Editing Cannonball Run II

{{Short description|1983 film by Hal Needham}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name      = Cannonball Run II
| image     = Cannonball run ii.jpg
| alt           =
| caption   = Theatrical release poster by [[Drew Struzan]]
| director   = [[Hal Needham]]
| producer = Albert S. Ruddy
| writer      = [[Harvey Miller (screenwriter)|Harvey Miller]]<br>[[Hal Needham]]<br/>[[Albert S. Ruddy]]
| starring   = {{Plainlist |
* [[Burt Reynolds]]
* [[Dom DeLuise]]
* [[Dean Martin]]
* [[Sammy Davis Jr.]]
* [[Jamie Farr]]
* [[Marilu Henner]]
* [[Telly Savalas]]
* [[Shirley MacLaine]]
* [[Susan Anton]]
* [[Catherine Bach]]
* [[Jackie Chan]]
* [[Richard Kiel]]
* [[Frank Sinatra]]
}}
| music       = [[Al Capps]]
| cinematography = [[Nick McLean]]
| editing     = [[William D. Gordean]]<br>[[Carl Kress (film editor)|Carl Kress]]<!--- not the jazz musician --->
| studio      = [[Orange Sky Golden Harvest|Golden Harvest]]
| distributor = [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]
| released    = {{film date|1983|12|17|Japan|1984|6|29|United States}}
| runtime     = 108 minutes
| language    = English<br>Cantonese 
| country     = United States<br>Hong Kong
| budget      = {{US$|22 million}}<ref name="hal">On the Cutting (Up) Edge: Lights, Camera, Laughter With Burt Reynolds & Hal Needham
By Glenn Lovell. The Washington Post 31 July 1983:</ref> or $18 million<ref name="spy">{{cite magazine|magazine=Spy|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_KJly6nVC7qkC|title=The Unstoppables|date=November 1988|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_KJly6nVC7qkC/page/n93 92]}}</ref>
| gross       = {{US$|56.3 million}}<ref name="worldwide"/>
}}

'''''Cannonball Run II''''' is a 1983 American [[action comedy film]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/cannonball-run-ii-v8032|title=Cannonball Run II (1984)|website=[[AllMovie]]}}</ref> starring [[Burt Reynolds]] and an [[Ensemble cast|all-star cast]], released by [[Warner Bros.]] and [[Orange Sky Golden Harvest|Golden Harvest]]. The film is the second installment of the ''Cannonball Run'' trilogy and a [[sequel]] to ''[[The Cannonball Run]]'' (1981). Like the first film, it is set around an illegal cross-country race.

This marked the final feature film appearances of [[Dean Martin]] and [[Frank Sinatra]]. Their appearances, coupled with those of [[Sammy Davis Jr.]] marked the final on-screen appearance of the [[Rat Pack]] team. The film also marked the final film appearance of [[Jim Nabors]] before his death in November 2017. The film also featured [[Jackie Chan]] in his third Hollywood role.

==Plot==
Having lost the first Cannonball Run race, Sheik Abdul ben Falafel is ordered by his father, the King, to go back to America and win another Cannonball Run in order to "emblazon the Falafel name as the fastest in the world". When Sheik Abdul points out that there is no Cannonball Run that year, his father simply tells him to "buy one".

To make sure his "Royal Ulcer" does not prevent him from winning, the Sheik hires Doctor Nikolas Van Helsing, who teamed with J.J. McClure and Victor Prinzi in the first race as his in-car physician. Most of the participants from the first race are lured back, including J.J. and Victor, who have taken jobs working with a flying stunt crew.

Meanwhile, Blake and Fenderbaum are in financial trouble with Don Don Canneloni, who in turn is in similar financial trouble with mob enforcer Hymie Kaplan. After the Sheik manages to bail out Blake and Fenderbaum by handing one of Don Don's thugs a stack of cash, Don Don hatches a plot to kidnap the Sheik in an attempt to extort money from him.

The race begins with J.J. and Victor dressed as a US Army general and his driver, a private. They catch the attention of Betty and Veronica, who are dressed as nuns for a musical, but remain in character and hitch a ride with J.J. and Victor when they think the guys could become overnight millionaires. They do not lose their habits until later.

