An illegal race that takes place over the United States and nothing will stop this bunch of racers except for the occasional cop or a damsel in distress. Jackie Chan’s car is not in this one, but many new cars make up for that. Who will win? Who will crash? Who will not even finish? Sit down and buckle up for the ride of your life.
A few years ago, I went on a streak of watching Burt Reynolds movies. This included the highs of Sharkey’s Machine and the lows of the Cannonball Run Series. It’s rumored that Cannon Film’s producers offered Burt millions of dollars to reprise his role and return for a third film in the series. Reynold’s refusal would turn out to be a good career Movie, as it would lead to his being available to star in the underrated movie Breaking In. However, it’s ironic then that Speed Zone, which started its inception as Cannonball 3 and doesn’t feature the marquee star actor, is easily the best movie in the cross-country car chase themed series.
This series is essentially about the cameos and vignettes that make up the storyline, which are handled well by the varied cast members and director Jim Drake. Absent from the movie is the presence of Dr. Demento and the slew of tired celebrities in the first two pictures. John Candy, a far cry from good ol’ boy Burt Reynolds, is the biggest name on the long list of performers who populate Speed Zone. This is a playful, tame, and entertaining comedy with recognizable faces, a few laughs, and a lot of cars traveling very fast.
Directed by: Jim Drake
Written by: Michael Short
Starring: Peter Boyle, Donna Dixon, John Candy
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