Thanks for checking out our Forgotten Fridays feature. This is a feature to review some older films that maybe you have forgotten about or maybe never got around to seeing that we just want to share. They may not be old, maybe not forgotten, but they are not new. Just fun to share.
Today, in tribute of Gary Coleman passing away, we review On the Right Track
Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Lee Philips
Staring: Gary Coleman, Maureen Stapleton, Norman Fell, Michael Lembeck
Released: March 6, 1981
THE GENERAL IDEA
Lester is a homeless shoeshine boy living in a railway station. He’s got this funny knack for picking the winning horses’ names out of the paper while shining shoes. When word gets around, though, everyone wants a piece of the action.
THE GOOD
This just oozed of that leftover 70s charm that Gary Coleman was just perfect for. The movie was just made for those moments of sympathy for the clever and resourceful tiny orphan living in a string of lockers in a NY subway station.
I only have a vague recollection of this movie, so I am going to leave it at that. Coleman was great in it, and the movie was full of charm.
THE BAD
Its poor form to speak ill of the dead. Which is fine because Gary Coleman did fine in this film. What is bad about it is that it just doesn’t hold up. The degree of suspension of disbelief required to enjoy this movie might be too much for some people. Like some people who were not around in the late 70s watching films on your top loading betamax.
OVERALL
If you want to see Gary Coleman when he was young and innocent and full of personality this will take you back and remind you why this guy was a child star. Its sad that he struggled with health issues and a lack of career after Diff’rent Strokes, but there was a time when the world was at his feet.
Since all of these Forgotten Friday reviews are going to be what I would already give a high rating to, I had a Tv, Rent or Buy scale going on, but it would seem that an overwhelming majority of my picks get a BUY rating.
So with every Forgotten Friday you see from now on, you get to rate your anticipation for yourself!
TV – If you are at least a little curious, catch it if it comes on TV.
Rent – If it is something you have heard of and forgotten, or just remember enjoying this as much as I did once upon a time, go rent it.
Buy – But if you are like me, and you agree with my review you should go buy it. If its featured here, I already have.
