Corvette Summer

Directed by Matthew Robbins, Corvette Summer follows Mark Hamill’s Ken Dantley as he reluctantly teams up with a fledgling prostitute (Annie Potts’ Vanessa) to track down his (heavily-modified) stolen car. Filmmaker Robbins, working from a script written with Hal Barwood, delivers an affable (if entirely forgettable) drama that benefits from the mostly charismatic work of its various performers, although it’s clear virtually from the get-go that Hamill’s less-than-sympathetic (and sporadically grating) turn as the plucky protagonist remains the movie’s weakest element. (Potts, on the other hand, is delightful in a role that isn’t as fleshed-out or substantial as one might’ve liked.) The movie, which certainly feels longer than necessary, also gets plenty of mileage out of its irresistible use of real-life locations and hot spots, with this especially true of the inherently compelling bent of the myriad scenes set in and around the late ’70s Las Vegas area. It’s equally clear, however, that Corvette Summer suffers from an overall lack of forward momentum, which ensures that the picture is often as tedious as it is entertaining. (This is despite a continuing emphasis on scenes of a better-than-expected nature, including a surprisingly exciting interlude wherein Ken chases after said stolen car on a bicycle.) The final result is a watchable-enough endeavor that would surely have fared better had it topped out at 90 minutes, and yet it’s impossible to completely dismiss the film due to the pervasively agreeable feel with which it’s been infused.

**1/2 out of ****

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