Joyride [DVD]

This movie is a time capsule. It's a trip back to the late 70's. A story about four wayward young souls acting out and - somewhat - paying the price for their bad behavior.Content - There is plenty of theft, there is prostitution, light simulation of sexual relationships, violence, destruction of property, multiple vehicles are stolen, a house is broken into, there is a simulated urine projecting contest, and there are multiple brief nude scenes (above the waist frontal and one posterior).The acting is average for the era and the story line stretches believability in that the behavior exhibited would have resulted in the death or lifetime jailing of the characters. That said, the movie reminded me of holding down a job as a young person, going on spontaneous road trips, and having watched friends exhibit outrageous antics back in the day. Four stars for a trip back in time and four likeable young actors who in the movie are playing somewhat unlikable characters.

Typical B movie from the 70s. The only thing interesting was seeing Melanie Griffin that young. What really didn't make sense was taking a trip to Alaska, back then. California was a paradise in the 70s. No need to leave the State to take a great road trip. The other awkward thing about the movie is 2 guys and 1 girl going to a State where the gender demographics were 7 guys for every girl. This was due to the high influx of guys to work on the pipeline. I suppose it stood to reason the only girl the odd guy could hook up with was a hooker. Nothing remarkable about this film at all.

Never found this one before. Great movie.

If you're the type of person who loves road trip style movies and classic american cars then this is for you. I first saw this film back around 1990 and it had a lasting effect. So glad it's now available on DVD.The story is set in late sixties/early seventies and is about three close friends (v.close friends - almost a menage et trois) who fed up with their day jobs in somewhere like Pennsylvania travel to Alaska. A whole host of events happen to them before they end up robbing the pipeline company of which they were briefly employed by (and then screwed over by one of the foremen). They then go on the run and attempt to get to Canada.Good acting by the whole cast (classic scenes `the p##sing contest`, and `smashing up the Mercury Cougar XR7`.Cars featured; '68/'69 Dodge Charger, '57 Pontiac super chief catalina, '67 Mercury Cougar XR-7, '68 Pontiac Le Mans and other various 50's & 60's vehicles.Overall a very watchable movie with loads of nostalgia, (would age rate this for 15yo+ due to minor bad language and minor violence)

The young and beautiful Melanie Griffith shines like an angel. They are four bored young folks sick of the same old town, so they head off to Alaska for a change of scenery. They work a little for gas and food and when things get really tough, they steal a little bit. Imagine a less intense version of Thelma & Louise without all the bullets. What it does have are some really good actors. Melanie pretty much steals the show with her incredible charm. Robert Carradine, Desi Arnez Jr, and Anne Lockhart are, like Melanie, all in their teens but they perform like seasoned pros. Well directed with some nice cinematography of the Alaskan country and interesting characters with good chemistry.

Good movie and funny.

tape was completely blank.

"Joyride" is an independent 1977 road flick starring the sons of Desi Arnaz (and Lucy) & John Carradine and the daughters of Tippi Hedren & June Lockhart.THE STORY: Three footloose youths, two guys and a girl (a young Melanie Griffith) all around the ages of 18-20, decide to leave their dead-end jobs and travel to Alaska. They have some half-baked plan to become salmon fishermen, but they're more likely just looking for adventure, fun and possibly a sense of purpose. Unfortunately they're forced to pick up other dead-end jobs, including working for the oil pipeline. Desperation leads to crime where they acquire a hostage (Anne Lockhart).I never heard of this film before and took a chance picking it up. I was under the impression that it was a fun 70's car-chase flick like "Eat My Dust" or "Grand Theft Auto." Although it shares aspects of those types of films I was surprised to discover that "Joyride" is essentially a serious road flick, the second half taking on elements of "Bonnie And Clyde." Although this is a fairly low-budget independent film it's quite professionally made. The Washington locations are great and the acting is fine. Anne Lockhart is easy on the eyes and Melanie isn't bad either.I encourage you to read M.G. DaVega's review from May 11, 2008, because he accurately points out what may turn some viewers off. The story has a meandering vibe because the kids are living aimless lives. They're not necessarily "bad kids" or unlikable (although they later turn bad via bad choices); in fact, one part of the story shows one of the guys boldly taking a stand for what's right while working security for the pipeline, but it ends up costing them. DaVega rightly argues that the viewer is unsympathetic towards the youths because they increasingly turn to crime as the story progresses. He calls them "half-wits" who do stupid things and engage in unsavory & deplorable acts like shoplifting, public drunkenness, pissing contests (literally), auto theft, breaking & entering, and armed robbery of the pipeline company.DaVega also points out that they (seemingly) learn no moral lesson through their experiences and are not much different at the end than at the beginning.These valid criticisms will certainly turn some viewers off, but I'd like to point out that the events in the story aren't even close to being as morally shocking & appalling as in, say, 1966's "The Wild Angels."Although the characters seemingly learn no moral lesson, the film itself is a moral lesson, not to mention it smacks of reality. I can remember when I was in my mid-to-late teens, living an aimless existence and doing incredibly stupid things, just as dumb and senseless as depicted in this movie. So I can relate to the kids, their situations and foolish choices. Simply put, "Joyride" is a portrait of lost, fallen humanity. The title is sarcastic because the kid's adventure is more laborious and miserable than fun and joyful, not that there aren't any lighthearted moments.The film successfully depicts the meaningless, aimless and darkened nature of life "under the sun," in particularly for those who are unaware of the designs of the Creator, or who simply refuse to seek/acknowledge the Almighty. Read the relatively short ancient book of Ecclesiastes to get my drift.***SPOILER ALERT*** Anyway, the picture ends with the kids getting lost and stranded in the Northwest wilderness, which is reminiscent of that family that got stranded near the Rogue River in Oregon not many years ago.***END SPOILER***BOTTOM LINE: DaVega is wrong to say that anyone who likes this film has "extremely low standards for movies." I can see why the film turned him off, but his objections are based solely on moral grounds. This doesn't mean "Joyride" isn't worthwhile or well-made for an independent 70's flick. On the contrary, the meandering story keeps the viewer's attention (which is pretty much the most important gauge for discerning the worthiness of a picture), and the film itself makes a potent moral point about the fallen nature of humanity. Plus the viewer gets a good glimpse of what it was like to work on the pipeline back then.If nothing else, "Joyride" is worth seeing because it's like traveling back in time to 1977.GRADE: B

Spannendes Roadmovie. Hervorragend mit Melanie Griffith, Robert Carradine und Desi Arnaz jr. besetzt. Junge Leute ohne Geld mit einem geklauten Auto auf der Flucht in die Freiheit. Dabei geschehen unerwartete dramatische Abenteuer. Wer hier die ganz große Action erwartet wird etwas enttäuscht. Der Film legt mehr wert auf die Freundschaft zwischen den jungen Leuten, die immer wieder auf die Probe gestellt wird. Dies soll natürlich kein Minuspunkt sein. Ein riesiger Pluspunkt ist die genial eingesetzte Musik vom Electric Light Orchestra.Diesen Film lege ich vor allem Fans von ELO und Melanie Griffith ans Herz, die hier in einen ihrer ersten Rollen glänzt. Fazit:3 Punkte für die Handlung, die zwar spannend ist, aber einem nicht vom Hocker reisst, 4 Punkte für die Darsteller und 5 Punkte für die Musik!