Set against the backdrop of late-70s economic turbulence, the film follows three lifelong friends in Eugene, Oregon—Jane (Susan Saint James), Elaine (Jane Curtin) and Louise (Jessica Lange)—who are pushed to the absolute financial brink by inflation, messy divorces and collapsing businesses. When ordinary life becomes completely untenable, they hatch an audacious scheme: drill a hole underneath a giant plastic cash-giveaway ball at the Valley River Center Mall, vacuum up the loot and make their aquatic escape down the adjacent Willamette River. Featuring a hilarious botched test-run robbery at a Safeway and a chaotic heist night involving an impromptu striptease and a runaway canoe, the trio ultimately find their way back to stability with a little extra cash in their pockets. In the end, Jane marries Robert and gets her father a condo in a senior complex; Louise reopens her store and takes back her husband, and Elaine begins dating Jack.
The film is an absolute playground of legendary character actors and comedy greats, featuring Dabney Coleman, Fred Willard, Eddie Albert, Richard Benjamin, Ronnie Schell, Art Metrano, and Sybil Danning. Keep your eyes peeled for SNL alum Garrett Morris in a quick cameo!
Director Robert Scheerer mainly worked in TV, directing the TV movie Poor Devil and episodes of Father Dowling Mysteries, Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, Star Trek: The Next Generation and more. Writer Robert Kaufman’s script took nearly a decade to make it to the screen. Before the final trio was locked in, the project went through several massive iterations attached to major Hollywood royalty, including Carol Burnett, Glenda Jackson, Jane Fonda, Shirley MacLaine, Goldie Hawn and Barbra Streisand.
This caper holds a unique historical footnote as the final official theatrical production released by American International Pictures before the legendary exploitation and drive-in powerhouse merged with Filmways in 1980.
As for me, this movie makes me jealous of Richard Benjamin, who has Jessica Lange and Sybil Danning making passes at him. As a whole, this feels like it never gets started, unlike something like 9 to 5, but it’s a pleasant enough rainy-day diversion. I love the late 70s vibe in this, especially the way that the mall is the center of town with a big moneyball and a stage play happening at the same time. It makes me sad for the past and what we’ve lost. The mall in this, the Valley River Center Mall, is still open and even has a still operating f.y.e. in it.
That said — for Jane Curtain’s strip scene, that’s a body double. I’m sure some people would be upset that she continually uses her sexuality to get out of trouble, but then again, this was made in 1980.
