Darlene's into going fast, Hoover's into Darlene, but when they both get into a red-hot race car, the reckless fun accelerates into a trunk-full of hot pursuits. Brash young hotshot Hoover Niebold (an extremely affable performance by Ron Howard) does his best to impress Darlene (an endearingly bubbly portrayal by fetching blonde Christopher Norris), a lovely lass he's smitten with. So Hoover decides to take Darlene on a wild joyride in a stolen souped-up hot rod while the inept local police led by Hoover's crusty father Sheriff Niebold (nicely played to the huffy hilt by Warren Kemmerling) pursue them all over the county. Writer/director Charles B. Griffith relates the slight, but lively and eventful story at a breathless breakneck pace, maintains an engaging lightweight tongue-in-cheek tone throughout, and stages the expected rubber-burning vehicular carnage with tremendous rip-roaring gusto. Moreover, Griffith presents the whole wacky affair with a likable screwball sensibility which makes this picture a perfectly harmless and mindless diversion (lots of automobiles get trashed, but nobody ever gets seriously hurt or killed), with the amusing kooky characters and the nonstop plethora of broad jokes – a throwaway gag referencing "The Little Shop of Horror" is especially clever and funny – ensure that this baby is a constant hoot to watch from start to finish. The cast have a ball with the broad material, with praiseworthy work by Dave Madden as good ol' boy stock car drive Big Bubba Jones, Clint Howard as the dippy George Poole Jr. Rance Howard as sturdy deputy Clark, Peter Isacksen as shotgun-toting yahoo Junior Hale, and Charles Howerton as the bumbling Deputy Jay Beah. Eric Saarinen's sunny cinematography gives this movie a pleasing bright look. David Grisman's jaunty bluegrass score further enhances the infectiously merry mayhem. Immensely enjoyable fluff. "Eat My Dust" is a broad, cartoony action comedy from the Roger Corman hit factory. Just one of a number of car chase / car crash movies he made during this period, it stars ever likable Ron Howard, at the height of his 'Happy Days' fame. Ron plays Hoover Niebold, a young man who's determined to impress a sexy rich girl, Darlene Kurtz (luscious blonde Christopher Norris). So he steals "Mabel", the prized vehicle of race car driver Big Bubba Jones (Dave Madden of 'The Partridge Family'). He, Darlene, and his entourage (including Rons' younger brother Clint) then partake in an epic pursuit that takes up most of the hour and a half long run time.<br/><br/>People who love high speeds, lots of energy, impressive camera work, and grand scale vehicular mayhem are certain to have a fine time with this one. It's not for you if you're looking for depth, meaning, character development, and a really meaty story. Fortunately, writer / director Charles B. Griffith, a longtime Corman collaborator, knows how to satisfy the target audience, and gives "Eat My Dust" quite a bit of humor as well. It definitely has a chaotic feel to it at times, and characters often don't so much speak their dialogue as yell it. David Grisman composed the infectious, flavorful music score, serving as the perfect accompaniment. The stunt work is first rate, with Barbara Peeters ("Humanoids from the Deep") and the second unit giving it 100% percent.<br/><br/>Many of the performances are appropriately broad. With so many of the adult characters coming off as boobs, it's not too hard to root for Hoover and company. Warren J. Kemmerling plays Hoovers' lawman father, and there's a fair amount of familiar faces among the supporting cast: Brad David, Peter Isacksen, Rons' actor father Rance (as one of the deputies), Paul Bartel, Corbin Bernsen (as a slow witted gas station attendant), and Beach Dickerson. Ron is as engaging as he's ever been, and Norris is tantalizing as the object of his lust.<br/><br/>Overall, "Eat My Dust" is good of its type.<br/><br/>Seven out of 10.
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