Rat Race (2001)

A Las Vegas casino magnate, determined to find a new avenue for wagering, sets up a race for money.

Director:

Jerry Zucker

Writer:

Andy Breckman

Stars:

Breckin Meyer, Amy Smart, Whoopi Goldberg

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Breckin Meyer	...	Nick Schaffer
Jenica Bergere	...	Hotel Clerk
Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Owen Templeton
Carrie Diamond	...	Casino Bartender
Douglas Haase	...	Guy at Bar
Chris Myers	...	Fox Sportscaster
Kevin Frazier	...	Fox Sportscaster
Seth Green	...	Duane Cody
Gloria Allred	...	Gloria Allred
Vince Vieluf	...	Blaine Cody
Renée Lee	...	Witness in Crowd
Corinna Harney	...	Cocktail Waitress (as Corinna Harney Jones)
Jane C. Walsh	...	Cocktail Waitress
Lanei Chapman	...	Merrill Jennings (as Lanai Chapman)
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Vera Baker

Storyline

Donald P. Sinclair has placed six separate gold coins in different slot machines in his casino. The lucky six who find these coins discover an opportunity of a lifetime. The chance to own $2 million. Locked up in a locker in New Mexico, these six contestants must now race each other, to be the first to the cash. There are no rules in place and everything that could possibly happen, does. Whilst, behind the scenes, Sinclair's associates are placing their bets.

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Plot Keywords:

on the road | mother daughter reunion | rock concert | casino | money | 

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Taglines:

563 miles. 9 people. $2 million. 1001 problems!

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual references, crude humor, partial nudity and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 August 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rat Race

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$48,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,662,094, 19 August 2001, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$56,618,055

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$85,498,534

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures,Alphaville Films,Fireworks Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vince Vieluf who portrays Blaine Cody, did not appear on any of the film's posters or promotional material, even though he is one of the main characters, due to an agent who tried to secure star-billing. Vieluf has since fired the agent.

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Goofs

When Enrico is seen on the train from the outside he is watching the scenery zooming past. When seen from the inside, the scenery is going in the opposite direction

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Quotes

Enrico Pollini: Am I too late ? Look I won a coin, a gold coin! Oh, isn't this wonderful? Look at this room, what a beautiful room, have you seen this room?
Randy Pear: Yes! We're in it!

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Crazy Credits

Randy Pear plays the harmonica found in Hitler's Mercedes-Benz.

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Alternate Versions

The KLM (Royal Dutch Airline) Version has had all views of a Saudi Arabian gambler (with Donald Sinclair at the concert at the end of the film) digitally "speckled out".

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Connections

Spoofs Armageddon (1998)

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Soundtracks

Rat Race (Choir Version)
Written by David Forman, Jon Carin & Rick Chertoff
Performed by Baha Men
Produced by Rick Chertoff & Jon Carin
Baha Men perform courtesy of S-Curve Records
Choir Performed by London Voices
Choir Produced by John Powell

User Reviews

A human horse race!

AIRPLANE! crashes into MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD!

Duck and cover. The antics are silly, but they come at you fast and furious -- a transvestile Lucy (in a whole bunch of Lucys), squirrels, cows, balloons, a dead dog, a heart transplant, car wrecks, bowel movements, a bullet train, and much much more.

It's slapstick and double take time in this zany comedy about human greed and just plain old stupidity. The story line gets pretty ragged at times but it is funny. And it even has a message.

If you want to lose yourself for two hours in a nutty comedy, this is a good bet.