Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Honky Tonk Freeway

      PG Released Aug 21, 1981 1 hr. 50 min. Comedy List
      Reviews 54% 250+ Ratings Audience Score When a tiny town in Florida is passed over by the new interstate highway, corrupt Mayor Kirby (William Devane) and his cronies plaster the freeway with illegal billboards that draw unsuspecting tourists to the mayor's tacky amusement park. The unwilling visitors include squabbling suburban parents Snapper (Howard Hesseman) and Ericka (Teri Garr), despondent waitress Carmen (Beverly D'Angelo), aspiring children's book author Duane (Beau Bridges) and a drug-addled hitchhiker (Daniel Stern). Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (26) audience reviews
      Fox M I love this movie. It is chaos all the way - and the bungling bank robbers throwing away the money and then having to find it in the garbage laiden barge. And of course blowing up the freeway, wow! I loved the soundtrack to this movie. My only downer on this movie is Beau Bridges stupid book. It was a bit of a let down in some parts and a little confusing in others. But it still is worth seeing. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/24 Full Review jon c Beau Bridges, Beverly D' Angelo, Daniel Stern, and several others in a wacky comedy 'tour' de force directed by John Schlesinger Ticlaw is a small town in Florida barely known to most in fact it's just a tiny blip on the map A freeway is scheduled to be built on top of it thereby getting rid of the tourism the town thrives on So the residents decide to take matters into their own hands by demolishing the freeway making drivers stop by their home It might be the only way they can earn enough money to keep business afloat and from shutting down What follows is over-the-top town politics that include painting the town pink, dynamite, water-skiing elephants, free gas and food, and more The movie acts as a satire of American excess as well as the American way of life You can tell how desperate these people are with this town being so down its luck hoping for a miracle This actually reminded me a lot of 'Cold Turkey' with a similar thing of a town struggling to be put back on the map The characters here get into all kinds of shenanigans but aren't as memorable Still Schlesinger tries his best to put in politics and religion during a time period of America's early years Being crude and sweet may not always work in this movie's favor but it does show a town's citizens and their dedication to keep their existence alive and fruitful Sure this movie may have failed initially during its release but it's far from the disaster many claim it is The songs are really nice in here too Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member It's an interesting comedy with a great cast and a terrible script to the point of being embarrassingly bad. But one isn't going to be bored watching it. The soundtrack has a few good songs. Most won't like it but it is worth watching once. Definitely a so good it's bad movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member It was a terrible film and it also got pulled from Theaters too. It was allegedly financed for a tax evasion scheme that has any basic humorous appeal which for an ensemble comedy film is not great. Against what I am saying for the massive budget for a comedy film of 24 millon dollars. It led to being pulled from Theaters from a single week. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a unique movie about political corruption, small town politics, and of course individual greed. There's a wacky and reckless sense of humor to it that's enticing. It gets a little tiresome during the middle, but man a lot of the problems are as relevant today as they were back then. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member A funny movie. Tons of good actors Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/19/19 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Photos

      View All Honky Tonk Freeway photos

      Honky Tonk Freeway

      Honky Tonk Freeway (1981) Honky Tonk Freeway (1981) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (3) Critics Reviews
      Frank J. Avella Edge Media Network One of the assets of the film is also the screenplay and how it tends to be this subversive satire on American life at the time (and today as well) and how it sticks it to religion and politics. And has the chutzpah to be both crude and sweet. Rated: B- May 26, 2021 Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Rated: 3/5 Oct 9, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jun 20, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis When a tiny town in Florida is passed over by the new interstate highway, corrupt Mayor Kirby (William Devane) and his cronies plaster the freeway with illegal billboards that draw unsuspecting tourists to the mayor's tacky amusement park. The unwilling visitors include squabbling suburban parents Snapper (Howard Hesseman) and Ericka (Teri Garr), despondent waitress Carmen (Beverly D'Angelo), aspiring children's book author Duane (Beau Bridges) and a drug-addled hitchhiker (Daniel Stern).
      Director
      John Schlesinger
      Screenwriter
      Edward Clinton
      Distributor
      Universal Pictures
      Rating
      PG
      Genre
      Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Aug 21, 1981, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 7, 2014