Recap: Paula Powers, daughter of governor candidate Bigby Powers, has decided to spurn the fiancée, Collins, that her parents have chosen for her, and elope with her love Sam. She steals Bigby's Rolls Royce and heads for Vegas. This doesn't sit very well with Bigby and he hires a private investigator to catch them. Paula's wannabe fiancée also has something to say about Paula's idea and sets after them in his Porsche. But when he crashes his car, he calls to a popular radio station offering 25 000 dollars if the pair is caught, then steals a car and restarts the chase. Collin's mother then offers an additional 25 000 dollar if someone can return Collins to her unharmed. And then the chase is really on. Everyone that spots the Rolls wants in on the action, and it doesn't help that the whole circus is reported live.
Comments: One of a few quite similar movies that appeared at the end of the 70's along with such titles as Smokey and the Bandit and Gone in 60 Seconds. Like many of the others, Grand Theft Auto has a simple idea, offer a simple excuse for an extended car chase, crash a lot of vehicles in spectacular ways, and run it for approximately 90 minutes. As it is made in the late 70's, and on a low budget to boot, the special effects is notably poor. The cheapest effect that seemed readily available was to smash and crash cars, so that is repeated extensively. They actually takes it so far so that they actually end up in demolition derby, which just puts a name on what it has been all the way. But at as such it offers some easy entertainment, a few laughs and some very easy watching.
A little extra fun to watch as it is the real directing debut of Ron Howard, who also plays the lead character Sam in the movie. With the story as it is, which was also written partly by Ron, I can't say it is obvious that he would become a famous director. But you got to start somewhere. And as in many other of Ron's movies, brother Clint also appears in the cast.
But other than that, it isn't much to remember. If you enjoy a car chase movie, this is maybe something you want to see. If that doesn't necessarily thrill you, skip it.
5/10
Comments: One of a few quite similar movies that appeared at the end of the 70's along with such titles as Smokey and the Bandit and Gone in 60 Seconds. Like many of the others, Grand Theft Auto has a simple idea, offer a simple excuse for an extended car chase, crash a lot of vehicles in spectacular ways, and run it for approximately 90 minutes. As it is made in the late 70's, and on a low budget to boot, the special effects is notably poor. The cheapest effect that seemed readily available was to smash and crash cars, so that is repeated extensively. They actually takes it so far so that they actually end up in demolition derby, which just puts a name on what it has been all the way. But at as such it offers some easy entertainment, a few laughs and some very easy watching.
A little extra fun to watch as it is the real directing debut of Ron Howard, who also plays the lead character Sam in the movie. With the story as it is, which was also written partly by Ron, I can't say it is obvious that he would become a famous director. But you got to start somewhere. And as in many other of Ron's movies, brother Clint also appears in the cast.
But other than that, it isn't much to remember. If you enjoy a car chase movie, this is maybe something you want to see. If that doesn't necessarily thrill you, skip it.
5/10