Perhaps I need to watch this again, but unfortunately, it didn't really work for me. I haven't seen many of Brooks' films, and maybe I'm just not partial to his humor, but the whole movie just felt really uncomfortable, but in a sort of safe, non-threatening way, that allows you to predict what the end of the film will be long before it actually arrives. And even though the film is probably one of those where the journey is just as, if not more important than the destination, it never really felt like there was much of a journey going on.
I thought the film started off well, with a hilarious sort of rebuke of film criticism via Rex Reed's own words. And I did love the cinematography, especially all the location work and the various shots of the Winnebago driving through the country, especially the scene using "Born to Be Wild". I thought Julie Hagerty was great, too. The gambling scene is terrific, and I loved her cute smile and laugh. But I was really surprised how the film was a lot less insightful than I thought it would be. The basic premise seemed to end up being
not so much about the "American Dream", but rather that rich white people like being white rich people
and the movie seemed to do a great deal in service of that narrative. For example, I found it convenient how they
never have any car trouble, how the Winnebago is always spotless, and they always seem fresh and clean riding in it. And how, when Hagerty compulsively gambles away their nest egg, she doesn't put them in the red, or even bankrupt them, but instead is stopped just in time to leave just enough money that they can live okay for another few days. And I suppose my main issue is that not much happens after that. The scene with the cop was clever, but Brooks doesn't really have time to be taken down a peg by being a crossing guard--he's still lusting after Mercedes cars with leather interiors, after all--and then the movie lurches quickly to its gift-wrapped conclusion, without as much as showing Brooks groveling to get his job back.
I guess for me, I wanted the film to be a much more abrasive experience, if the ending was going where it ended up going.
I did enjoy the scenes with the casino manager and the unemployment office worker, because I thought those actors played off Brooks' character very well. But ultimately, I felt no sympathy for him, and despite her nature and performance, only a little sympathy for Hagerty, so of course, by the end, I was somewhere between disappointed and pissed off.
I also didn't watch the extras, so maybe they contextualize the film in a way that will make me appreciate what Brooks was trying to do a lot more. I will say that the new 2K scan is pretty fabulous, and it's great to see a domestic comedy film looking so brilliant on Blu-ray.