MovieChat Forums > The Cannonball Run (1981) Discussion > Desperately Needs A Remake

Desperately Needs A Remake

posted 13 years ago by facebookblows009
43 replies | jump to latest

Now here is a film that is most in need of a remake. The reason is obvious. Most of the cast members in both films, with the exception of Jackie Chan and perhaps Burt Reynolds, are unknown to the younger generation. It would be impossible for the younger generation to laugh at stars they have never heard of. Do we really expect the average teenager/20 something to laugh at Adrian Barbeau boob jokes? Or Jack Elam and his weird eyes? See what I mean?

Many of the people in the films, especially Part II, were big stars during the 50s and 60s but were has been actors by the late 70s and early 80s; many of them were even dead by the time the younger generation were born.

The Cannonball Run needs an update with actors/actresses that the younger generation are more familiar with. I would like to see people like Seth Rogen or Bradley Cooper star in it. Although, Burt Reynolds and Jackie Chan would certainly need to make appearances. Perhaps Daniel Craig could do the Bond like role that Roger Moore did in the original Cannonball film. What does everyone think?

[–] bkelly9505 8 years ago

Here's my idea for a CR remake:

In the present day, the Cannonball has become a popular underground race covered on the internet with fans flocking to the website to check the latest coverage. This year marks the anniversary of the original race and one of the race organizers (Burt Reynolds) decides that it would be a good touch to bring back a legendary racer, John McClure.

However, he discovers that John McClure has died, so he contacts John's son John Jr, aka J.J. (Luke Wilson). J.J. and his friend Nick (Jason Bateman) agree to the race, but Nick suggests bringing along someone else, Victor (Patton Oswalt) who works as a daredevil known as "Captain Chaos". Victor agrees to go with them, but suggests stealth and subterfuge over trying to outrun the police. They decide to modify a van and make it look like an ambulance.

Meanwhile, the police have put together a task force led by Detective Foyt (John Lithgow) to bring down the Cannonball once and for all. A reporter seeking a scoop, Pamela Glover (Gillian Jacobs), agrees to go undercover at the pre-race party to gather intelligence. She has a conversation with J.J. who decides to recruit her as the patient in the ambulance. (Nick is posing as the doctor while J.J. and Victor are the drivers.) Foyt approves as it improves her cover.

"The Devil wants his soul. I just want the man."

[–] Darcsyde01 8 years ago

I disagree completely. There is no need to remake this classic.
I have watched it with 20-somethings and they get all the jokes. Kind of hard not to since boob jokes, drunk jokes, etc. are all pretty universal.
Not every movie needs to be remade "for a new generation".

"I can arrange for you a humiliating death. And, so we're on the same page, it will involve sheep."

[–] AlexEvensen 8 years ago

People can't laugh of someone they haven't heard of? What the hell? That's just wrong. If something is funny, it's funny. This movie does not need a remake. Make something else instead, somehting new, this movie is still great, and fun, and if someone sees it and don't laugh, the reason is not cause they don't know the actors, it's cause they don't like the humor.

And if you haven't see it today on Blu-ray Disc. It has great image and sound quality, specially considering its age. It's even better now than it was back then.

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Dziga Vertov:
I am the machine that reveals the world to you, as only I alone am able to see it