This must be one of those "5 or 6 films" Stockard Channing is too embarrassed to mention having worked on in interviews. Which is partly a shame - because, with some serious tinkering ("How about tinkering us up a new engine?" complains David Carradine early on), SAFARI 3000 could've been a genuinely enjoyable ride.
Harry Hurwitz' comedy-adventure takes more than a little inspiration from SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT and Paul Bartel's DEATH RACE 2000 and CANNONBALL - as well as a bit from Blake Edwards' THE GREAT RACE, Disney's THE LOVE BUG, and even Friedkin's SORCERER. You get the picture. The primary difference here is that Hurwitz transposes the action - a treacherous, long-distance auto race, involving varied, eccentric participants - to sub-Saharan Africa.
The main issue with SAFARI 3000 is the script. Four writers (three for story, and one for screenplay)... that's rarely a good sign. The dialogue, in particular, is unusually stilted at times, and the story undoubtedly required a few more rewrites. Running barely an hour and a half, it appears significant portions of the film were also truncated, further harming the picture... or serving as a stroke of mercy, depending on one's outlook. Finally, for something so ambitious, the movie could have used some additional car stunts and the like.
However, SAFARI 3000 does have its charms, and doesn't quite deserve the obscurity it has always suffered. Admittedly, I do say that as a Channing obsessive. The film was gloriously shot on-location, and there are several encounters with wildlife that are alternately intense and wonderful. The widescreen cinematography (by Adam Greenburg, and badly hurt by pan & scan - when isn't it ever?) is nicely evocative of the surroundings (including some beautiful scenery), and Ernest Gold's jovial score isn't bad.
Furthermore, there's an amusingly hammy, Darth Vader-looking Christopher Lee, as villain Count Borgia, who pretentiously claims to be a descendant of that most infamous of families, and is accompanied by a ridiculously masochistic sidekick (Hamilton Camp).
And, of course, there's the palpable chemistry between Carradine and Channing, who presumably do better when ignoring the script and begin ad-libbing and interacting instinctively with one another. Carradine featured in both DEATH RACE 2000 and CANNONBALL, so this is familiar territory for him. And Channing once again proves herself to be as accomplished a comedic actress as a dramatic one. The woman can do it all. Scenario-wise, some of the comedy works on a farcical level, while other parts are simply farcical.
If you're a fan of Stockard Channing, David Carradine, Christopher Lee, safari rallies, and/or slapstick-type comedy, it really wouldn't hurt to check out SAFARI 3000. It would even be perfectly suitable for children were it not for one brief sex scene (unfortunately not involving Stockard!)
Harry Hurwitz' comedy-adventure takes more than a little inspiration from SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT and Paul Bartel's DEATH RACE 2000 and CANNONBALL - as well as a bit from Blake Edwards' THE GREAT RACE, Disney's THE LOVE BUG, and even Friedkin's SORCERER. You get the picture. The primary difference here is that Hurwitz transposes the action - a treacherous, long-distance auto race, involving varied, eccentric participants - to sub-Saharan Africa.
The main issue with SAFARI 3000 is the script. Four writers (three for story, and one for screenplay)... that's rarely a good sign. The dialogue, in particular, is unusually stilted at times, and the story undoubtedly required a few more rewrites. Running barely an hour and a half, it appears significant portions of the film were also truncated, further harming the picture... or serving as a stroke of mercy, depending on one's outlook. Finally, for something so ambitious, the movie could have used some additional car stunts and the like.
However, SAFARI 3000 does have its charms, and doesn't quite deserve the obscurity it has always suffered. Admittedly, I do say that as a Channing obsessive. The film was gloriously shot on-location, and there are several encounters with wildlife that are alternately intense and wonderful. The widescreen cinematography (by Adam Greenburg, and badly hurt by pan & scan - when isn't it ever?) is nicely evocative of the surroundings (including some beautiful scenery), and Ernest Gold's jovial score isn't bad.
Furthermore, there's an amusingly hammy, Darth Vader-looking Christopher Lee, as villain Count Borgia, who pretentiously claims to be a descendant of that most infamous of families, and is accompanied by a ridiculously masochistic sidekick (Hamilton Camp).
And, of course, there's the palpable chemistry between Carradine and Channing, who presumably do better when ignoring the script and begin ad-libbing and interacting instinctively with one another. Carradine featured in both DEATH RACE 2000 and CANNONBALL, so this is familiar territory for him. And Channing once again proves herself to be as accomplished a comedic actress as a dramatic one. The woman can do it all. Scenario-wise, some of the comedy works on a farcical level, while other parts are simply farcical.
If you're a fan of Stockard Channing, David Carradine, Christopher Lee, safari rallies, and/or slapstick-type comedy, it really wouldn't hurt to check out SAFARI 3000. It would even be perfectly suitable for children were it not for one brief sex scene (unfortunately not involving Stockard!)