, it's seeing Roger Moore have an absolute blast playing with his James Bond persona.  Let's not forget about the cars, chases and stunts.  The 70s through to this movie relished in this shit.  If Hal Needham only ever did two things in his life, this picture and SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT (1977), the world public should pay him an annual tribute.  I don't know who's idea it was to have outtakes during the end credits but they should be given valuable prizes as well.  Sometimes when I see a shitty flick at the theater I'll imagine what the end credits would have been like if Burt & Dom suddenly showed up and cracked each other up as the names roll by.  Try it sometime.  It'll make the TWILIGHT saga easier to swallow for three and a half minutes.  Giggidy.