The first - and only - attempt to launch real-life daredevil Evel Knievel as a movie star is patently cheesy, silly stuff. Evel, beloved by many adoring fans, gets mixed up with a mobster (Leslie Nielsen, in one of the last few "serious" roles of his career) who's putting lots of money into a drug-smuggling operation for which he needs Evels' huge van. But fear not: Evel will take on Nielsen and all of his goons (including Cameron Mitchell, Albert Salmi and stuntman Ernie Orsatti) and work hard to save the day, all with the assistance of his ace mechanic (an ageing and amusingly cranky Gene Kelly, in a real character role).
Ultimately leading to some pretty decent action scenes (among them, a leap by a motorcycle onto a moving van), "Viva Knievel!" is pretty goofy. It begins as Evel sneaks into an orphanage and distributes gifts to the children, whereupon one kid is so inspired by the guy that he is able to throw away his crutches! The movie never gets better from there, but it's so gosh-darn dumb that it's hard to resist. Evel himself is rather charisma-free as an "actor", leaving heavyweights like Kelly, Red Buttons (as a sleazy but still likeable promoter), and Nielsen to carry the acting load. Evel also has no real chemistry with Lauren Hutton, who plays a big-time photographer whose assignment is to take pics of his jumps just on the chance that the current jump might be his LAST one. But Evel does get to utter one hilarious, "inspiring" speech where he warns his admirers about the dangers of putting "nitro" into their bodies.
The daft plot, the (unintentionally?) funny dialogue, the priceless attempt to go for pathos when detailing Kelly's strained relationship with the son (Eric Olson) whom he hadn't seen for 10 years all add up to classic bad-movie entertainment. Obviously just another gig for the solid journeyman director Gordon Douglas, this is nevertheless a hoot to behold, complete with supporting performances by the likes of Frank Gifford (as himself), Dabney Coleman, and ever-grinning Marjoe Gortner as a friendly rival. Plus, that theme song is so insidiously catchy that it sticks in your head for a while.
Five out of 10.
Ultimately leading to some pretty decent action scenes (among them, a leap by a motorcycle onto a moving van), "Viva Knievel!" is pretty goofy. It begins as Evel sneaks into an orphanage and distributes gifts to the children, whereupon one kid is so inspired by the guy that he is able to throw away his crutches! The movie never gets better from there, but it's so gosh-darn dumb that it's hard to resist. Evel himself is rather charisma-free as an "actor", leaving heavyweights like Kelly, Red Buttons (as a sleazy but still likeable promoter), and Nielsen to carry the acting load. Evel also has no real chemistry with Lauren Hutton, who plays a big-time photographer whose assignment is to take pics of his jumps just on the chance that the current jump might be his LAST one. But Evel does get to utter one hilarious, "inspiring" speech where he warns his admirers about the dangers of putting "nitro" into their bodies.
The daft plot, the (unintentionally?) funny dialogue, the priceless attempt to go for pathos when detailing Kelly's strained relationship with the son (Eric Olson) whom he hadn't seen for 10 years all add up to classic bad-movie entertainment. Obviously just another gig for the solid journeyman director Gordon Douglas, this is nevertheless a hoot to behold, complete with supporting performances by the likes of Frank Gifford (as himself), Dabney Coleman, and ever-grinning Marjoe Gortner as a friendly rival. Plus, that theme song is so insidiously catchy that it sticks in your head for a while.
Five out of 10.