Tank ** (1984, James Garner, Shirley Jones, C Thomas Howell) – Classic Movie Review 6539

Director Marvin J Chomsky’s old-style 1984 action comedy drama provides a good role for James Garner but unfortunately not a very good film.

When his innocent son William ‘Billy’ Carey (C Thomas Howell) is put behind bars after being framed for having drugs, ex-army officer, Command Sergeant Major Zack Carey (Garner), starts up his own personal beloved Sherman tank, clashes with nasty, corrupt redneck Sheriff Cyrus Buelton (G D Spradlin), busts his son out of a prison farm and sets out to drive his kid across the state line.

The plot and the simplistic themes and politics of revenge fail to make these cardboard characters too endearing, despite the sterling efforts of the appealing actors, especially Garner and Howell. Chomsky dallies overlong with the tank at the expense of action and entertainment, and the film feels flabby at 113 minutes.

Also in the cast are Shirley Jones, Mark Herrier, Dorian Harewood, James Cromwell, Jenilee Harrison, Sandy Ward, John Hancock, Guy Boyd, Dan Albright, Gerald A Atkins, Ron Baskin, Keith Brown, Robert Bryant, Frederick R Clark, Alan G Cornett and Bill Crabb.

It is written by Dan Gordon, shot by Donald H Birnkrant, produced by Irwin Yablans, scored by Lalo Schifrin and designed by Bill Kenney.

It is Howell’s third film after E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and The Outsiders.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6539

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