"Grand Theft Auto: Tricked Out Edition"
DVD Review
by Rachel Buccicone
| MOVIE: **** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: **** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Ron Howard as SAM FREEMAN Nancy Morgan as PAULA POWERS Paul Linke as COLLINS HEDGEWORTH Marion Ross as VIVIAN HEDGEWORTH Barry Cahill as BIGBY POWERS Rated PG Studio: Buena Vista Directed by: Ron Howard Back to DVD Review Home |  |
At the ripe old age of 23, Ron Howard decided it was time he tried his hand at directing films. In 1977, Ron agreed to star in Roger Corman’s “Grand Theft Auto” for a minimal salary and offered to direct the picture for free.
Although having nothing to do with the video game, “Grand Theft Auto” is a highly entertaining action/comedy film full of greed, theft, hatred, and - who could forget - love. Paula Powers (Nancy Morgan), daughter of the wealthy gubernatorial candidate Bigby Powers (Barry Cahill), and Sam Freeman (Ron Howard) are star-crossed lovers in a way. Paula’s father has forced upon his daughter the engagement with Collins Hedgeworth, also of a wealthy Los Angeles family. Since Paula has a mind of her own, she has decided she would rather elope with Sam, and the two take off toward Las Vegas in her father’s Rolls-Royce.
The couple is pursued by Bigby’s goons and snubbed fiancé Collins. Bigby soon calls the local radio station to offer a 25 thousand dollar reward to whomever returns his daughter. Collin’s mother Vivian (Marion Ross), worried about her son, offers an additional 25 thousand dollars for his return.
The grand theft begins with Paula’s taking of her father’s car. This is soon followed after Collin’s wrecks his own vehicle and takes off with a brand new sports car only to wreck it and steal a pickup truck. As handfuls of citizens join the race after Paula and Collins, most destroy their ride in some elaborate fashion and proceed to steal someone else’s.
In total, the lovers are pursued by a reverend who steals a police car, a policeman who commandeers a “Christ is on his way…and so are we!” bus (driven by an old man whose vocabulary contains nothing but the words “piss off”), two mechanics originally in a hot rod, Bigby’s detectives in cars and a helicopter, the radio DJ also in a helicopter, and too many more to keep track. With wreck after wreck, we see a lot of classic cars destroyed.
Ron (“The DaVinci Code”) helped his father Rance Howard (“Cinderella Man”) write the script for “Grand Theft Auto”. The pair created a film full of snappy dialogue and show-stopping action that begins within the first five minutes.
There is not a poor performance in this film. With Clint Howard (“How to Eat Fried Worms”) playing one of the mechanics, “Grand Theft Auto” is a Howard family affair. Ron gives the dramatic and humorous performance we expect, as does Nancy Morgan (“Lucky Luke”). Marion Ross, whom we better know as Mrs. C from “Happy Days”, is hilarious as she chases after her son while being pursued by a cop. Even Gary Marshall (“Keeping Up with the Steins”) shows up briefly as a mob boss.
The film takes place outside the studio somewhere in the desert. Highways, many desert roads, and even a demolition derby ring are the settings for “Grand Theft Auto”.
This “Tricked Out” DVD comes complete with an introduction by Roger Corman, audio commentary with Corman and Ron Howard, and the “Grand Theft Auto” original trailer. A featurette on the Howard family involvement contains interviews with Rance and Clint Howard.
We wouldn’t have films like “The Fast and the Furious” if it wasn’t for “Grand Theft Auto”. Anyone who enjoys action or comedy films or just has a love of cars would enjoy this picture.
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Full Screen (1.33:1). English Language Track. French Subtitles.
