Rat Race (2001)

Rat Race (2001, USA) C-112m. SCOPE **½ D: Jerry Zucker. Starring Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jon Lovitz, Kathy Najimy, Breckin Meyer, Amy Smart, Lanei Chapman, Dave Thomas, Dean Cain, Kathy Bates. Comedy in the vein of the classic IT'S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD (1963), about casino owner Cleese, who at random picks eight contestants who should compete in a race across America. Whoever gets to Silver City, New Mexico, first will win $2 million. Needless to say, most characters are rather crazy, like Atkinson's narcoleptic Italian guyo or Lovitz' greedy family father. Some funny bits make this worthwhile, although script is uneven and several gags misfire. For those who like the premise. Best scene is at the World War Two Veteran convention.


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© Ron Altman