Let It Ride Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
He drinks. He smokes. He gambles. He curses. He thinks about committing adultery. You'll love him.
An average kind of guy who has a slight problem with gambling goes to the track, and mystically, it seems as though he can't lose, no matter how he bets; and he has an incredible day.
| Richard Dreyfuss | Jay Trotter |
| David Johansen | Looney |
| Teri Garr | Pam |
| Jennifer Tilly | Vicki |
| Allen Garfield | Greenberg |
| Edward Walsh | Marty |
| Richard Edson | Johnny Casino |
| David Schramm | Lufkin |
| John Roselius | Reardon |
| Joseph Walsh | Vibes |
| Ralph Seymour | Sid |
| Cynthia Nixon | Evangeline |
| Richard Dimitri | Tony Cheeseburger |
| Robert Towers | Mickey Jax |
| Michelle Phillips | Mrs. Davis |
| Joe Pytka |
6.30 out of 10 (1699 votes)
Visitor Reviews
This movie is one of my guilty pleasures
posted on 28 Jun 2009You know it never ceases to amuse me. The character development, or lack there of, isn't deep, but, it is thorough enough that we have an empathy for the characters. This is one of Dreyfuss' better roles and he plays it with aplomb. The other Runyanesque cast of characters we find at the track are colorful and charming, with excellent performances by Robbie Coltrane, Terri Garr, Jennifer Tilly, David Johansen and Joe Roselius, among others. I think what appeals to me about this film is that the good guy 'wins'. As American's it is our nature to 'love' winners and when we find a sympathetic nice guy who is having 'a very good day'. Well, we root for him and wish him well. This is a fun little movie that I strongly recommend if your looking for some light fair to enjoy a few smiles.
Before Sex in the City actress spotting
posted on 22 Jun 2009Great movie! Very funny.Anyone notice a before Sex in the City Cynthia Nixon in the bar scenes? She has braces on her teeth and dirty blond long hair, she looks like a little girl. Well, a little girl smoking a cigarette betting her $200 in the big race. Great to see folks who are more prominent now in their early roles. I of course love love love Mr. Dreyfuss in most anything he does, especially his early to mid time roles. I can't think of any movie's that I really hated him in. Same for Teri Garr, she's been in so many great films from Young Frankenstein to Mr. Mom, she's only slowed down lately. This film had so many great actors in it and was directed well, they hit it on the nose with this one. One question...Whatever happened to Mr. Johansen?
Someday you can be walking around lucky and not know it
posted on 02 Apr 2009Every one of us feels that there's one day, just one day in ones lifetime, when everything would go right no matter what we would do. Even if we go out of our way to make things go wrong for us. It's that day when the stars in the havens are all aligned in our favor and for just that one day God gives us the power to control our own destiny. The problem is that we never know just what that day is and when it does come around we don't realize that it's here and we let it slip away from us.Perennial loser and Miami cab driver Jay Trotter, Richard Dreyfuss, is one of the lucky few who in the movie "Let It Ride" realizes that his lucky day has dawned and by the time that day is over, after the 10th race at Hialeah, he'll be on cloud nine just by standing on the mountain of money that he won that day at the races.Hilariously funny and at the same time uplifting little movie about a loser who becomes a winner and at the same time realizes that this was his last, and only, very good day at the racetrack and leaves his gambling days behind him going out on the winning side of the track.Miami cabbie Looney, David Johansen, and his friend and fellow taxi driver Trotter listen in on a tape that Looney secretly recorded. The tape is a conversation between two horse owners in his taxi talking about their horse, Charity, in the first race at Hialeah. The gamblers say that Charity being such a sure shot to win that the only way that she could lose is if she's struck by a lighting bolt when the starting gate opens. Trotter who just swore off gambling the night before to his wife Pam, Teri Garr, feels that this is his lucky day the day that he's been prying for all these years and doesn't want to let it pass him by. Trotter put his last $50.00 on Charity, a 100 to 1 morning line long shot, to win and let's it ride on that entire afternoons racing card. In the first race Charity wins in a photo-finish and pays $28.40 to win on a two dollar ticket giving back an overjoyed Trotter $710.00 for his $50.00 win ticket. In the rest of the movie we see Trotter continue to tempt the fate in every race and like some kind of miracle wins every one of them. Putting every dime that he won on each preceding race. When the day is over Trotter not only breaks the track but gets his wife to come back to him. Trotter also gets the respect and admiration of every one at the racetrack who ended up rooting for him more then for any horse that they ever bet on to win. Richard Dreyfuss in one of his best and most underrated roles as that lovable loser turned winner Jay Trotter. Who by the end of the movie when his wife Pam, who just got to the racetrack, hears a loud roar from the crowd asks him astonishingly what's everybody cheering about not realizing that their cheering for him. Teri Gar, Pam Trotter, who's on and off relationship with her husband Jay looked like it was off for good. Until fate intervened and made everything that was wrong in her suffering over the years. As Jay lost every dollar that he ever made gambling, right on that one unbelievable and magical day. With Looney, David Johansen, who couldn't tell a winning horse if it trampled him found out if your with a winner, Trotter, long enough winning will end up rubbing off on you. "Let It Ride" has a wonderful supporting cast of Jennifer Tilly, Vicki, Alan Garfield, Greenberg, Tony Longo, Simpson. There's also the ticket clerk, Robbie Coltrane, who was behind the window all afternoon selling Trotter all those winning tickets. Coltrane got so caught up with Trotter's lucky day that he had to take an entire drugstore's supply of sedatives to keep his nerves from completely collapsing.
