The Cannonball Run

Right now you can watch The Cannonball Run in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video and ARROW — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 704 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Burt Reynolds leads a cast with real comic timing. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Amazon Prime Video.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Cannonball Run is worth clearing space for. The Cannonball Run does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. A cross-country road race is based on an actual event, the Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, organized by Brock Yates to protest the 55 mph speed limit then in effect in the U.S. The Cannonball was named for Erwin G. "Cannonball" Baker, who in the roaring 20's rode his motorcycle across the country. Burt Reynolds and Roger Moore lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1981. What keeps The Cannonball Run from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, The Cannonball Run is a strong candidate. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Burt Reynolds's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.