Snowball Express (1972)

This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Admirable film.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

This is a Disney plot that they repeated many times during the 1970's in their string of fun but generic comedies. Once again, Keenan Wynn a miserly businessman (here a banker) who wants to get his hands on a dilapidated hotel for his own greedy reasons, secretary Mary Wickes seemingly knowing why. New York accountant Dean Jones ("The Love Bug") has discovered that he is the heir to a presumably luxurious, profit making establishment, only to find out that it is in the middle of nowhere infested with bats and raccoons. Grizzled Harry Morgan moves in as a handyman while Disney regular Michael McGreevey takes an interest in Jones' daughter Kathleen Cody and offers to teach skiing lessons. The only issue is getting the money to re-build the hotel to its full potential, and Wynn won't give him a loan. But when Jones becomes determined to turn it into a ski lodge, Wynn changes his mind, certain it will fail and that he'll be able to foreclose on the hotel. An upcoming snowmobile race just might help Jones gain the money he needs to pay back Wynn after an unfortunate accident destroys part of the hotel, and ultimately, Wynn's motives are revealed with a nice twist delivered by the feisty Ms. Wickes.This is a by-the-numbers comedy that Disney kept repeating over and over again, and while the situations are amusing, you know exactly how this is going to turn out. McGreevey, often cast as Kurt Russell's sidekick in the series of "college comedies" that dominated Disney's 70's output, gets the young romantic lead here, a nice young man whose innocent claims that he knows how to ski leads Jones into all sorts of trouble. The snowy photography is beautiful and the slapstick is funny, but it's really nothing original. It was frustrating for me to see Mary Wickes, my favorite character actress, lingering around doing nothing, but near the final, she lets it out loose but is lacking the wisecracks of her many other wonderful characters that she played in her long career. Nancy Olson tries her best as Jones' long-suffering wife but is overshadowed in a thankless role, but Johnny Whitaker gets some great moments as the young son. George Lindsey ("The Andy Griffith Show") is also present as the unfortunate victim of Wynn's, blackmailed by him into doing his dirty deeds.Jones is amusing as the accident ridden hero, getting good revenge on his nasty boss Dick Van Patten in the opening scene, but ending up in several snow-related gags that after a while seem to be repeating themselves. There's the large cowardly dog (hysterically seeming to be a bear in a shadowy night scene), a funny looking train like contraption which pulls skiers up the hill and an underground mine thrown in for visual comedy. It's all pleasant family fun, but the type where afterwards, the only thing you can think of to say is "What next?".

My family was fortunate in finding a VHS copy of this movie many years ago. I always liked the theme music as the Baxters were driving into Silver Hill. Keenan Wynn has alway been a Disney "villian favourite" for Dean Jones to spar with. His gruff exterior is a great sounding board for other characters to work against. I'm watching the movie now as I write this. I always wanted to find the hotel on Google Earth. I was stuck looking at the real Silver Hill, Colorado until I discovered where it was really made. I had hoped the old hotel still existed as I would be a great place to visit on a driving vacation. It is a great movie to inspire one to take a chance in life and try something different. This movie has all the pluses and comedic characters to last and last. One of my favourite scenes is when Michael McGreevey (Wally) blows up the tree stump. "Ahh darn!"

About 75 dopey comedies later, Dean Jones must have been wondering just how badly typecast he really was. He certainly doesn't look too enthused as a office drone who inherits a run-down ski motel in Disney's Snowball Express (1972). There's about five minutes of actual story in this hundred minute flick, with an additional eleven minutes hacked out for broadcast on the Hallmark Movie Channel. You'll never, ever notice.What's bad about Snowball Express is that it just reeks of I-don't-care; even the title is a non-sequitur, having nothing to do with the story. The plot is stale, the performances are bland, and there's maybe two good laughs for anyone above twelve.My suggestion is to stick with one of the Computer Wore Tennis Shoes or Love Bugs. At least they're cute and funny.And Dean Jones doesn't look like he's got a gut ache.

Based on the comments made so far, everyone seems to either hate this movie or love it. I think it would be fair to point out that although this is not a GREAT movie, it has its interesting moments. For one thing, it was filmed on location in Colorado (was it Breckinridge or Telluride? I can't remember, but it is in the credits). The location is absolutely stunning and spectacular. It's beautiful, even to me who lived in Colorado for several years.Next, it has Disney's penchant for wonderful character actors. Harry Morgan has never been in better form than when he plays in a Disney movie. He is literally hysterical. Also, remember the wonderful Mary Wickes? Although she has a "bit part" in this movie, she is great, as always. If you don't know who she is, think of the animated Disney version of Hunchback from Notre Dame (she was one of the gargoyles), and she was also the most interesting nun in "Sister Act", as well as the best nun in "The Trouble With Angels." She has always been a great character actress and most character actors never receive the recognition they deserve.In addition to character actors and all-star casts, in the 1960s-1970s Disney may have not had the "greatest" movies, but, if you really watch some of them from beginning to end, you will NOTICE that every movie has some really funny or hysterical moment in it. The entire movie may not be funny, but there is always a comic gem (at least 1 or 2) in every single "live-action" movie Disney ever made. Whether it's Harry Morgan in one of his bellowing tones of voice, or Tim Conway floundering around, or Joe Flynn giving one of his priceless looks of horror, it is all good. The whole film may not be good, but there are ALWAYS hysterical moments in every Disney film from this period that I have ever seen. Disney in this time period always managed to make a person smile, despite the dumbness of the film.Bsed on these comments, I disagree with viewers who say every Disney movie in this time period is awful. That statement it not quite accurate. Rather, it is easier for me to give credit to the funny moments and overlook the weaknesses in the plots.Some live-action Disney movies are true classics (Old Yeller, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Mary Poppins), but for those that aren't, I am able to appreciate them for what they were -- good clean family fun in a time when movies had become vulgar, crude and offensive.