Rebel Highway Runaway Daughters
((Fri. (12), 10-11:22 p.m., Showtime))
Cast: Julie Bowen, Holly Fields, Jenny Lewis, Paul Rudd, Chris Young, Bobby Zameroski, Joe Flaherty, Belinda Balasky, Robert Picardo, Wendy Schaal, Christopher Stone, Dee Wallace Stone, Dick Miller, Fabian, Josh Schaefer, Roger Corman, Julie Corman, Dabbs Greer, Archie Hahn, Michael Kopelow, Sam Arkoff, Courtney Gains, Leo Rossi, John Astin, Robert Fieldsteel, Rance Howard, Cathy Moriarty, Mark McCracken, Danny Breen, Kim Robillard, Richie Allan, Jack Yates, Mark L. Taylor.
High on a windy hill, highschoolers Bob (Chris Young) and Mary (Holly Fields) have, as the expression has it, "gone too far."
In the time-honored movieland way, she becomes instantly pregnant, or so she believes. He, sharing the national obsession over the Soviets' having launched their first Sputnik satellite, flees marital responsibility and enlists in the Navy.
The jilted Mary enlists her two pals (Julie Bowen, Jenny Lewis); in a stolen car they take off in hot pursuit, planning to head off the errant Bob at his duty report.
On the road, the girls elude horny cops, commie-baiters and game hunters, three sets of pursuing parents, boyfriends, siblings and a Columbo-style private detective. By exquisite timing, everyone manages to arrive simultaneously at the recruitment station, where matters get sorted out.
Based on same-named American International not-quite-epic, the remake manages to preserve the innocent goofiness of the genre while also perpetrating a good-humored sendup.
Dialogue by Haas (with the story credited to him and the scripter of the original, Lou Rusoff) is all sweet innocence and tearful sincerity; as in his "Gremlins" pix, director Dante fits his action perfectly against the poster-paint suburbia of designers Brian Karsch and Kathleen McKernin.
A further dollop of authenticity is afforded by delicious cameo appearances, as Bob's patriotic parents, by B-picture pioneer Roger Corman and his wife Julie.
They don't make movies like this anymore. It's enough to make you want to rebuild the drive-ins.
Camera, Roberto Schaefer; editor, Mark Helfrich; production designers, Brian Karsch, Kathleen McKernin; music, Hummie Mann.
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