Runaway Car (1997)

A nurse apprentice, who had a bad day at work, meets a computer programmer at a car garage. The man is urged to go somewhere, but his car is not ready yet, so the nurse offers him a ride. ... See full summary »

Director:

Jack Sholder

Writer:

Paul F. Edwards

Stars:

Judge Reinhold, Nina Siemaszko, Brian Hooks

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Judge Reinhold	...	Ed Lautner
Nina Siemaszko	...	Jenny Todd
Brian Hooks	...	Dexter 'Dex' Strang
Paul Eiding	...	Wally Baird
Glenn Morshower	...	Captain Jim Louben
Brian Reddy	...	Capt. Doug Carsten
Leon	...	Officer Isaiah 'Beau' Beaufort
Elizabeth Dennehy	...	Shari Todd
Tia Texada	...	Lupe
Michael Potter	...	Chief
Ketty Lester	...	Willie Mae
John McCann	...	Governor
Maree Cheatham	...	Jenny's Mother
Zoey Tur	...	T.V. News Reporter (as Bob Tur)
Rick Hurst	...	Pack

Storyline

A nurse apprentice, who had a bad day at work, meets a computer programmer at a car garage. The man is urged to go somewhere, but his car is not ready yet, so the nurse offers him a ride. Before leaving the man, they pick up the nurse's baby nephew. Once on the street, they almost run over a young man. Not knowing if he is hurt, they pick up the man too. But the worst luck begins when the car brakes break down.

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Plot Keywords:

nurse | baby | garage | chase | police | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Out of Control

Company Credits

Production Co:

Finnegan/Pinchuk Productions,Hard Time Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was a concept for the sequel to "Speed". It was scratched because they felt it wouldn't be that suspenseful.

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Goofs

Damage to Jenny's car door disappears and reappears several times. Also, worse damage from sideswiping a semi truck is seen briefly some time before the accident.

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Quotes

Dexter 'Dex' Strang: [Jenny presses on the gas, and the car takes off] Woah, yeah! Ha ha, step on it!
Dexter 'Dex' Strang: [a Police car pulls up behind them] Uh Oh, the long arm of the law!

User Reviews

Baby on board: a magnificent, sweeping tale of love and romance, with a minor subplot.

This 1997 film-blanc classic tale of smoldering passion has achieved its well-deserved legendary status as one of the screen's greatest sagas of a doomed and hopeless love. The pervasive, ongoing and progressive magnetism between Judge Reinhold and what's-her-name is sure to set many a viewer's heart a-flutter with memories of one's own first crush. The brilliant screenplay dangles this embryonic affair-to-be in front of the enraptured audience, sitting transfixed as the abstract, almost-expressionist cinematography deep-focuses on the just-under-the-surface desires that ebb and flow between the principals. You can cut the sexual tension with a dull tire iron.

A tiny drop of perspiration on the end of a nose catches the bright sunshine, and leaves no doubt as to its significance. Scenes like this abound and bear watching again and again. As with "Jane Eyre" and "Rebecca" (to which this masterpiece is so often compared), the closeups of the actors' faces as they experience the slow dawning of the great love-that-is-not-to-be will haunt you forever.

The now-classic RC soundtrack score, with its creative and unique use of solo synthesizer, emphasizes the emotion that drips throughout like a leaky crankcase.

If I had any criticisms at all by mentioning what I consider a minor flaw (and dared to risk the wrath of the millions of fans who hold this classic so dear to their hearts), I would say that the hallmark of "Runaway Car" - its sense of mounting sexual tension - is briefly broken by the highway scene, which now after repeated viewings seems just a bit overlong (and probably even unnecessary?) to the eternal, bittersweet tale of Love Interrupted.

Dare I advance what I perceive as the tiniest of flaws in this critically-acclaimed triumph of modern cinema? 'Citizen Kane' had its 'Rosebud' . . . 'Runaway Car' should have its catchword as well. Perhaps the film could have opened with an extreme closeup of Judge Reinhold saying something such as "A car is an extension of its owner!", and the rest of the storyline could then be dedicated to parsing every syllable, subtlety and nuance of that phrase. Had that plot line been done, this film could have topped "Titanic" at the Golden Globes that year, I'm convinced.

My one regret? That I didn't read the novel first.