Other racers include Mitsubishi engineer [[Jackie Chan]], teamed with Arnold, a giant, behind the wheel in a car—a [[Mitsubishi Starion]]—able to go under water. In a red Lamborghini (white at first) with "two great-looking chicks in it" (as the cops chasing them continually say) is the duo of Jill Rivers and Marcie Thatcher. Another team in a [[Cadillac Fleetwood]] is accompanied by an [[orangutan]] who has a penchant for destructive behavior, giving elderly ladies the middle finger and kissing people. The orangutan sits at the front of the car holding a mock steering wheel and dressed as a [[chauffeur]]. They are pulled over at one point by two California Highway Patrol officers who assume they are with the ''[[Candid Camera]]'' show, but when the officers try putting on a performance, the orangutan beats them up instead.

J.J. and Victor stop along the way to help a stranded soldier, Homer Lyle. They also get much better acquainted with their passengers, Betty and Veronica, who change into something a little more comfortable.

Don Don's enforcers continue to blunder along the way, with disastrous results.

After Don Don's gang capture the Sheik, the racers band together to invade Don Don's "Pinto Ranch". J.J., Victor, and Fenderbaum [[Infiltration tactics|infiltrate]] it in [[drag (clothing)|drag]], dressed as [[belly dancers]]. Others barrel in by car and rescue the Sheik, who is reluctant to leave, since he has his pick of women there. The three "dancers" and Blake go to their Leader, Frank Sinatra, to seek help, only to have him jump into the race himself.

In the end, the Sheik bankrolls Don Don's Ranch and then declares that he is upping the stakes to $2 million for the winner. All jump into their automobiles and make a dash for the finish line, avoiding traffic patrollers on the way.

The Sheik, as it turns out, loses yet again, this time blaming the doctor who rode with him for injecting him with an unknown substance. He convinces his father that he will win the return-trip race, having hired the winner of this one. It turns out to be the orangutan, who kisses the startled King on the lips.

==Cast==
{{Div col}}
* [[Burt Reynolds]] as J.J. McClure
* [[Dom DeLuise]] as Victor Prinzi / [[Captain Chaos]]<br/>([[Dom DeLuise|DeLuise]] also appears uncredited as Don Canneloni)
* [[Dean Martin]] as Jamie Blake
* [[Sammy Davis Jr.]] as Morris Fenderbaum
* [[Jamie Farr]] as Sheik Abdul Ben Falafel
* [[Ricardo Montalbán]] as King Abdul Ben Falafel
* [[Telly Savalas]] as "Hymie" Kaplan
* [[Marilu Henner]] as Betty
* [[Shirley MacLaine]] as Veronica
* [[Susan Anton]] as Jill Rivers ("Lamborghini Babe #1", originally played by [[Tara Buckman]])
* [[Catherine Bach]] as Marcie Thatcher ("Lamborghini Babe #2", originally played by [[Adrienne Barbeau]])
* [[Foster Brooks]], [[Sid Caesar]] and [[Louis Nye]] as the fishermen in the rowboat
* [[Jackie Chan]] as Himself, [[Mitsubishi Motors|Mitsubishi]] engineer
* [[Richard Kiel]] as Arnold, Jackie's driver
* [[Tim Conway]] and [[Don Knotts]] as California Highway Patrol officers who pull over the driving orangutan.
* [[Mel Tillis]] as Mel and [[Tony Danza]] as Tony, the limo drivers with the [[orangutan]]
* [[Manis (orangutan)|Manis]] as The Orangutan 'Limo driver'. 
* [[Jack Elam]] as Dr. Nikolas Van Helsing
* [[Charles Nelson Reilly]] as Don Don Canneloni
* [[Michael V. Gazzo]] as Sonny, Don Don's Henchman
* [[Alex Rocco]] as Tony, Don Don's Henchman
* [[Henry Silva]] as "Slim", Don Don's Henchman
* [[Abe Vigoda]] as Caesar, Don Don's Henchman
* [[Jim Nabors]] as Private Homer Lyle, a parody of his popular character, [[Gomer Pyle]]
* [[Molly Picon]] reprises her role of Mrs. Goldfarb, Seymour's mother. In this film, Cannonballers drive into her house
* [[Frank Sinatra]] as Himself
* [[Joe Theismann]] as Mack, the truck driver who helps out Jill and Marcie
* [[Shawn Weatherly]] as The Girl In Jamie Blake's Bed
* Linda Lei as The Beautiful Girl, Japanese-American girl that Jackie talks to after biker fight
* Kai Joseph Wong as Japanese Businessman
* [[Dale Ishimoto]] as Japanese Father, during biker fight scene
* [[Arte Johnson]] as An "Ace" Pilot Victor who says is "from World War 2" and speaks with a telltale German accent
* [[Fred Dryer]] as a California Highway Patrol Sergeant (listed in the opening credits as "Fred Dreyer")
* [[Chris Lemmon]] as A Young California Highway Patrol officer
* [[George Lindsey]] as Uncle Cal
* [[Doug McClure]] as The Sheik's Servant, an out-of-work actor who has not had a series in nine years
* [[Jilly Rizzo]] as Jilly
* [[Dub Taylor]] as Sheriff
* [[Harry Gant]] as A Mob Henchman 
{{div col end}}
* Director [[Hal Needham]] appears uncredited as a [[Porsche 928]] driver in a cowboy hat, whose car is crushed flat in the movie by the [[monster truck]], [[Bigfoot (truck)|''Bigfoot'']] (driven by owner/creator Bob Chandler)
* Producer Albert Ruddy appears in the satirical Mafioso subplot with Rocco and Vigoda, both of which had also appeared in ''[[The Godfather]]'' which Ruddy produced.<ref name=don>{{cite book|title=The Incredible Mr. Don Knotts|last1=Cox|first1=Stephen|last2=Marhanka|first2=Kevin|publisher=Cumberland House|isbn=9781581826586|year=2008|page=158}}</ref>

