The Longshot

Tim Conway (writer) really knew how to put together a fine comedic project. These characters' logic reminded me of that of my gambling friends but the main point is that I was laughing throughout this thing (while watching it on TV, with lots of naughty words cut out). Yeah, Conway, Jack Weston, & Harvey Keitel really knew their stuff. They made each line work. As much as I enjoy Anne Meara, I also appreciate Stella Stevens bringing a different element to this flick. Sure, this was rather formulaic -- I wish there were MORE 26-year-old formula comedies for me to watch over lunch to get me started on my weekend. What did a running toilet have to do with gambling? So what? Conway made it so that I'll never look at a toilet the same again.

Watched this recently for the first time in many years on Netflix, as I thought it might be the same movie I enjoyed when I was a kid, and it was! 'The Longshot' is a fun, breezy way to pass a rainy afternoon with a few chuckles, and I must say some good laughs.

The plot concerns four buddies who love betting horses at their local track. With not much else going on in their lives (They are presented as lovable losers), they fall into a scheme to bet a fixed horse race with money borrowed from the mob! Tim Conway (Who wrote the script) Harvey Korman, Jack Weston, and Ted Wass are the four buddies who take part in the action. We get a glimpse into each characters home life, where they are browbeaten husbands, content to play cards in Conway's garage, or, in a great scene, happy to grill steaks in the back of Ted Wass' possessed station wagon. It really is a funny movie with some good comic performances from all the actors. I won't give away the ending, but suffice to say it'll leave a smile on your face as the credits roll.

Two bonuses, Eddie Deezen (Of 'Grease' fame plays a funny bellhop in a cameo, and Jonathan Winters brings the laughs as an old tow truck driver. Give the 'Longshot' a chance, you'll be happy you did!

Harvey korman and tim conway. They were so funny on carol burnett. But this was eight years after that. In a film written by conway himself! Has funny man jack weston. Anne meara is the nagging wife. Even frank bonner, a couple years after "wkrp". Jonathan winters. Even edie mcclurg (ferris beuhler). The gang spends all their time betting. On everything. So when they find a sure thing, they borrow the cash from a gangsta. But if they can't pay it back, they will lose their knee caps. Or thumbs. Or something. It's silly fun! It's a good one. Produced by the talented mike nichols. Directed by paul bartel, best known for "eating raoul". Also did "lust in the dust" and cannonball! Check it out... some pretty funny jokes here and there. On free tubi streaming.

"The Longshot" is the story of four losers who get what they think is the break of a lifetime. A tip on a horse that can't lose. So they scrape every penny they can together to make a bet on the title's longshot.

That's about all there is to this film. It is said that Conway wrote the script in 24 hours. It shows. It plays more like a group of skits from "The Carol Burnett Show" then a movie with such a thin plot line. But for fans of Tim Conway (especially) it has its amusing moments. Stella Stevens offers a little support in a throw away role but looks sexy enough to be memorable. If you have time to waste and need a few chuckles then you could do worse.

I've never been into horse races, so "The Longshot" shouldn't be the sort of movie that appeals to me. I took an interest because it's directed by Paul Bartel (of "Eating Raoul" fame) and because the cast includes Harvey Korman, Tim Conway and Stella Stevens.

It's a mixed bag. There are some slapstick scenes (namely the toilet) and some sexy ones (Stella Stevens was always a babe), but it's not exactly laugh-out-loud funny. Maybe it wasn't trying to be. Either way, this is one movie that won't appeal to everyone. Definitely more sedate than I prefer.

The rest of the cast includes Anne Meara, Edie McClurg, Eddie Deezen and Jonathan Winters.