Rat Race

I have heard many people say that this is the funniest movie they have ever seen. I finally saw it and I had a great laugh. The purpose of this movie is to have fun. It is full of many clever sight gags and can be likened unto a “Looney Tunes” cartoon.

The best performance in this film goes to Rowan Atkinson hands down. He is basically an Italian “Mr. Bean” who talks a lot more. His narcolepsy is a great part of his character. I love the gags that show up throughout the film. At the start of the film, Seth Green is using money from a coin donation container to use the slots and that was funny to me. I did love John Cleese laughing at his own joke before he explains the game because his laugh is so unique and contagious. As the movie progresses, things go from bad to worse for the players. The Pear family goes to visit the Barbie Museum or rather the Klaus Barbie Museum. That is a great gag because Nazism is the last thing you think of with the name Barbie. What makes their story even better is that they steal Hitler’s car and after a series of separate accidents, they offend a rally of veterans. I love the squirrel car graveyard and the events leading up to it such as Kathy Bates’ cameo. The skeleton with the “I Love Squirrels” bag was the perfect exclamation point for that gag. I like the intertwining of the stories such as with the hot air balloon/cow. The “I Love Lucy” convention is almost right out of a horror movie when you think about it. Poor Cuba Gooding Jr. The film has a great conclusion in that Cleese’s character gets his just reward and the players are heroes at the charity concert.

This is a fun show in the same genre as the “Ace Ventura” films. I like how the coin toss clip was filmed in Calgary, Alberta in McMahon Stadium. You have fun watching and laughing at this film because that is its simple purpose. It is as if a 30-minute cartoon was made in live action and extended to feature length.

3 Stars