==Production==
[[Jaclyn Smith]] was originally meant to be the female lead but dropped out. Needham said that Smith was worried about his improvisational style: "I think she was scared to death to be up there against Burt and Dom. I don't want someone on the set that's gonna be that scared. So we went somewhere else".<ref name="hal"/> She was replaced by Shirley Maclaine.<ref name="hal"/>

Frank Sinatra agreed to do a cameo at the suggestion of Davis and Martin. Needham wrote three versions of the script for him, ones where he would either work a week, two days, or a day. He picked the latter. He was paid $30,000 which he donated to charity.<ref name="hal"/> It was the first film he had made in three years and the first time he had reunited with Rat Pack members professionally or personally in three years. Needham says he turned up half an hour early and did his scene with minimal fuss.<ref name="los">{{cite news | title= 'Sir' Frank Drops in on the Rat Pack | last= Markfield | first= Alan | work= Los Angeles Times | date= 17 July 1983 | page= R3}}</ref>

Part of the film was shot near [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]], [[Arizona]].<ref name="hal"/> To show the momentum of the race, the producers commissioned [[Ralph Bakshi]] to animate a [[cartoon]] sequence for the finale.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://variety.com/1983/film/reviews/cannonball-run-ii-1200426126/|title=Cannonball Run II|work=Variety| date=December 31, 1983}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
The film opened in Japan on December 17, 1983 and grossed $846,676 from 22 theatres in five cities in its first two days.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=November 30, 1983|page=5|title=Japan Winding Banner B.O. Year With 'Golden' Seasons Overlap; Rivalry Cues Costly P.A. Tours}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|date=December 23, 1983|page=6|title='Cannonall II' Provides Holiday Hit In Japan}}</ref> It went on to be the second-highest-grossing foreign film of 1984 (along with Jackie Chan's ''[[Project A (film)|Project A]]'' at number three),<ref>{{cite web |title=1984年（1月～12月） |url=http://www.eiren.org/toukei/1984.html |website=Eiren |publisher=Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan |access-date=November 20, 2018}}</ref> grossing {{JPY|2.96 billion}}.<ref>『キネマ旬報ベスト・テン85回全史 1924-2011』（キネマ旬報社、2012年）430頁</ref>

In the United States and Canada, after the tenth-highest 1984 opening weekend of {{US$|8.3 million}}, ''Cannonball Run II'' slowed down, becoming the 32nd-most popular 1984 film at the American and Canada box office with a total lifetime gross of {{US$|28 million}}, less than half that of the first'' [[The Cannonball Run|Cannonball Run]]''.<ref name="BOM">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=cannonballrun2.htm |title=Cannonball Run II |access-date=December 23, 2014 |work=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> According to one review of the film, ''Cannonball Run II'' still turned a healthy profit, and the reviewer attributed the film's financial success to preselling.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/cannonball-run-ii/review/2030124607/|title=Cannonball Run II &#124; TV Guide|website=TVGuide.com}}</ref>

