Corvette Summer (1978)

Have seen a lot of road movies, mostly classics I never heard of this one. But due watching Fast And Loud I ran into an episode were the Corvette used in this flick was bought by Gasmonkey Garage. so the hunt for this flick was on, easy to find o DVD.The first thing that I found awkward was the main lead done by Mark Hamill who just came out of Star Wars (1977) as Luke Skywalker. It's so strange to see him come from a blockbuster to this drive-in flick. The story is rather simple, a Corvette re-build by Kenneth (Mark). Once the Corvette is stolen he goes out to find it and come across Vanessa (Annie Potts) who is a hooker. together they go after the missing Corvette. Story wise it isn't that special but what makes it worth seeing are all the muscle cars passing by and of course old Vegas with casinos long gone like Stardust and Dunes. Not only that, you will see Fremont street with the original cowboy. Another thing is the fact that you will see billboards all over Las Vegas promoting Dean martin, on the other hand you will see Brion James at the start of his career. So worth picking up and still enjoyable for all those reasons.Gore 0/5 Nudity 0,5/5 Effects 0/5 Story 2,5/5 Comedy 0,5/5

I have read some reviews of the film, and the word "Cheesy" is used. There are some very strong messages in the film that make it anything but that. Basically movie consists of three things: Those messages, a great car chase at the end of the film and Annie Potts (Vanessa). Mark Hamill is basically in this film for name value coming off of "Star Wars" the year before, anyone could have played Kenneth W. Dantley Jr. It really is about these two people who think they know life but are oblivious to its realities. Vanessa wants to become a prostitute, and Kenneth wants to design cars (He was the main one who built the Corvette in the shop). He idolizes his shop teacher Mr. McGrath (Eugene Roche), who turns out to be crooked (He allowed the car to be stolen by car thieves, and not knowing this, Kenneth decides to try and get it back). Spoilers: The best part of this film is when he finally gets the car back in Las Vegas, rushes into a hotel room and prevents Vanessa from giving up her virginity, and begins a chase against Wayne Lowry (Kim Milford), who stole the car, and wants to kill them. He finally wins and Lowry shoots up his own car after it blows an engine. He returns to school with the car and picks up his Diploma and as Vanessa, walks away he calls to her, and she essentially throws his diploma away, and they walk away to start a new life together. Two big points. 1: Not only are these two are not only made for each other, but they save each other from a path of destruction. Vanessa from becoming a prostitute, and Kenneth from the seduction of big money that can be made off on working on stolen cars. 2: The theme of Kenneth walking away from the comfort zone life he knows, to heading into the unknown with Vanessa, will be repeated three years later in "The Nights The Lights Went Out In Georgia". The big difference, is unlike 'Corvette Summer", there the Hamill character (Conrad),is not the talented one, Amanda (Kristy McNichol) is. Finally, Annie is adorable (She is hot in a swim suit), and has all of the film's best dialog. I give it 8 of 10 stars.

The gas tank is either half full or half empty depending on how you view CORVETTE SUMMER. One could justly call it forced in its humor, directionless, repetitive and overlong. Others will see a likable, innocent coming-of-age adventure. It depends on your mood and, more prominently, your aversion to '70s cheese and ability to forgive silver screen shortcomings.Kenny Dantley is a freshly-minted high school grad who has more time for cars than girls (he's played by a distinctly non-high school aged Mark Hamill, but bear with us). To say he loves the blazing red Stingray he and his shop classmates restored doesn't go far enough in describing the relationship. When the Corvette is swiped by evildoers, our hero swoops into action to track it down on the mean streets of Nevada, intent on ensuring that what was stolen and brought to Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas. He finds an unlikely ally in Vanessa (Annie Potts), an aspiring hooker with a heart of gold and an affinity for car-obsessed teenagers.I have a special attachment to CORVETTE SUMMER. It was one of the first movies I saw late at night when I was 13 and allowed to stay home alone on the weekends while the folks went camping. TBS's NITE FLIX (oh, how we miss NITE FLIX... so much better than RUSH HOUR 2 played thrice in a row) carried it at 2 a.m., and I had a blast. Recently, I rented it after all these years and found that while it wasn't the masterpiece I remembered, it is amusing and at times quite absorbing, though it starts to lay more than rubber in the second half. Hamill and Potts are no George and Gracie, but they suffice, and the supporting cast, including Eugene Roche (as Mr. McGrath) and Kim Milford (the villainous Wayne Lowry), hold up their end of the bargain.CORVETTE SUMMER has an awful reputation; it has even been mocked in MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATRE 3000 (as the characters mocked another film). I'm sure there are those who still blame it for the utter failure of Mark Hamill's post-STAR WARS career. But it is what it is, an imperfect though fun ride back into the late '70s. It's recommended, but only for certain tastes in the mood for something different.

I read several reviews about this movie before writing mine. I always do for some reason. The one common thread throughout a lot of the reviews is a point I definitely agree with. This movie oozes 70's cheese. Keep in mind, I happen to love the tackiness that only the 70's could offer.Aside from that, this is a fairly simple, yet entertaining movie. Does it break any new ground? Certainly not. But how many movies do? Our main character, Kenny Dantley, builds and falls in love with a custom Corvette in his high school shop class. Not long after it is built the car is stolen. The cops tell Dantley and the rest of his shop class that the car most likely will never be recovered. Dantley refuses to accept this and heads to where he heard the car was last seen. Vegas. Along the way he falls in love with Vanessa, a wannabe hooker headed to Vegas to "go pro".There is no doubt that this is a "B" grade drive in movie. That being said, if you are a "car guy" (as I am) this movie should prove to be worth watching. Anyone who has ever fallen in love with a car will understand Dantley's obsession. It's NOT "just" a car. Car guys know their obsessions are irrational, but that doesn't stop us. Call me crazy, but the attraction a car guy has to his favorite model isn't THAT much different than the one he feels to his dream girl.Corvette Summer offers a few laughs and a return to a part of the 70's a lot would like to forget. The disco van scene. There are some familiar faces from the era and a great chase scene at the end of the movie. Not every movie is Oscar bound. Let's not forget a movies most important purpose is to entertain.