I needed some couch time, and I almost always try to watch a movie I've begun to the end, but man, was this ever a slog. I'm giving it an extra star for Richard Dreyfuss's still-energetic performance, but "Let It Ride" suffers in any number of areas, first and foremost in its quite painfully unfunny screenplay, and one in which most if not all of the characters come across as mere caricatures. Dreyfuss's cab driver/compulsive gambler Trotter (get it?) also makes some decisions that are strictly unwise and reckless (um... returning the cassette tape to the mob types?), things that no thinking person would do in the real world, so it's hard to stay with this guy. Anyway, the plot has to do with Dreyfuss coming upon a "sure thing" at the horse track via his (caricature-goofy) co-cabby friend (David Johansen), after which various antics ensue, mostly at the track. He mingles with fellow down-and-outers (more caricatures) in the local dive bar, seems to think he's on his way up when he crashes the jockey club, and finally maybe realizes what his wife (Teri Garr) means to him. Jennifer Tilly, Cynthia Nixon, and Michelle Phillips show up along the way, but mostly have little to no impact on the story or on Trotter's journey. Some of the direction is also notably weak, and the movie's saddled (pun intended) by a late-80s pop synth score (with a couple of weak pop songs) as well. I feel like I'm possibly being a little too harsh: looking around at the other reviews here, it's obvious this movie has many fans, that it's even beloved by some. But the bottom line is, this didn't work for me at all, and I was so glad when it was over. By all means give it a go if it still sounds like it might be your thing, but otherwise, yes, let it ride indeed. (The Movie Czar 6/15/22)
Review of Let It Ride
