Fast Break

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TOMATOMETER

Total Count: N/A

58%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 142

Fast Break Photos

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Movie Info

Hot on the heels of his Welcome Back Kotter success, Gabe Kaplan starred in this hastily assembled theatrical feature. Kaplan plays David Greene, the coach of a Nevada collegiate basketball team. Inasmuch as the local talent is pretty pathetic, Greene convinces a group of jive-talking New York street kids into playing for the college. Culture-clash jokes abound, with the black cast members usually coming out on top. In keeping with sports-comedy tradition, one of Greene's team members is a girl, and a very attractive one. Though it hasn't an original bone in its body, Fast Break is breezy entertainment, with a particularly thrilling climax.

Rating:

PG
Genre:

Comedy, Documentary, Drama
Directed By:

Jack Smight
Written By:

Sandor Stern
In Theaters:

Mar 2, 1979 wide
Runtime:

107 minutes
Studio:

Lionsgate

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Cast

Gabe Kaplan
as David Greene

Harold Sylvester
as D.C.

Mike Warren
as Preacher

Michael Warren
as Preacher

Reb Brown
as Bull

Bernard King
as Hustler

Mavis Washington
as Swish

Bert Remsen
as Bo Winnegar

Randee Heller
as Jan

John Chappell
as Alton Gutkas

Rhonda Bates
as Enid Cadwallader-Gutkas

K Callan
as Ms. Tidwell

Marty Zagon
as Henry

Richard Brestoff
as Howard

Connie Sawyer
as Lottie

Doria Cook
as Snooty Girl

James Jeter
as Officer Wedgewood

Steve Conte
as Man on Bus

Larry Farmer
as Beaton

Craig Impleman
as Hollis

Charles Penland
as Larry

Jim Spillane
as Krebbs

Le Tari
as Thompson

Oscar Williams
as Norman

Marty Gorowitz
as Frenchie

Bob Levine
as Bum

John McCurry
as Hal

Jack Smight
as Dibber

Jackie Sule
as Polly

Laurence Fishburne
as Street Kid

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Critic Reviews for Fast Break

All Critics (4) | Top Critics (2)

As do some of our most popular standup comedians, Mr. Kaplan sort of floats over his material, always in charge of it, but never deeply involved. This is not a rebuke.

Mar 24, 2008 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Vincent Canby
New York Times
Top Critic
We've seen this formula so many times before that there can be no surprises, except for some small suspense about when the foreordained events will take place.

Mar 24, 2008 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic
Totally implausible (though surely not meant to be taken seriously), highly predictable, and not particularly funny.

Mar 24, 2008 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

TV Guide
A hugely likable basketball comedy. Gabe Kaplan is so appealing here that you wonder why he didn't become a bigger star.

Feb 17, 2006 | Rating: 7/10

Chuck O'Leary
FulvueDrive-in.com