JOYRIDE

US, 1977, 93 minutes, Colour.
Robert Carradine, Desi Arnaz Jr, Melanie Griffith, Anne Lockhart.
Directed by Joseph Ruben.

Joyride is a small-budget road movie of the mid-'70s. It reflects the aimlessness of youth at the time, the amoral self-centredness and seeking after happiness for self. The film's title indicates this theme.

The film shows four young people in their ordinary work, their failures and walking out on their jobs. They team together and go to Alaska to get work. They swagger around, try to get jobs, gain and lose easy money, work on the pipeline, get involved in shady dealings and have to move out. They steal cars, run the police off the road, organise a bank swindle. They end up happily ever after ... ? The film shows the atmosphere of these young people, the sense of swagger and bravado. While the film remains on the surface, a lot of serious questions underlie the screenplay.

Of interest is the cast, children of established screen personalities: Robert Carradine, Desi Arnaz Jnr., June Lockhart's daughter Anne, Tippi Hedren's daughter Melanie Griffith.

While the characters are generally unsympathetic, they are played well and this film is the kind of question mark film-which makes one wonder about the values of contemporary society.