Moving Violations (1985)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The first time I saw this movie I was in 7th grade. I watched it at my cousins house back in 85 on cable. My cousin asked me who does the lead guy remind you of. I said I don't know should I? He looked at me with huge eyes "BILL MURRAY" DUH. It took me awhile, wow he does; John Murray has his moves down to a T. At the time I didn't know Bill Murray had brother's; my bad. This comedy is excellent, a group of repeat traffic offenders sentenced to traffic school, in order to get their license back. Dana Cannon(John Murray) leads this group, to the traffic school from hell. This movie is full of funny scenes, here are some. There is Wink( Ned Eisenberg) who is a horror fanatic/psycho. One of the scenes they have to watch When Blood Spills on The Highway. An older guy who is setting next to Dana is glued to this video. Dana checks his pulse and beats his chest to see if he is O.K.. The older man is fixated to the movie; and it does make you wonder if he's in a coma or worse. When they get out to drive in groups Dana is stuck with Mrs. Houlk, the older lady. When she blows the light and lands on the RR tracks the car stalls. A train is coming and the car won't start. Everybody gets out; and Dana realizes Houlk is still in the car. Dana comes to her aid and the rest follow except Deputy Halik. He is scared straight. The only thing that works is pushing the car off the tracks. Once off the tracks the car gets totaled by a semi. When they all come back they realize Deputy Halik was so scared he wet his pants. This last best laugh is when Judge Henderson(Sally Kellerman) and Deputy Halik are having fun at her place. Dana and Co. cook up a scheme to get the ledger back ;and fix Halik's car so it is so messed up he will not be able to catch them. They get the ledger take it to the chief where Halik and Henderson are arrested. They were going to milk the County and city of money, from the selling of the students vehicles. Dana and crew get their revenge, they all pass the class. No sooner did they get their license back they all get pulled over; and the chief is like OMG. In closing Dana Cannon is sentenced to traffic school 5 more times. The County eventually makes him the instructor out of desperation ; and nobody fails the class under him. This movie is full of laughs from beginning to end. The plot very simple, traffic school, instructors from hell, and a corrupt judge. I recommend it to anyone who loves classic comedies. They just don't make them like this anymore, usually if a Murray is involved you can't go wrong :).THX, Kris L. CocKayne

If you would like to wow your friends with a 1980s comedy that they probably have never heard of, then look no further than "Moving Violations". This movie has a cast of pedigreed comedians, including Fred Willard, Jennifer Tilly, and Sally Kerrerman. The lead goes to John Murray, brother of Bill Murray. His performance is far from unique, as it clearly mimics Bill Murray and John Belushi. In fact "Moving Violations" has certain scenes that seem to have been influenced by "Animal House, and "The Blues Brothers". Overlook these minor annoyances and be mesmerized by the rapid fire gags which make time fly by with maximum laughs. If you admire any of the above films or actors, this is a must see. - MERK

After directing Tom Hanks in the comedy smash "Bachelor Party" the year before, Neal Israel would go to take on the traffic school comedy "Moving Violations" with the same fruity results. While I like "Bachelor Party" better, still it's not taking anything away from it, as it had loads of humorous instances consisting of visual gags and gaudy one-liners from a light-headed script. There are some misfires evident, but it's just too pleasant and how can you pass its catchy soundtrack.After losing their licenses for repeated offences a group of drivers are sentenced to traffic school and their cars impounded, but their bitter driving instructors (once highly regarded officers) are making sure they won't easily pass.It's the usual formula, as it has that chaotically nutty vein that flowed through "Police Academy (1984)". Sure it can be dumb and low-brow, but its mishap humour is enjoyably staged. Namely James Keach's uptight shtick as Deputy Halik was a complete hoot and an amusing Nedra Volz's blind as a bat turn as Mrs. Loretta Houk. The cast are committed to their misfit characters and made it more the merrier. A likable John Murray (brother of Bill) chips in with his self-knowing presence, throwing around snappy quips. When Keach and Murray came together is when it livened up. Jennifer Tilly keeps it perky and sincere in a role doesn't really ask a real lot from her. Brian Backer is in a usual dweeb role and a diverting Ned Eisenberg bloodshed happy turn is great (the sequence involving the class watching the tape; Blood flows red on the highway!" shows the slightly disturbing obsession). Which he's tagged obviously as a horror fan (referencing films like "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Friday the 13th" films). Lisa Hart Carroll is marvellous as the cold-hearted deputy Virginia Morris and her cat-fight with Sally Kellerman's shrewish character is unforgettable. Also there's pleasurable support by Fred Willard, Wendie Jo Sperber, Willard E. Pugh and Nadine Van der Velde. Other familiar stars in nothing more than minor cameos are Don Cheadle and Dedee Pfeiffer.

Too much fun! Even though this film would seem way too cheesy and juvenile on the surface, there are just too many laughs for it not to be an entertaining experience. From the makers of Police Academy and Bachelor Party, Moving Violations has enough one-liners and sight gags to more than make up for its lack of plot. Though some of the gags make Dumb and Dumber seem like an episode of Frazier, I guarantee you'll be laughing at it in spite of yourself.The story concerns a group of perennial bad drivers who are sentenced to a strict traffic school in which they have to pass the course or forfeit their cars to the county. The class is run by two bad-ass motorcycle cops played by James Keach and Lisa Hart Carroll. They have their characters down so well, they'll even frighten you. Keach has a scheme going with the judge that sentenced the bad drivers to the course. Their plan is to make the class impossible and somehow split the profits from the impounded vehicles themselves. To detail this plot any further would be a dis-service to not only this review, but the film itself.John Murray plays the ringleader of the traffic school bunch. He is certainly no Bill Murray, but he's very charismatic and funny. Most of the other students are made up of typically wacky characters you might expect to find in a movie like this. Most of them are thankfully more funny than annoying. The cast is made up of many familiar faces; some of which went on to better things, and some of them just disappeared. Look closely and you'll spot Don Cheadle working at a fast food drive up window for about five seconds! Since there is so little plot, the film must count on sight gags involving cars being destroyed, old people with diminished facilities, bondage, puppet stages rolling down hills and into funeral homes, you name it. Toward the end, there is as one might expect, a climatic chase scene involving parade floats, a group of marathon runners, and about a thousand cops chasing after our heroes while they're on their way to police headquarters to expose the scheme to sell their cars. By this point, you'll be either rolling with laughter or you will have shut the movie off long before then.Maybe it's not quite a classic, but I'd say it's a cut above Police Academy and somewhere just below Airplane or Top Secret. The odds are you'll find more than a few things to laugh at.7 of 10 stars.The Hound.