The Big Bus

I surprised myself with how much I laughed. Definitely in the vein of a later movie; Airplane. Fun, b-movie acting and production values abound.

Again

"The Big Bus" was -- along with the 1976 movie "Drive-In" -- an early parody of Seventies disaster flicks. The movie excels at faux melodrama and purposely stupid scenes. The B-list cast is consistently likable and well-regarded for its comic talent. That casting, unfortunately, presents a weakness in the film. Quite simply, jokes in "The Big Bus" are hit-or-miss. There are simply too many known comic actors here, competing for screen time. The movie is additionally hamstrung by a tame PG rating, and by the setting's overwhelming absurdity: Once you've toured the nuclear-powered bus with more rooms than The Love Boat, it's difficult for the gags to fully measure up to their environment. The 1980 smash "Airplane!" borrowed certain gags from The Big Bus and, through careful editing, improved on them by upping the raunch just a notch; placing the action in a setting that wouldn't overpower the jokes; and utilizing a cast of actors who were known for serious roles, who were therefore defying audience expectations with every gag. "The Big Bus" bombed at the box office, but developed a deserved cult following among people (like me) who appreciate the impressive cast; the writers' witty mockery of the movies and social concerns of their day; the megabus itself; the precedent that was set for future spoofs; and this movie's crazy ending.

This movie is amazing! It is funny and sweet, and has it's "thriller" times too! Stockard Channing is amazing (when is she not?) and, in my opinion, outshines the rest of the amazing cast. I definitely recommend this movie to anyone who likes "stupid-ish" (but extreamly funny) humor, and once you watch it, you will fall in love with the movie. It is definitely worth the $10! Enjoy! :D