Just a very funny movie
posted on 21 Mar 2009I'm not a horse racing fan, but Let it Ride is one funny movie. Richard Dreyfuss plays Jay Trotter with over the top enthusiasm. I bet he had a lot of fun making this movie. He has three or four scenes with David Johansen,(former lead singer of the New York Dolls) that show that an old pro like Dreyfuss doesn't have to step on the innate comedic talents of the former rock star. Robbie Coltrane(our friend Hagrid from Harry Potter) takes a small role as the betting-window employee and embellishes it with charm and wit to become the "conscience" of the movie. Jennifer Tilly's role is the kind that only a Tilly could play, the gold digger, with, ironically, a heart of gold. And of course, no one can play a nouveau-rich envelope magnate better than Allen Garfield. My only niggling criticism is with Terry Garr. She's played this role before, and it shows. She doesn't bring much to her long-suffering wife role, but all in all, this movie is a real treat, even if you're not into the horses.
Looking for an overlooked treasure? You found it!
posted on 09 Dec 2008Not a funnier movie about a day in the life of a degenerate gambler around. Not many funnier movies around period. Wonderful performances and memorable characters. A movie that makes you feel that everybody should have just one "very good day" when everything goes their way. Watch this and your day will be just a little bit better.
An absolute charmer!
posted on 21 Nov 2008This movie is on cable a lot. My intention to watch a few minutes invariably turns into my watching until the end. I love this movie.It is a simple and very funny movie with a fine cast portraying an array of eccentric characters. Yet there is often a sweetness in this film reminiscent of a movie like Roxanne.The premise is that at times the universe can align in such a way that you just know in your bones that nothing can stop you from having a really good day. Watching Richard Dreyfuss come to this realization and watching him savoring it while it is happening is appealing.It struck me last night that of all Mr. Dreyfuss's admirable body of work, I like him the best in Let It Ride.
Terrific "Feel-Good" Flick
posted on 25 Oct 2008The greatest thing about films that Richard Dreyfuss makes is perhaps the casting. Every character fits and fits well. After the film is over, one cannot help but to reflect on the fact that they couldn't think of anyone playing the various roles other than those who were cast for the roles and who appear in the movie."Let It Ride" is a film that has a Damon Runyon feel about it even though it does not take place on the streets of New York City.The sets could not be more fitting and well done. The lines are attacked with utmost comedic timing. There is really no standout role, perhaps with the exception of Jennifer Tilly (joke!). The whole film is a "team" effort.All in all, not only is this film a classic that you'll want to watch again and again, but it is a film for our times. It is the prayer of every person on the planet, "Just let me have one good day." No preaching, however, just hilarity and high-jinx without a bit of let-down from start to finish. Jay Trotter has a "VERY good day"!Enjoy!
A total sleeper, a true surprise!
posted on 19 Oct 2008One of the best movies built around horse racing.
Funny screenplay, with well paced direction. And Meg Tilly in that red dress! Robbie Coltrane is perfect. Richard Dreyfus is so good at expressing glee in this movie.The loser has a good day!
I stumbled upon this on cable and was so glad I stayed with it. It made me wonder what happened to this flick when it was in the theatre? It truly tanked! It could easily become one of your favorites JerryG
You're not going believe this...
posted on 21 Jun 2008but this one is a classic. Its one of those movies that everyone you know either never heard of or makes fun of you for even bringing up. Let me tell you though, stranded on the island with only one movie available, I want it to be this uplifting film. It may not be my favorite, but I can easily watch it beginning to end and start it right over. The cast each grasped the characters to perfection, with one a better loser than the next! Looking for a little pick-me up, give Jay Trotter and Let It Ride one chance. Although you may still be embarrassed to mention you love it in front of your friends, I bet you will!
Its Post Time !!
posted on 16 Apr 2008A good friend of mine drug me out to Beulah Park racetrack for my first time back in 1990. Over the years I've become a passionate horseplayer and I've watched as the subject of my passion has withered with the onset of the internet. Horseracing attendance at most small tracks has plummeted, while the "handle", or amount bet on the racing at a given track has generally increased. Most people sit at home and watch and play on the internet. But I'm here to tell you- when I first watched Let It Ride, I could quickly associate just about every character in the movie with a character I knew at Beulah. My favorite part of the movie is when Trotter polls friends, strangers, anyone, about who they liked in a given race. He immediately scratched their selection off !! When he was down to one horse left on his list, that was his wager. I can't tell you how many times I've been at the track amongst six or seven friends, and the only horse that won was the one none of us had bet on !! What a great movie about a subculture that only still exists at the big New York, Florida, Kentucky, and California racetracks. Horseplayers are an interesting group, to say the least, and this movie does a great job capturing the typical personas that you'll find at the track. Its Post Time !!
