You were expecting maybe "Citizen Kane"?

Rating: Null/10 (13 October 1999)

This film wasn't meant to win Academy Awards or Golden Palms; it was made for one and only one purpose -- to make money for Hal Needham and 20th Century-Fox. The plot, such as it is, can be summed up as "drive neat cars across the country as fast as you can", and the cast was obviously handpicked (a) to be funny and (b) to be as recognizable (read: marketable) as possible.
In short, it was meant to be FUN! Obviously, they got it right.
Set in the late 1970s, when the "double nickle" speed limit was still in effect (and almost universally ignored ;^P), and based loosely on an actual event (the "Cannonball Roberts Memorial Trophy Dash"), this movie was designed to appeal to all the wannabe race drivers and other assorted leadfoots in America. After all, who wouldn't love to take a high-performance car and open it up, just *once*, to see what it could do? Even today, it's still a major-league hoot!
So, get the tape or the DVD ready, grab a couple cans of your favorite beverage and a bag of snack chips, and settle back in the Laz-Z-Boy. If you have the time, make it a double (or triple) feature by screening "Cannonball Run II" and "The Gumball Rally" as well.
Gentlemen, start your engines!