Scavenger Hunt (1979)

So much average

Best movie ever!

A Disappointing Continuation

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Yes, this is a silly farce. So were "Animal House" and "The Blues Brothers", and they are considered classics. I liked this better; certainly it's more suited for the whole family.The plot is simple: wealthy Milton Parker has died and his will specifies that his survivors (servants as well as relatives) must complete in a scavenger hunt to gather up various items, which must be taken and not purchased. The items are placed into various bins per group of competitors, and the items are awarded points. Those who get the most points by the end of the time period wins the fortune while the others get nothing.The rest of the movie consists of funny ways for the various groups to get the items and making it back to the home with them, along with one family who resorts to stealing from the others. Not high art, but good low art.

In our series of "dumb, forgettable and tremendously entertaining 70's movies" we today proudly present "Scavenger Hunt"! It's an irresistibly silly flick with a rudimentary plot and predictable denouement, but the enthusiasm of the (tremendous) ensemble cast and incontrollable laughs caused by stupid jokes pretty much compensate for all its defaults. The script is a non-stop series of clichéd situations and stereotypical characters, but the beauty is that you expect everything to be like this! By today's standards "Scavenger Hunt" looks extremely dated, because it doesn't feature any vulgar humor or hi-tech devices, but the charming atmosphere will catapult you straight back to the 1970's. The cynical old millionaire Milton Parker (outstanding cameo of Vincent Price) found an inventive to divide his fortune between his greedy vultures of inheritors. All names mentioned in the testament, including direct relatives as well as servants and even a completely unrelated taxi driver, are put in small groups and send out on a giant scavenger hunt. The list includes the oddest items that can't be bought (public toilets, obese people, an ostrich …) and the winners are whichever group that collects the highest number of stuff by 5pm that same afternoon. Needless to say the game quickly turns into a hectic game full of cheating, fighting and public disturbance. "Scavenger Hunt" is a lot of fun and I'm nearly inclined to say that only a true sourpuss can sit through this movie without a single smile on his face. Heck, even the prominent cast members enjoyed themselves very much in their roles and clearly didn't care too much about the inferior artistic value. The cast list is impressive to say the least, with Scatman Crothers, Cloris Leachman, Roddy McDowell, Cleavon Little, Richard Mulligan, Dirk Benedict, Tony Randall and many others. There even are big names in small cameo roles, like the aforementioned Vincent Price as the sadist patriarch, Meat Loaf as a sleazy biker gang leader and governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as – surprise – a fitness teacher! Good fun, no more … no less!

I guess this is what is meant by the term "screwball" comedy. Scavenger Hunt has an odd assortment of family members and servants gathering up various items around San Diego for the chance at winning a $200 million inheritance. That would be great money today. Thirty years ago it would have been astronomical. The cast has more familiar faces and cameos than one could easily count. Successful people, soon to be successful people, washed up people, and flavor of the month types like Dirk Benedict and Willie Ames round out the impressive cast. The film has some interesting stunts and car chases, and makes good use of the filming locations. A good many of these cast members have since perished.When watching this film, one thing is certain. The director was not interested in reigning in anyone's performance. Most of these actors over-act to the point of delirium. Richard Masur, for example, is lucky he ever got work again as the spoiled son of Cloris Leachman. But somehow he went on to serve two terms as the SAG president. Go figure. Perhaps it was his serious turn as a Slavic train station worker in Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate the following year that set him on a greater path.Speaking of Cloris Leachman, we should all wish for even a fraction of her energy and longevity. Still as active as anyone in this cast at age 82, may she live on forever. She spends much of this film hiding under a black mourning veil, as she plays the sister of the millionaire who just died. All in all, there isn't a serious moment to be found here amongst the silly scenes and car chases. There are cameos by such an eclectic bunch as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pat McCormick, Vincent Price, Meat Loaf, and even the Doritos guy who plays a stressed out zoo keeper. Give the film a try if you can find it. It's worth about 6 of 10 stars. 7 if you add the Scatman Cruthers bonus star I like to award.The Hound.

Thank God for HBO playing this movie over and over in their infancy. My brother and I saw this hundreds of times, memorized most every line, and wore out the VHS tape we had of it. It's one that just grows on you. At first, yes, it's admittedly horrendous. Though throw that stuff aside and it comes out as a great comedy with slap-stick characters in goofball situations. Come on Meat Loaf as Scum and Governator as the gym instructor. But Stuart Selsome, what typifies the 70s better than his character.Great for quotable one liners, and very few people that actually know of or remember this movie. Makes for great coversation.