A Star-Studded Joyride: Revisiting the Classic Cannonball Run II (1984)
Story by Mitchell Smith
Today I’m taking a look at the Classic 1984 sequel , Cannonball Run II. This is such a great movie and nearly topped the first movie for most Celebrities in one film. The movie opens up with 2 hot chicks in a Lamborghini flying by police cars on the highway. The car ends up being driven by Daisy Duke aka Catharine Bach who plays Marcia in the movie and her sidekick Jill played by Susan Anton. Various duos team up to race across the country for a million dollars and bragging rights. Some of the greatest duos of all time team up in this movie such as Burt Reynolds as J.J.McClure and Dom DeLuise as Captain Chaos. They end up picking up 2 nuns played by Shirley MacLaine and Marilu Henner.
A young Jackie Chan as himself teams up with 7’2” Richard Kiel as Arnold as they race across the country in there hi tech car . Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin team up as Morris Fender and Jamie Blake. Tony Danza and Mel Tillis team up with their chauffeur, Manis the orangutan. Tim Conway and Don Knotts play highway patrol men and Jim Nabors play Homer Lyle. The Sheik is played by Jamie Farr who is clueless that there is a group of mobsters out to steal his money. The mob out to steal the money from the Sheik include Telly Savalas, Abe Vegoda, Henry Silva and Alex Rocco.
Super Bowl champ Joe Theismann has a roll in the movie and none other than Frank Sinatra as himself rounds out this star studded performance. If you have never watched this movie this is a must see with so many great stars and so many laughs. I wonder if they would do a modern version of this movie. I think that would be really fun. Definitely could bring back Jackie Chan and a few others. Have a great week everyone.
