THE GUMBALL RALLY (1976) **1/2 It wasn't even an original idea at the time, but this film is probably what reminded some other guys to do The Cannonball Run, which, in turn, is why the plot's now as familiar as Cinderella. Which is good, but kind of too bad in a way, as this is the better film (I mean than Cannonball, but either of them really), if by a relatively slim (but not photo-finish) margin. The characters are drawn as archetypes (elderly gentlemen, frustrated housewives who think they're nearing middle-age, bored captains of industry, etc.) and generally neither add nor detract from the model. The exceptions are Raul Julia, who is very funny as the Italian racer, and Gary Busey, who exhorts in an appealing but nearly porcine manner as the southern grease monkey. Michael Sarrazin serves as the focus, and keeps things moving along in a Peter Fonda-lite sort of way. I should probably clarify, for 21st century viewers, that he's supposed to be cool even though he's a corporate goof. That the actors stay out of the way is good, as the real stars are the magnificent machines: a Ferrari Daytona, Corvette, Camaro, Porsche 911 Targa, Jaguar XKE (which performs precisely like the XJS that I once briefly owned), Cobra, classic Mercedes, plumbing van, flying Kawasaki, and, obviously, hundreds of police cars. I voted for Julia, but will the hero's personality flaws bring him down in sub-Shakespearean style?! Next time you find yourself in a milieu in which internal combustion is worshipped, trying walking up to people you've never met and whispering "gumball."