When a wealthy sheikh puts up $1 million in prize money for a cross-country car race, there is one person crazy enough to hit the road hard with wheels spinning fast. Legendary driver J.J. McClure enters the competition along with his friend Victor and together they set off across the American landscape in a madcap action-adventure destined to test their wits and automobile skills.
Ugh. The single worst studio picture of the 1980s — maybe one of the worst ever made — if only because it should have known better. That's the real crime. There’s talent scattered all over this wreckage, or at least most of it, with the pathetic Charles Nelson Reilly stranded in the middle of the madness looking like he wandered into the wrong movie and never found the exit. I'd give it zero stars, but my plex wont do it!
And Sinatra? Sinatra couldn't even be bothered to film with the rest of the cast. He's practically beamed in from another dimension- he hadn't made a movie since the 1970's and he does this! And all of his scenes were shot separately, as if he couldn't be bothered- he's isolated in his own little universe, collecting a paycheck with all the enthusiasm of a man waiting at the DMV.
Burt Reynolds is at his most exhausting here: endless mugging for the camera, pushing jokes that die on impact, shamelessly selling every wink and grin like he's personally invoicing the studio after each take. You can practically hear the cash register ringing.
Then you get Dom DeLuise, staggering through the picture like an overgrown fraternity brother at closing time, howling with laughter at jokes that barely qualify as punctuation marks.
THIS is the pile of shit that began Needhams decline. Smokey II was awful, this piece and then STROKER ACE ended his directing career as a reliable workman Director. Thus ended the laughing reunions and ego tripping. Three films that also ended Burt Reynold's run as king of the box office.
Crashing cars is not funny, driving is not funny, putting people in rocket tubes and crashing is not funny. Too many of that and not enough jokes.
It's not chaotic in an exciting way. It's chaotic in the way a grease fire is chaotic.
F---- this movie.
PU.
Good as always not as good as the first but still enjoyed it again.
The first Cannonball was good and white remembered from childhood. The second was meh. Doesn’t make you laugh? Sure! But it’s not the first. Still a great cast! That helps
Cannonball II is a classic Burt Reynolds comedy chase movie with a plethora of star talent that keeps the viewer engaged in the goofiness of the whole thing. Definitely worth watching if you've never seen it before and nostalgic if rewatching it after many years.
An absolute classic. The rat pack at their best
An awful retread with zero laughs and none of the charm of the original. Scenes seem to be randomly edited together, lazily and haphazardly.
Reviews
Cannonball Run II
Dan S Turpin reviewed
Cannonball Run II
May 25, 2026Ugh. The single worst studio picture of the 1980s — maybe one of the worst ever made — if only because it should have known better. That's the real crime. There’s talent scattered all over this wreckage, or at least most of it, with the pathetic Charles Nelson Reilly stranded in the middle of the madness looking like he wandered into the wrong movie and never found the exit. I'd give it zero stars, but my plex wont do it!
And Sinatra? Sinatra couldn't even be bothered to film with the rest of the cast. He's practically beamed in from another dimension- he hadn't made a movie since the 1970's and he does this! And all of his scenes were shot separately, as if he couldn't be bothered- he's isolated in his own little universe, collecting a paycheck with all the enthusiasm of a man waiting at the DMV.
Burt Reynolds is at his most exhausting here: endless mugging for the camera, pushing jokes that die on impact, shamelessly selling every wink and grin like he's personally invoicing the studio after each take. You can practically hear the cash register ringing.
Then you get Dom DeLuise, staggering through the picture like an overgrown fraternity brother at closing time, howling with laughter at jokes that barely qualify as punctuation marks.
THIS is the pile of shit that began Needhams decline. Smokey II was awful, this piece and then STROKER ACE ended his directing career as a reliable workman Director. Thus ended the laughing reunions and ego tripping. Three films that also ended Burt Reynold's run as king of the box office.
Crashing cars is not funny, driving is not funny, putting people in rocket tubes and crashing is not funny. Too many of that and not enough jokes.
It's not chaotic in an exciting way. It's chaotic in the way a grease fire is chaotic.
F---- this movie.
PU.
TigerIsThirsty reviewed
Cannonball Run II
November 3, 2025Cannonball II is a classic Burt Reynolds comedy chase movie with a plethora of star talent that keeps the viewer engaged in the goofiness of the whole thing. Definitely worth watching if you've never seen it before and nostalgic if rewatching it after many years.
