The Longshot

It's always fascinating to me when a director works out of their element with a different style or genre that their known for. A good example of this is Paul Bartel's 1986 comedy The Longshot.

If you are unfamiliar with Bartel's work, he is a director and actor best know for cult classics like Eating Raoul, Death Race 2000, and Lust In The Dust. The Longshot, definitely Bartel's most mainstream effort, is a Tim Conway/Harvey Korman vehicle. It tells the story of four, sad sack gambling buddies, Conway, Korman, Jack Weston, and Ted Wass, who's losing streak is about to take a turn when they get a tip on a horse that's been drugged up so he can win a race. Unfortunately they all are flat broke and have to borrow money from the mob to place their bets, causing them even more headaches than before.

This isn't only Bartel working out out of his element, it's also an odd film choice for Conway. This feels like a grittier effort than most of his family friendly films. Conway, who also wrote the film, got the inspiration from hanging out at the racetrack with Korman. The two owned a racehorse together at the time and Conway saw comedy in the patrons who constantly lose. Plus it gave him an opportunity to reteam with his Carol Burnett Show cohort. Unfortunately Conway gives all the best bits to himself, leaving the rest of the cast, which includes Stella Stevens, Anne Meara, Eddie Deezen, and the legendary Jonathan Winters, very little to do. Conway tries hard to appeal to a hipper audience. I think this is why he hired Bartel. He even does a painful rap with Ice T over the opening credits.

This movie has it's moments, and it's always fun to watch Conway. But I'll stick to his less edgy offerings like The Private Eyes. I will also stick with Bartels more edgier work.

This is on dvd as a Conway two pack with They Went That A Way And That a Way.