Americathon

When a Native American billionaire who loaned money to the government to cover the national debt threatens to foreclose on the nation, a telethon is held to raise the money to save the country.

An early work from Neal Israel, the man who would later create such classics as the *original* "Police Academy" and "Real Genius," the movie brims with humorous high-concept jokes. For example, in schemes to raise money, San Diego is sold to Mexico and a daredevil (played by Meatloaf) battles a car.

Aside from the comedy, there's a great soundtrack with songs by the Beach Boys and Elvis Costello (who makes a cameo appearance). One of my favorite films of the late 70's, this is a great addition to anyone's video collection.


Funny and Fun   March 5, 2001
Justine Cardello (Nice, France)
6 out of 11 found this review helpful

This is a really funny movie, but had great foresight--it was made in 1979 before Ronald Reagan put us into mega debt. It's a strange view of the future where people live in cars since they can't afford to drive them anymore, jog everywhere...the Arabs and Israelis have joined forces...and America is flat broke and about to be foreclosed. Rent this on a day when you need a good laugh!


Funny Movie--and Scarily Prophetic...   September 22, 2001
Robert J. Schneider (Tacoma, WA USA)
6 out of 10 found this review helpful

I remember seeing AMERICATHON a long time ago on video. I thought that it was weird, dumb sometimes, but with a wicked sense of humor that I appreciated. This film was made back in 1979, and the plot is set in 1998.

Well, right now we're in 2001, on the heels of the most catastrophic terrorist attack in this country since Pearl Harbor, on the verge of a deep recession, and we are running out of money--fast. Tonight, we're having the kind of star-studded telethon that took place in this movie. Of course, it's to raise money for the victims of the awful attack, but it IS an "Americathon" of sorts, isn't it??

This movie stars a likably goofy John Ritter as the President of the United States (har-har) and a wonderfully twisted Harvey Korman as the beleaguered host of the Americathon (and whom is not entirely dissimilar to Peter Finch's beleaguered TV news anchor in the great 1976 movie NETWORK). Some of the great cameos include Meat Loaf as a car-battling stuntman and Jay Leno as a mother-boxing son. Sure, it's wacky and sometimes stupid, but overall, I must say that I liked it.

Now let's hope that our real "Americathon" tonight goes much better...and, of course, let's continue to pray for the families who lost their loved ones last week. And, in the middle of all this madness, please take some time to take your mind off this terrible, senseless tragedy, and go watch this movie. I think that it will make you laugh a little.


A twisted view of the '70s.   August 22, 2002
Orion (Riverside, CA USA)
5 out of 8 found this review helpful

Americathon was a satire about the 1970s showing what the country would be like if the trends continued. People don't remember now but every night the news broadcasts announced a new "crisis" When I moved out to college in 1976 I could afford rent and food on minimum wage; by the time I graduated I was living off sardines and crackers. President Carter blamed America for being under a "great malaise" and interest rates hit 20%. To a lot of people the future depicted in "Americathon" wasn't all that unbelievable.


How soon we forget!   May 17, 2007
Daisy Brambletoes (the Shire)
2 out of 7 found this review helpful

In an age where Liberals have more or less succeeded in resucitating the sad legacy of Jimmy Carter, this film was actually made during the pits of the Carter administration (with John Ritter as a thinly disguised Carter), taking the consequences of his inept presidency to the ultimate conclusion as envisioned at that time. With all of the efforts by assorted Liberals and Socialists around the world to turn him into a hero, many people are too young to remember the real Carter who inspired this comedy. The pacing is a little too slow by today's standards, but the point is made. Too bad we have often forgotten the real Carter, yet one need only follow the news to realize that he has not improved at all. Carter lovers will either be offended by this film or else they will dismiss it, as they usually do.