The Cannonball Run

I loved this movie when I was a kid, and I’m sure I watched it countless times — at least, that’s what it felt like when I watched it again now. But wow, talk about being problematic. Jackie Chan plays a Japanese racer while speaking Cantonese with the odd Japanese word slipped in here and there? I did not remember that. It’s definitely a comedy film of the era, worts and all, but I’ll say that I still found a nostalgic satisfaction in watching it. And they really went all out with the James Bond parody — no wonder the Bond producers were angry (and further Bond actor contracts prevented this sort of thing happening again). Oh, and why the hell does the race start with a punch card and so staggered start, but it ends with an all-out run to who punches in first at the end? Probably best not to ask.