Let It Ride

Author Jay Cronley's Runyonesque style of writing lends itself nicely when his work is adapted to the big screen. I've written about two of those ventures, Quick Change and Funny Farm, and today I thought I would look back at one that was sadly overlooked since it's release, 1989's Let It Ride.

Richard Dreyfuss stars as Jay Trotter, a cab driver who has a serious gambling addiction. Not a lucky man when it comes to placing bets, Jay has promised his long suffering wife Pam, Terri Garr, that he would give up gambling. But when his cab driving buddy Looney, David Johansen, overhears a conversation in his cab about a race horse that's a sure thing, Jay can't resist and bets on the race. The horse wins the race and Jay thinks that this is his lucky day. After winning more bets, Jay is on a hot streak and decides to let all his winnings ride on a long shot. It's a bet that could cost him everything, even his marriage and friends.

Dreyfuss is really good in this. He has a knack for playing losers that finally catch a break. Garr is also good, as always, playing his wife. The two played a couple in Close Encounters Of The Third Kind as well.

Former New York Doll, Johansen steals the show as the loud and sometimes obnoxious Looney. And Jennifer Tilley turns in a funny performance as a lady who makes advances towards Dreyfuss once his winning streak hits.

Sadly this film was buried in theaters during the dog days of summer with little promotion. It's a funny and overlooked film.

Unfortunately, the dvd is now out of print.