★ 7 / 10
Starts off better than it finishes, but <em>'Snowball
r96sk
Starts off better than it finishes, but 'Snowball Express' is still a fairly fun watch. Dean Jones (Johnny) is once again the best actor on display, though…
Starts off better than it finishes, but 'Snowball Express' is still a fairly fun watch.
Dean Jones (Johnny) is once again the best actor on display, though Harry Morgan (Jesse) runs him relatively close. Keenan Wynn is alright as Ridgeway, though I'm not a huge fan of Wynn's - which isn't good given he basically plays the same type of character over and over.
The premise and how it progresses is fine - could've been greater, could've been worse. It's not as funny as I would've predicted/how the film thinks it is, but there are one or two decent gags worthy of a chuckle.
Nothing spectacular, probably worth a view to see if you like it though.
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★ 7 / 10
"There's a fish in my drink." "Not so loud, everybody'll want one!"
Hey_Sweden
Dean Jones once again goes through his Disney paces, giving a typically engaging performance as Johnny Baxter, an accountant who inherits a run-down lodge in…
Dean Jones once again goes through his Disney paces, giving a typically engaging performance as Johnny Baxter, an accountant who inherits a run-down lodge in Colorado. He hears that the place pulls in $14,000 a month, and that's enough for him to say sayonara to his current job and pull stakes & head for Colorado. He eventually gets the bright idea to turn the lodge into a ski resort. There are, of course, obstacles along the road to success, but he's determined to realize this dream.These live-action Disney comedies of the 1960s and 1970s were certainly formula-bound, but this one works pretty well, thanks to a generous amount of genuine laughs, and some truly impressive stunts on the snowy slopes. Much of the running time is devoted to skiing and snowmobiling mishaps, and the hilarious highlight is when Johnny makes his first attempt at skiing. (He's reasoned that he should have some knowledge of the sport if he's going to be running a ski lodge.) The whole thing may be silly, but it's *agreeably* silly, complete with a suitably smarmy, and fun, performance by Keenan Wynn as the greedy, villainous banker Martin Ridgeway.The cast features a number of familiar faces: Nancy Olson (the female lead in "The Absent-Minded Professor" 11 years previous) as Johnny's wife, Kathleen Cody ("Hot Summer Week") and Johnny Whitaker ('Family Affair') as his kids, a priceless Harry Morgan, pre-'M*A*S*H', as grizzled old fart Jesse McCord, Michael McGreevey (from two of the Dexter Riley Disney comedies) as amiable Wally Perkins, George Lindsey of 'The Andy Griffith Show' as local character "Double L Dingman", Mary Wickes ("Sister Act" 1 and 2) as Ridgeway's secretary, and Dick Van Patten of 'Eight is Enough' fame as Johnny's boss in the opening scenes.Overall, an upbeat and goofy comedy that is good for a family audience, with the kind of protagonists for whom it is easy to root.Seven out of 10.
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★ 6 / 10
A fond childhood memory
bensonmum2
I was nine years old when Disney's Snowball Express first came out. I can still remember seeing it in the theaters and having an absolute wonderful time with…
I was nine years old when Disney's Snowball Express first came out. I can still remember seeing it in the theaters and having an absolute wonderful time with it. I've seen it several times over the years since and while I no longer consider it one of my favorites, I still have a good time with it. Regardless of how old I've become or how much my taste in movies has changed, Snowball Express never fails to provide some level of entertainment or make me laugh out loud at a couple of the funnier moments. It's just good, simple, clean fun.One thing that makes many of these Disney live action films good to me is the presence of Dean Jones. He is an Everyman. He has such an easy-going, amiable air about him that it's easy to put yourself in his shoes. His reaction to situations and events occurring around him rings true (given a certain level of exaggeration necessary for comedy). It's this believability that makes him relatable and perfect for a role like the one in Snowball Express.
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60%
AUDIENCE
· 1K ratings
6.3/10
2.3K
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Awesome! Been looking for this childhood favorite for a long time! TY