Absolutely the best racetrack movie ever made.
posted on 29 Jan 2008I have been a regular at the track for 30 years and I recognized every one of the characters in the film. The portrayal of the wealthy loser with the young bimbo was extremely rich. I especially enjoyed the attempt to read the trainer's instructions to get an "inside" tip. "Go fast and win"
Laugh! Laugh! Laugh!
posted on 10 Oct 2007Did I say you'll laugh? This a very underrated gem. Whoever wrote this story sure knew their way around a race track. Dreyfuss, Coltrane, Garr & Tilly (How in the hell did she ever keep that dress on?) were all terrific. David Johansen (aka David Poindexter - remember the recording "Hot, Hot, Hot"?) showed his true comidic talents. Don't miss this movie.
An unknown classic
posted on 22 Sep 2007I know next to nothing about gambling, especially at a racetrack, and I love this movie.It's not the plot, which is highly predictable, it's the characters- and the detailed interaction between them that makes this movie so funny. The gamblers in the local dive next to the track waver from extreme hatred towards Dreyfuss to an all-bar toast to friendship. The security guard who takes his authority position too seriously- he is ready to shoot any "criminal." His line about his peripheral vision is classic.Almost every character in this movie goes through an extreme transition- making this a feel good movie about someone who needs a very lucky day.
A loveable story about a loveable loser
posted on 15 Jun 2007This film just makes you feel good when you watch it. You identify one way or another with Richard Dreyfuss, who plays the down on his luck gambler who wishes for one last lucky streak. The supporting cast is a great collection of colorful characters. Jennifer Tilly and David Johansen especially help keep this movie rolling. At a running time of only 90 minutes it doesn't really lag and it's genuinely funny. Watching this movie makes you wish you had Trotter's luck. Bottom Line: A competent comedy that keeps it's charm even after repeated viewings. Worth having in the collection.
Why not, I'm on the pill...
posted on 09 Jun 2007There have been some really funny movies (like Operation Petticoat and My Favorite Year) and there have been really funny movies about sports (like Caddyshack),Let it Ride is right there with them.Directed by maniac Joe Pytka (the man who brought you those fast-talking FED EX commercials among others), this fast paced slapstick approach to degenerate gambling will keep you in stiches.Richard Dreyfuss has never been better. Robbie Coltrane is HILARIOUS! Richard Edson and Allen Garfield are both perfect, as usual.For the boys, probably, worth the rent for the pre-Superbowl party, or other male-bonding experiences.
Can't miss for horse-race lovers
posted on 07 Apr 2007And a decent trip around the entertainment track even for those who aren't that wise to the sport of kings!Richard Dreyfuss is excellent as Jay Trotter, so down on his luck for so long that he can't believe his good fortune today (and ONLY today). He's the highlight of this sometimes wrong-headed, but always right-hearted, comedic tale of a serial loser's redemption.Jennifer Tilly is simply ... well ... smokin'!Terri Garr, Robbie Coltrane and David Johansen do fine work in supporting roles. Watch closely and you'll see a (very) young Cynthia Nixon! (You know, the redhead from "Sex and the City.") ... And you get the impeccable race calls and captivating voice of the remarkable Trevor Denman.Those who "get" horse racing should love this film. A lot of you other folks will, too.Seabiscuit, it ain't. But you could gamble away 90 minutes of your life on far worse comedic fare.
Its a great film
posted on 14 Mar 2007For me its one of the great undiscovered (or at least unappreciated) great comedy films of the last 20 years - full stop. It's the very fact that nobody else is aware of it that makes it extra special for me. Coming from England where Robbie Coltrane has been a regular on our TV screens since before this film was made I know him and his humour very well and I think it is his relationship with Richard Dreyfuss which really makes the film tick as a comedy. This together with the constant barrage of one liners is simply fantastic. I am not aware of Richard Dreyfuss ever having done a comedy before but after this I cant believe he didn't do more. It really is a cracker and if you haven't yet seen it then get hold of a copy and do so immediately.
Fantastic
posted on 20 Dec 2006This movie is to Richard Dreyfus what "Slapshot" is to Paul Newman. Almost constantly hysterical, the movie captures the oddball characters at the track and at the bar perfectly. (No surprise there - the cast is a virtual who's who of the great character actors of that time!) Dreyfus turns in an over-the-top performance that somehow is not overdone. Catch a pre - "Sex and the City" Cynthia Nixon as the naive Evangeline and Robbie Coltrane as the grizzled betting window teller. You really should buy or rent the DVD instead of settling for the broadcast version. If you have a free Saturday night this would be a good double feature with "Tin Men".
a great day at the track!
posted on 30 Aug 2009This movie hits the nail right on the head! I grew up near a race track and went quite often. I still go occasionally but now it's to people watch. The cast is just great and Richard Dreyfuss as always is at the top of his game. If you go to a racetrack on any given day you will see one or all these characters there, enjoy, it's a delight