SNOWBALL EXPRESS (1972) ** Period Dean Jones Disney comedy, but not one of the best ones. The formula's there, but nearly buried in problems instead of snow or clever moments. If anything the writers convince me that it's not a good idea for NYC insurance salesmen to bail out of the rat race and head for the wilds. And not just because Dean is relatively hopeless, more because every whimsical event that bails him out wouldn't happen. It's obvious that they don't know how these things eventually work themselves out, in addition to writing one that doesn't make sense on so many levels, etc. All would be forgiven, of course, if it either acknowledged these shortcomings, transcended them by being entertaining, or-best of all-used them as a sword by going absurdist. I thought they had a chance when they were in the mine, but instead they just keep giving you too much time to think, and it's all pretty much fizzled out by the end. Henry Morgan has some moments, but he could have used a foil, Burl Ives or someone, to work up some senile Butch & Sundance schtick.
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