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Its plot may ape the countercultural road movies of its era, but Steven Spielberg's feature debut displays many of the crowd-pleasing elements he'd refine in subsequent films.
All Critics (33) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (30) | Rotten (3) | DVD (6)
The pace falters near the end, but overall this is a brilliantly calculated audience pleaser. Jun 24, 2016 | Full Review…
The pace falters near the end, but overall this is a brilliantly calculated audience pleaser.
Dave Kehr
Unfortunately, the film degenerates in final reels to heavy-handed social polemic and sound-and-fury shootout. Feb 20, 2009 | Full Review…
Unfortunately, the film degenerates in final reels to heavy-handed social polemic and sound-and-fury shootout.
Variety Staff
A beautifully put together, assured film. Feb 9, 2006 | Full Review…
A beautifully put together, assured film.
Chris Petit
If the movie finally doesn't succeed, that's because Spielberg has paid too much attention to all those police cars (and all the crashes they get into), and not enough to the personalities of his characters. Oct 23, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
If the movie finally doesn't succeed, that's because Spielberg has paid too much attention to all those police cars (and all the crashes they get into), and not enough to the personalities of his characters.
Roger Ebert
The movie has a casual craziness that seems especially native. May 21, 2003 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
The movie has a casual craziness that seems especially native.
Nora Sayre
With this role, Hawn further proves she was an actress of some talent and not just an attractive woman to be taken lightly. Jun 24, 2016 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
With this role, Hawn further proves she was an actress of some talent and not just an attractive woman to be taken lightly.
The set pieces are beautifully handled, grizzled veteran Ben Johnson is watchable as the head cop on their tail, and, looking back, it's clear that Spielberg already held all the aces and knew how to deal them. Jun 24, 2016 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
The set pieces are beautifully handled, grizzled veteran Ben Johnson is watchable as the head cop on their tail, and, looking back, it's clear that Spielberg already held all the aces and knew how to deal them.
Tony Sloman
A tragi-comedy in which our modern beasts of burden ultimately exact revenge with horrific panache. Jun 16, 2015 | Full Review…
A tragi-comedy in which our modern beasts of burden ultimately exact revenge with horrific panache.
Duncan Fallowell
The Sugarland Express is not terribly original - Bonnie and Clyde, Badlands and The Getaway are indelibly marked in its DNA - but shows an already dazzling young filmmaker honing his skills and vision. Sep 6, 2010 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
The Sugarland Express is not terribly original - Bonnie and Clyde, Badlands and The Getaway are indelibly marked in its DNA - but shows an already dazzling young filmmaker honing his skills and vision.
Christopher Lloyd
Steven Spielberg in Malickland, with dolly and zoom and a wagonload of familial issues Sep 25, 2009 | Full Review…
Steven Spielberg in Malickland, with dolly and zoom and a wagonload of familial issues
Fernando F. Croce
Modest but assured work. Jun 12, 2009 | Rating: B | Full Review…
Modest but assured work.
Dennis Schwartz
Reflecting the zeitgeist of mid-1970s America, this early Spieleberg picture is still one of his strongest, dealing with alienation, anarchy, and lack of control; Goldie Hawn gives an uncharacteristicaly forceful dramatic performance. Dec 1, 2006 | Rating: A- | Full Review…
Reflecting the zeitgeist of mid-1970s America, this early Spieleberg picture is still one of his strongest, dealing with alienation, anarchy, and lack of control; Goldie Hawn gives an uncharacteristicaly forceful dramatic performance.
Emanuel Levy
While not his first film ever, this was the feature length theatrical debut of a nice guy named Steven Spielberg. Based on actual events, this film tells the story of an outlaw couple who take a highway patrolman hostage in an ill-conceived but desperate effort to keep their child from being taken away from them and adopted. It's not long before they are accompanied by a convoy of law enforcement and media, and stir up support from just about every averge citizen they cross paths with as they journey across Texas. This film very much fits into the zeitgeist of the time period, and it really reminded me of a movie that was released a year later...a little movie called Dog Day Afternoon. Whereas that film was a brilliant masterpiece, this one is really fun and entertaining, but almost too absurd to really take seriously, even though it is based on real life. Maybe there should have been a couple fewer scenes of cars scrashing or swerving, and a bit more time spent on developing the characters and their personalities better. The film is uneven and a little rough, but Im not sure who to really blame here. Spielberg had experience making films, so who knows? I will say though that it's cool seeing a pre-Ghostbuster William Atherton, and 70s era Goldie Hawn. They both give pretty good performances (especially Hawn), as do Ben Johnson and Michael Sacks. The music is quite nice, and the cinematography is pretty good too. Besides what I've already mentioned the film also is a tad unfocused and a bit dated, yet it has a very charming quality to it, and it's certainly not boring. It has some issues, but I like it enough to give it a mild recommendation, so you should give it a shot.
Super Reviewer
"Every cop in the state was after her. Everybody else was behind her." Lou-Jean, a blonde woman, tells her husband, who is imprisoned, to escape. They plan to kidnap their own child, who was placed with foster parents. The escape is partly successful, they take a hostage, who is a policeman and are pursued through to Texas...
This movie should not have the word Express in it.
I was surprised to find out this Steven Spielberg adventure-crime-drama film is based on a true story the couple plan to kidnap their own child, who was placed with foster parents. The escape is partly successful, they take a rookie Texas State trooper hostage. Really interested and excitement. The ending was sad as well, but I won't give it away. Goldie Hawn's performance is brave, funny and wonderful. In fact, all the acting is excellent, right down to the last two-line player.
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