EDITOR’S NOTE: Off the Mark was on USA Up All Night on August 21, 1991; April 4, 1992 and February 27 and April 3, 1993.
Also known as Crazy Legs, this was directed by Bill Berry, who also directed Brotherhood of Death, and who co-wrote this with Temple Matthews.
Howard Markel (Mark Neely) and Dmitri (David D’Arnal) knew each other back when the Russian runner was studying as an exchange student in America. But now, they’re grown up and facing off in the Plutonium Man Triathlon. This movie, however, is kind of like a Zucker brothers movie with rapid fire sight gags but because it’s not made by the Zuckers, it isn’t as punchy. But you know, it’s surprisingly funny in parts.
It does have Terry Farrell from Back to School — and Jadzia Dax on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — as Howard’s love interest. He’s going to need her and his black friend who wants to be white named Johnny B. White (Clarence Gilyard Jr.) if he wants to beat Dmitri, who stole his dog Shep when they were young. Also: he is handicapped and runs in what is assumed to be a very comical manner.
Off the Mark doesn’t get mentioned much when it comes to 80s comedies. Maybe you’ll watch it and get a new favorite.
You can watch this on YouTube.