The film enjoyed more success overseas. In West Germany (where it was the year's seventh highest-grossing film) and France, the film drew 3,748,167 box-office admissions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cannonball Run II (1984) |url=http://www.jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=6660&view=4 |website=JP's Box-Office |access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> The film had a total worldwide gross of {{US$|56.3 million}}.<ref name="worldwide">{{cite web |title=ジャッキーチェン映画の製作費と全世界興行成績まとめ |url=http://kungfutube.info/3696 |website=KungFu Tube |date=September 8, 2010 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |language=ja}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
''Cannonball Run II'' met with even harsher reviews than had its predecessor, with a 12% approval rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on reviews from 17 critics.<ref>{{rotten tomatoes|cannonball_run_2}} [[Fandango Media]]</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] awarded the film one half star out of four, calling it "one of the laziest insults to the intelligence of moviegoers that I can remember. Sheer arrogance made this picture".<ref>{{cite web|author=Ebert, Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|date=1984-01-01|title=''Cannonball Run II''|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cannonball-run-ii-1984|url-status=live|access-date=2012-01-30|website=RogerEbert.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602143141/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cannonball-run-ii-1984 |archive-date=2013-06-02}}</ref> Ebert's ''[[At the Movies (1982 TV program)|At the Movies]]'' cohost [[Gene Siskel]] was even harsher, awarding it zero stars out of four, referring to it as "worthless" and referring to it as "a total ripoff, a deceptive film that gives movies a bad name" in his ''At the Movies'' review. Siskel named it his least-favorite film that he had seen during his time doing ''At the Movies'' with Ebert- sometimes citing it as [[List of movies considered the worst|the worst movie ever made]]. He went further in his print review, writing: {{cquote|How could any car race movie be worse than "Stroker Ace"? Easy, and how's this for chutzpah? The cross-country road race in "Cannonball Run II" takes place mostly off camera in a pedestrian animation sequence by Ralph Bakshi. We see a bunch of little cars with lines and arrows slide across a national map to the beat of some unforgettable music. And that's the race.

How cheap can you get? How little regard for the audience can you have? All of the road racing appears to have been done in southern California so as not to interfere with the tennis and golf games of its celebrity-filled cast. A cameo appearance by Frank Sinatra appears to have been filmed in isolation and then inserted so as to appear that Reynolds is in the same scene with him.

"Cannonball Run II" doesn't even try to be a movie. It's snapshots of a bunch of familiar, tired old faces improvising tired old gags.<ref>{{cite news
| last         = Siskel
| first        = Gene
| date         = July 2, 1984
| title        = 'Cannonball' not even a race, let alone a movie
| url          = https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-gene-siskel-movie-review/41911189/
| work         = [[Chicago Tribune]]
| location     = 
| access-date  = November 10, 2023
}}</ref>}}

Both critics expressed bewilderment by Burt Reynolds' career choices, declaring that he was wasting his considerable talent and noting that Reynolds' huge fan base did not like the film (nor the recent ''[[Stroker Ace]]'') and would stop going to see his movies if he continued to make such terrible films. Rob Salem of ''[[The Toronto Star]]'' expressed similar sentiments in his review.<ref>{{cite news
| last         = Salem
| first        = Rob
| date         = July 1, 1984
| title        = Burt Reynolds runs on empty in his retreaded Cannonball II
| url          = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/134987632/
| work         = [[The Toronto Star]]
| location     = 
| access-date  = November 10, 2023
}}</ref>

[[Kevin Thomas (film critic)|Kevin Thomas]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote that "if you bother to submit yourself to "Cannonball Run II" and happen to go the distance, be sure to stay for the end credits, the funniest part of the picture by far. As they unroll on the left of the screen, we're treated to a series of bloopers showing the stars breaking each other up during shooting, blowing one take after another. Ah. if only this antic humor had been allowed to burst through earlier. From the start it was clear enough that the cast was having a ball, but for the most part the material is so puerile that the film is that familiar instance of the actors having more fun than we are."<ref>{{cite news
| last         = Thomas 
| first        = Kevin
| date         = June 30, 1984
| title        = 'CANNONBALL' IS NO JOYRIDE
| url          = https://latimes.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/134987176/
| work         = [[Los Angeles Times]]
| location     = 
| access-date  = November 10, 2023
}}</ref> [[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' called the film "an endless string of cameo performances from a cast whose funny participants are badly outnumbered and whose television roots are unmistakable."<ref>{{cite news
| last         = Maslin
| first        = Janet
| date         = June 29, 1984
| title        = SCREEN: BURT REYNOLDS IN 'CANNONBALL RUN II'
| url          = https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/29/movies/screen-burt-reynolds-in-cannonball-run-ii.html
| work         = [[The New York Times]]
| location     = 
| access-date  = November 10, 2023
}}</ref> Kathleen Carroll of the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' gave the film only a single star out of a possible four, writing: {{cquote|"Cannonball Run II", which once again features Burt Reynolds as that completely forgettable character—car-crazy J.J. McClure—is such a disgraceful mess that it looks more like a rolling cocktail party than an actual movie.

