Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- frantic
- goofy
- irreverent
- lazy weekend
- car movie marathon
What critics said
Critics overwhelmingly regarded the film as an exceptionally poor and mechanically assembled action comedy, with its premise and performances failing to produce effective entertainment.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The central plot follows an illegal race across the United States, making geographic progress and competition the primary narrative engine.
The premise emphasizes who will crash and presents car wrecks and road hazards as recurring comic spectacle.
John Candy, Donna Dixon, Matt Frewer, Joe Flaherty, and Tim Matheson headline a group-driven racing adventure rather than a solitary protagonist story.
Films like Speed Zone, and why
The Cannonball Run
broad slapstick comedy, ensemble cast, and vehicle-centered chase spectacle
Cannonball Run II
chaotic cross-country car race, comic rivalries, and episodic road-movie structure
The Gumball Rally
fast-paced automotive action, stunt-driven humor, and ensemble competition
Movie Details
- Director
- Jim Drake
- Release Date
- 1989-04-21
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 4.5 / 10 (98)
Cast
- John Candy
- Donna Dixon
- Matt Frewer
- Joe Flaherty
- Tim Matheson
- Mimi Kuzyk
- Melody Anderson
- Shari Belafonte
- Brian George
- Art Hindle
Common questions
- What is Speed Zone about?
- A reckless cross-country car race turns rival drivers, police interference, and comic disasters into a high-speed 1980s road farce.
- What is Speed Zone like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Speed Zone as breakneck, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Speed Zone violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Speed Zone as mild.
- What did critics think of Speed Zone?
- Critics overwhelmingly regarded the film as an exceptionally poor and mechanically assembled action comedy, with its premise and performances failing to produce effective entertainment.
- Which films are like Speed Zone?
- Films with a similar feel include The Cannonball Run, Cannonball Run II, and The Gumball Rally.
- How long is Speed Zone?
- Speed Zone runs 94 minutes.
