Customer Reviews

Viva Knievel [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

"Viva Knievel!" is the answer to the eternal question "What if Jesus Christ was a chasm-jumping daredevil?" Playing himself as the motorcycle messiah with a helmet for a crown is "The Guinness Book of World Records" holder for most broken bones (35)-- Evel Knievel.

Knievel is a man with a heart bigger than the gaps he clears on his Harley and a charismatic wit that makes nuns, school teachers and photographers for exploitive news organizations swoon. The only thing bigger than Knievel's heart is his shirt collar. When he's not making death-defying leaps from red, white and blue ramps, Knievel can be found at orphanages giving out action figures of himself and inspiring children to be the best they can be.

Needless to say, the movie is awful, self-promoting schlock that, during its theatrical run, probably only played triple bills at the most misbegotten drive-ins in the lowest sphere of hell. Knievel gets involved in some cocaine smuggling plot that has something to do with his trailer and a rival motorcycle daredevil.

Other reputations dragged into this flaming pit full of man-eating lions with Knievel is an aged Gene Kelly (yes, Gene Kelly) as Will Atkins, Knievel's mechanic/alcoholic gap-jockey has been. Boozed up and callous, Will doesn't even have time for his abnormally voiced son who comes to visit. Lauren Hutton plays Kate Morgan, the photographer and love interest sent to shoot Knievel's last jump. Leslie Nielsen plays the baddie behind the drug smuggling and the only person, in terms of collar size, who rivals the magnificent Knievel.

But this wouldn't be an Evel Knievel movie without bike jumps, anti-drug messages and an affirmation of family values. We get all three plus the hippest theme song this side of the end credits theme from "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension." Viva Knievel! Viva bad cinema!

Heinous drug dealers want to use the famed stuntman's body as cover for a major drug smuggling operation, huh!?! On the side of good is the one and only Evel Knievel, backed up with Lauren Hutton, Gene Kelly (!!!), and Red Buttons (!). The bad guys are a bad movie buffs dream team - Leslie Nielsen, Albert Salmi, Marjoe Gortner, and Cameron Mitchell (with a sprinkle of Dabney Coleman tossed in for flavor)! Believe me, you WILL be in heaven watching this. Although Irwin Allen is not mentioned on the credits (unless I just plain old missed it) all of his standard production team (Harold Kress, L.B. Abbot, et al) are accounted for. Consider it the greatest bad movie Hal Needham never made. Recommended for those into such things as these.

OK - If you're looking for Easy Rider or some kind of epic.. this isn't it. But if you want a good party movie if you have the kind of friends that watch(ed) MST3K then this is a gold mine! Watch as Evel gets tough with a slim ball promoter! Help alcoholic Gene Kelly regain the love of his 9 year old son! Tackle Drug Lord Leslie Nielsen in a Motocycle Vs. Porsche chase! See Evel womanize his way with a photographer sent out to shoot his deadly last jump! Hear Evel equate the horror of illeagal drugs to Nitro in cars! Friends of orphans and Nuns alike, Evel does it all!

Shame that the DVD cover was photoshoped... the original poster ( and VHS box) showed Evel launching into the air from a ramp that was a giant hand gun.

I have seen this movie more then any other movie i ever watched,i've been an EVEL fan for over 30 years,i love this movie,great action an EVEL'S acting is better then most of the so called movie stars of today,Lauren Hutton never looked better,an the seen in the hospital with EVEL & an tommy is a real tear jerker,this is a must see movie for all EVEL fans an for anyone that wants to know what a REAL HERO is all about,which is something kids today just don't have,EVEL KNIEVEL was the greatest HERO a kid ever had bar none.

In the opening scene, Evel, playing himself in a fictional adventure, distributes toys--Evel Knievel action figures!--to orphans in the middle of the night...inspiring one handicapped child to throw away his crutches and walk. I swear I'm not making that up. Santa? Jesus? You just got SERVED!

In this grand testament to One Man's Ego, a cast already dripping with overripe hams (Including Leslie Nielsen as a drug lord! And Marjoe Gortner as a coke fiend!) finds itself overwhelmed by a clown on a bike as he reunites families, teaches a "feminist" to love, and defeats drug smugglers.

And you haven't lived until you've experienced the theme song...

I have read most of the reviews on this movie, and agree with many, as I have to respect people's point of view. However, I love this movie. When it first came out I was in (or almost in) high school, and was also a movie lover (still am).

This film hearkens back to the "good ole days" of film, where the hero saves the day. Evel is like a modern day John Wayne who rides his cycle (instead of a horse) through places in order to save the day.

Okay...do not expect Gone with the Wind, but if you want some action and some good old fashion fun, with a hero you can cheer for...this is the movie! Viva Knieval!

I recently bought a video tape of this film expecting it to be somewhat funny...it turned out to be one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. And that's saying alot since it was made as a dramatic vehicle for the one, the only, EVEL KNIEVEL.

I can't believe all of the negative comments that have been posted for this film. Sure the acting is bad and the plot is subpar, but overall, this movie is destined for cult status!

This 1 hour and 40 minute film turned into a three hour viewing experience for me since I was laughing so hard at everything, and I knew I was missing more great dialogue and acting...I'd have to stop the video, rewind it, and watch again...and I'd laugh just as hard the second time. Even now, while writing this review, I'm laughing to myself just thinking of certain scenes...especially the "drug speech."

I won't spoil anything for those reading this...Just pop this baby in your VCR and "sit down and take a load off!"

And who the hell did Frank Gifford have to sleep with to get his name mentioned so many times in this film?

PUT THIS FILM ON DVD in WIDESCREEN!!

Awesome baby..Viva Knievel coming to dvd its about time,Evel Knievel was the coolest an greatest superhero ever.Can't wait to see it on dvd..I hope they give it some extras.One of my favorite movies of all time.

One of the most entertaing movies I have seen. Very hard to find the video store, the only place I have seen it was on The Late Show at 1:00 in the morning. The movie has it all, Evel Knievl, Gene Kelly, Lauren Hutton, and even a Cameo by Frank Gifford. Multiple car/motorcycle chases, fights, death defying jumps, and of course sweet loving are all included in this action packed one and a half hour movie. I do not recommend viewing this movie sober.

So-So Movie. But At Least There's some Stunts, including A cool Looking Peterbilt 352 Cabover. And Evel Knievel was in it. so. Hutton is in it. the plot is typical and the acting bad. but it's a bad movie that's good. if that makes sense.