DVD Collectors Online

Stroker Ace , a review by Dragonfire

Stroker Ace



Racing champion Stroker Ace (Burt Reynolds) is one of the most respected NASCAR-circuit drivers. So how come everybody's laughing? Could it be that chicken suit he's wearing, maybe?

Reyonlds rejoins director Hal Needham (Hooper, Smokey and the Bandit) for another engine block-buster. When Stroker signs a sponsor contract with a sly fried-chicken magnate (Ned Beatty) without reading it, he feels like a dumb cluck: now he must cut ribbons at fast-food outlets, hawk chicken on TV and wear that dumb outfit - even when driving. Jim Nabors, Parker Stevenon and Loni Anderson co-star in this ace-high action comedy.

My Thoughts

I first saw this one years ago on television.  I remember liking it a lot then and I would watch it whenever I found it on television again.  I have the movie as part of a 3 movie set along with Hooper and Sharky's Machine.  I watched the movie for the first time in years recently.  I still managed to enjoy the movie overall, though I see more flaws in it now than I did when I originally saw it.

Within the first few minutes, it is clear that Stroker is arrogant and basically a jerk even though he is a fan favorite driver.  He likes to have a good time and he doesn't take much of anything seriously.  He doesn't even care about ticking off his sponsor, which is how he ends up in the mess with Clyde Torkel.  Stroker signs the massive contract without reading it and ends up forced into making all kinds of appearances and even wear a chicken suit.  The plot is very thin, though it is entertaining to see Burt Reynolds in the chicken suit.  Some of what happens is funny, though many of the attempts at humor don't work that well.  A lot of what happens is silly or just stupid. 

Several racing scenes are used in the movie.  I don't know a lot about racing, but it seems accurate.  There are some crashes which add a bit of excitement to some scenes.  Footage from some actual races is used.  Sometimes the footage blends in well and other times it stands out because of the difference in the picture quality.  Stroker ends up having a rivalry with another driver for no particular reason.  I think that was supposed to add some complications but that part of the plot isn't developed enough to be complicated. 

The characters are sort of interesting, though none of them are developed that much.  Stroker is basically a jerk who chases after every woman he sees.  He does start to act a little better later in the movie.  He is the most developed character, but he is still very flat.  The cast is fine in the parts, though nothing special.

The movie manages to be entertaining, though it has issues.  It won't appeal to a lot of people.  Fans of the cast might find something to like.



I did post a review on Epinions if anyone wants to take a look.

Stroker Ace

(From Stroker Ace on September 5th, 2010)

Clerks, a review by addicted2dvd

Clerks: Widescreen Collector's Series (1994/United States) Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Miramax Home Entertainment Director: Kevin Smith Writing: Kevin Smith (Writer) Length: 92 min. Rating: Rated R : Extensive Use of Extremely Explicit Sex-related Dialogue Video: Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: English

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Stars:
Brian O'Halloran as Dante
Jeff Anderson as Randal
Marilyn Ghigliotti as Veronica
Lisa Spoonhauer as Caitlin
Jason Mewes as Jay
Kevin Smith as Silent Bob

Plot:Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Music Videos
• Closed Captioned

This is a movie several people told me was good and that I need to see it. So I was thrilled when it showed up in a recent box of DVDs that was given to me. I recently watched a couple episodes of Kevin Smith's TV Series Comic Book Men... and that reminded me that I had this movie to watch. I went into this one hoping I didn't have my expectations up too high. The first thing I noticed... that I didn't realize till now is that this movie was filmed in Black and White. I found this to just be a fun movie. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I have been both a convenient store and a video store clerk at some point in my life.... but I was able to relate to some of the things these clerks were saying... and I just got a kick out of some of the over the top  situations. I am glad I finally got around to checking this one out. I especially got a kick out of Randal's rant on Return of the Jedi and when he was ordering porn titles for the video store. After seeing this movie I need to see if I can get my hands on Clerks II.




(From The Movies from Within My Lifetime: 2012 Edition on February 24th, 2012)

Veronica Mars Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

5. President Evil
Bad news for the thugs who hold up an illegal campus casino: Veronica's among the victims. And she is seriously ticked off when they score the necklace Lilly gave her.

My Thoughts:
A good episode. It is not what I would call a Halloween episode... but they do let on that it is Halloween time and do see a scene with them in costumes. I liked the weekly mystery here as well as the side story with Keith Mars.

My Rating:

6. Hi, Infidelity
"I want someone like you in my program." Veronica's hot-shot criminology professor is wowed by her term paper...until a classmate accuses her of plagiarism. Wallace gives up hoops to focus on his studies.

My Thoughts:
This is another one I liked. I like the hunt veronica was on to see how her "A" paper got on the net.

My Rating:

7. Of Vice and Men
When the men in Veronica's life let her down, she takes refuge in Wallace and Piz's empty dorm room. But wouldn't you know, the guy next door is missing and his girlfriend wants Veronica's help finding him.

My Thoughts:
Another right good one that I enjoyed quite a bit. I especially liked the turn the ending took.

My Rating:

8. Lord of the Pi's
Frat rats. Fakers. A keester egg. A missing heiress. And a chubby Theta Beta stepping off the sorority house roof. They all figure in a trustee vote that may end the Greek system at Hearst.

My Thoughts:
Not a bad episode... though it could have been better. I found I just didn't care too much about the whole missing heiress storyline.

My Rating:



(From Veronica Mars Marathon on April 18th, 2010)