The cast is full of familiar faces, some of which, sad to say, appear to be in dire need of the services of a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. Burt even managed to persuade the rich-and famous members of the Hollywood [[Rat Pack]] to show up for this worthless comedy which, like "Cannonball Run," attempts to keep pace with cheating competitors in a cross-country automobile race.

Dean Martin gets to spout off such tired jokes as "My liver died last year." Sammy Davis Jr., Martin's favorite sidekick, is allowed to wear his most expensive jewelry even in those tasteless scenes in which he's masquerading as a priest. Shirley MacLaine, who, along with Marilu Henner, plays a footloose member of a backroad touring company of "[[The Sound of Music]]," poses as a demure nun before stripping off her habit and exposing her shapely gams. Even "the King," Frank Sinatra, puts in a brief appearance, playing his favorite role—himself.

As it is, the entire cast seems to be sniggering over some private dirty joke which they refuse to reveal to the audience. Let's just hope this is one Hollywood joke that backfires at the box office.<ref>{{cite news
| last         = Carroll
| first        = Kathleen
| date         = June 29, 1984
| title        = 'Cannonball Run II': A creepy crawler
| url          = https://nydailynews.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/134987352/
| work         = [[New York Daily News]]
| location     = 
| access-date  = November 10, 2023
}}</ref>}} Rick Lyman of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' wrote that "if ''Cannonball Run II'' is more amusing than ''Stroker Ace''—and it is—it's only because you can appreciate its vulgarity in a state of open-mouthed, morbid fascination."<ref>{{cite news
| last         = Lyman
| first        = Rick
| date         = June 30, 1984
| title        = Film: 'Cannonball' sequel is simply loaded with stars
| url          = https://philly.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/134988041/
| work         = [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]
| location     = 
| access-date  = November 10, 2023
}}</ref>

The film received negative reviews in Tucson, where it was largely filmed. Robert S. Cauthorn of ''[[The Arizona Daily Star]]'' said it "accomplishes the difficult feat of being more obnoxious and mindless than the first; It's as much fun as going to your mechanic for a tuneup and being told that you need an engine overhaul."<ref>{{cite news
| last         = Cauthorn
| first        = Robert S.
| date         = June 29, 1984
| title        = 'Cannonball II' another dud from Needham, Reynolds
| url          = https://tucson.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star/134988662/
| work         = [[Arizona Daily Star]]
| location     = 
| access-date  = November 10, 2023
}}</ref> John Lankford of the ''[[Tucson Citizen]]'' praised the location shooting, but remarked that "whatever tiny spark of life that made the first 'Cannonball' work at all is missing in action here. The story is lame, there is no direction, the editing is sloppy . . . I could go on and on with this as you can well imagine. But this horse is already down and out; my puny efforts to finish it off would seem cruel."<ref>{{cite news
| last         = Lankford
| first        = John
| date         = June 28, 1984
| title        = Inside joke wears far too thin in this sequel
| url          = https://tucson.newspapers.com/article/tucson-citizen/134989030/
| work         = [[Tucson Citizen]]
| location     = 
| access-date  = November 10, 2023
}}</ref>

The film received eight [[Golden Raspberry Award]] nominations at the [[1984 Golden Raspberry Awards]], including Worst Picture, Worst Actor and Worst Actress.

==See also==
* ''[[Speed Zone]]'', also known as ''Cannonball Fever'' and ''Cannonball Run III''
* [[Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0087032}}
* {{TCMDb title|18321}}
* {{rotten tomatoes|cannonball_run_2}}
* [http://film.virtual-history.com/film.php?filmid=479 Movie stills]

{{Hal Needham}}
{{portal bar|Film|United States|Hong Kong|Cars|1980s}}

[[Category:1983 films]]
[[Category:1983 action comedy films]]
[[Category:1980s comedy road movies]]
[[Category:American comedy road movies]]
[[Category:American sequel films]]
[[Category:Hong Kong action comedy films]]
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
[[Category:American auto racing films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Hal Needham]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Tucson, Arizona]]
[[Category:Films shot in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Films shot in Nevada]]
[[Category:Films shot in California]]
[[Category:Golden Harvest films]]
[[Category:1980s American films]]
[[Category:English-language action comedy films]]
[[Category:1980s Hong Kong films]]
[[Category:English-language Hong Kong films]]