Rat Race

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Movie Stills:

"The end matters in all things": Rat Race
by Christian De Matteo

Solid

       Due to factors the director, writer, actors and producers had absolutely no control over, this film will always hold a special place in my heart because of the beautiful company I had while viewing it.  Her laughter made the movie that much more enjoyable for me.  That is my disclaimer, for, I may be a tad biased.

       Rat Race is, however, a funny movie on its own.  Not hysterical nor brilliant, groundbreaking nor controversial, but funny nonetheless.  Brought up with little choice but to be a It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World fan (and anxiously awaiting the DVD release), it was hard for me to watch this movie and not compare it throughout to that brilliant comedy classic.  Obviously, Mad World was director Zucker's inspiration for the movie and this is apparent in the plot and pacing of the film.  This is, however, not Mad World.  Rat Race is more like a very good TV version of the film.

       A key factor in a film like this, in fact one the film hinges on greatly, is casting, and of all things, this was the best job they did in the movie.  First of all, I love Jon Lovitz, in fact think the man is hysterical, and here Zucker gives him a goldmine of an opportunity, even letting him get a little bit of his "Liar" shtick in.  Working off a family built for a chase comedy, Lovitz plays the lying father trying to get the money without letting them in on the goal, for fear his overbearing wife will put the kibosh on the gig.  Complete with outrageous Nazi jokes, Lovitz and family contribute some of the best scenes.  

       Next we have Rowan Atkinson (Brit TV's "Mr. Bean" and "The Thin Blue Line") as an Narcoleptic Italian, doing a brilliant stereotyping job against Wayne Knight's (Jurassic Park, TV's "Sienfeld") conniving idiot.  Add in the funny Seth Green (Austin Powers, Idle Hands), the beautiful Amy Smart (Road Trip, Varsity Blues), Breckin Meyer (Road Trip), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire, What Dreams May Come), Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost, Jumpin Jack Flash) and the ever-classic John Cleese (of Monty Python fame) and you have a cast set for zany comedy.

**Minor Spoilers Ahead**

       So why only a debatable Solid?  Well, in that the ending is of utmost importance in any film, Rat Race's ending brings it way down.  The problem is that someone thought it would be a good idea to end an often brutally humorous movie containing some highly coldhearted and painful jokes with... a feel-good ending.  Daf**k?  I won't get into the ending, though it hardly matters since it feels like someone suddenly rolled the ending on a TV Disney flick, suffice to say that it doesn't make any sense with the characters.  After watching a Jewish family drive Hitler's car, a squirrel lady's revenge, a man hanging onto a hot air balloon dangling a cow, a pierced, infected tongue and a truck full of "I Love Lucy" impersonators, one of whom is a man, who's ready for a feel-good ending?  I'd be more ready for a Looney Tune-esque, Wile E. Coyote demise for all but one member of the group, not a feel-good ending!

       And this is why the movie never transcends a Solid, though it could have with a stronger, more in character ending.  Rat Race is unquestionably worth a watch for comedy fans, probably on video rather than in theaters.  It's fun and enjoyable, but unfortunately loses a lot of steam at the end.  When that happens, just think back to some of the earlier adventures in the film and I guarantee you'll recover a bit of your smile.

       Or maybe you'll be as lucky as I was and have a movie-going partner that makes the outing wonderful, regardless of the film.

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