Everybody outside of George Kennedy and Karen Black who was anybody in the 1970's seems to be in this movie, a spoof of disaster films later done much better as "Airplane!". It's a rough ride in more ways than one for the drivers, stewardesses and passengers as this giant nuclear powered bus makes its way from New York to Denver, not realizing that madman Jose Ferrer has arranged for a bomb to be planted on it. Joseph Bologna is the trouble laden driver once accused of canabalism while driving in the mountains, and ex-girlfriend Stockard Channing is the head of the crew.
They are joined by John Beck as the co-driver, and Lynn Redgrave, Rene Auberjonois, Ruth Gordon, Sally Kellerman and Richard Mulligan among the eccentric passengers. Add in Larry Hagman, Vic Tayback, Ned Beatty and Harold Gould, a very untalented lounge pianist, and other assorted weird characters. The jokes are hit and miss, better discovered through viewing than reading about. But for pre-"Airplane!" audiences who saw this when it came out or was first on network TV, it's a nostalgic treat.
My personal favorite moments include embittered priest Rene's choice of a hymn after a near fatal disaster, Stockard's narration of how to put on the nuclear suit in case of leakage and her own near demise nearly drowning in soda. Of course, Gordon's adorable, Kellerman has that great breathy voice (as a soon to be divorced woman lusting after the husband, Mulligan, she hates) and Redgrave is fun as a sophisticated clothing designer with a loose appetite for men and an eye for revenge. This isn't one of the best comedies of the 70's, but it's not a complete disaster either.
They are joined by John Beck as the co-driver, and Lynn Redgrave, Rene Auberjonois, Ruth Gordon, Sally Kellerman and Richard Mulligan among the eccentric passengers. Add in Larry Hagman, Vic Tayback, Ned Beatty and Harold Gould, a very untalented lounge pianist, and other assorted weird characters. The jokes are hit and miss, better discovered through viewing than reading about. But for pre-"Airplane!" audiences who saw this when it came out or was first on network TV, it's a nostalgic treat.
My personal favorite moments include embittered priest Rene's choice of a hymn after a near fatal disaster, Stockard's narration of how to put on the nuclear suit in case of leakage and her own near demise nearly drowning in soda. Of course, Gordon's adorable, Kellerman has that great breathy voice (as a soon to be divorced woman lusting after the husband, Mulligan, she hates) and Redgrave is fun as a sophisticated clothing designer with a loose appetite for men and an eye for revenge. This isn't one of the best comedies of the 70's, but it's not a complete disaster either.