In line with the many vehicle and racing films of the late 1970s, Matthew Robbins wrote and directed this coming-of-age / car movie composite starring a fresh faced Mark Hamill, who had just made his big breakthrough with Star Wars the year before. Here he plays a high school senior (!) whose big graduate project is restoring a 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray from junk to a piece of beauty. Then the car is stolen, and Hamill goes to Vegas looking for it, like an infatuated, heartbroken kid. The heart of the story, besides Hamill's love for his car, is the relation he strikes up with the young "prostitute trainee" Vanessa in Vegas, played by a spunky Annie Potts. It's in their scenes the film transcends its otherwise perfunctory story and touches upon some real truths. The main storyline, on the other hand, is mostly about fun and action, like a poor man's Smokey and the Bandit. The late Kim Milford is immaculate-looking and quite enjoyable as the antagonist. But Robbins is no Hal Needham when directing the action sequences, and the film immediately starts to drag once the car racing kicks into gear. Also with Eugene Roche as Hamill's well-meaning mentor. Ms. Potts was rewarded with a Golden Globe nomination for her efforts.
Review of Corvette Summer
