I am a longtime fan of the Beach Boys, and Dennis Wilson's involvement in this film always piqued my curiosity. Finally available on DVD, "Two-Lane Blacktop" is not as brilliant as I had hoped. Dennis does as well as you could expect given that he and James Taylor - his co-lead - are non-actors. Wilson is at least somewhat believable as "The Mechanic", a brooding car-obsessive who is rarely required to speak. Taylor, unfortunately, tends to limit the film. I just don't buy him as a badass race car driver. He's too mellow even when trying to act tough. And the less said about Laurie Bird the better; she is a miserable screen presence. Nevertheless, there are a few atmospheric moments which provide intrigue. Vintage car enthusiasts will find more to love here.
Written 6/21/08
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