Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins (1975)

I know there were some really bad films in other decades, but sometimes, it seems like it was the beginning of A-listers (current and former) starring in some

low-budget films that should never have been greenlighted, and must have been the result of way too many drugs (Mark Hamill in Corvette Summer. 'Nuff said.).

In some bad movies, you can see a good idea that just went terribly wrong. In others (the drug-induced ones), the film already started with a bad idea... or, sadly,

with seemingly no idea (plot) whatsoever.

Arguably, this film falls into the latter. Here's the storyline: Rafferty (Arkin) is an ex-Marine with a dull job, no apparent friends/family, and no prospects.

Even his car is in pathetic shape. Enter Mac and Frisbee, who carjack/kidnap Rafferty and have him drive to Las Vegas and New Orleans. And, to paraphrase

the videotape's blurb, hilarity ensues. Honestly, I think that the people at Warner Bros use Mad-Libs for some of their summaries.

I'm guessing that Alan Arkin and Jerry Bruckheimer don't generally list Rafferty on their CV, and no one could confuse it for an award-winning film. If you go into

this movie with expectations of a plot or use of logic, you will be disappointed. I believe that most of the negative reviews that are out there come from people

expecting too much. Much like Freebie and the Bean, the loose plot is just there as an excuse for comedic business. If you treat Rafferty as what it is, a mindless

quasi-buddy comedy, the movie isn't half bad. I enjoyed it, but then again, I watched it late at night and with low expectations.

Where Can I Find It?

This is another of Arkin's films that is not available on DVD, and in all honesty, probably never will be. Fortunately, you can still find some used copies at the usual

places, as well as online at Amazon and Ebay. Failing that, watch for it on television.