Yes, Carradine's at the wheel again. This time the race is through Africa which makes you fully appreciate the scenery. Journalist Channing, from the Gazette, the romantic lead here, comes along for the hairy ride. The wonderful Christopher Lee plays the villain, Count Borgia, a riding legend, who dresses the part, dead set determined at winning the race that hardly seems feasible with his nincompoop assistant. Channing provides the humorous touches, and when she gets scared, even if it is overacting, it makes her funny and enjoyable, especially when she notices a pack of lions behind an oblivious Carradine. But all in all, this one falls below par to Carradine's other race movies. Channing has a terrible habit of losing her cameras or trading them. For Carradine fans of this fare mainly, or even the kids too.

So, it's a rally movie. From my own experience, the rally movie craze started with the real life rally Canonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. Brock Yates, a Car and Driver writer created the race to protest the double nickle national speed law.Inspired by this event there have been a number of movies. The main list is probably Canonball (76), Gumball Rally (76,) The Canonball Run (81).Before those was another Carradine car movie, Deathrace 2000. Carradine was also in Canonball.Which brings us to this 1981 "classic", Safari 3000.This movie is not like those other movies in some ways. It focuses mostly on the Carradine/Channing team, and their nemesis, a count.The movie is innovative in no obvious way. That's not a terrible strike against it, how many movies are? The movie is a comedy/adventure. So it should be funny. And it is, in spots. I laughed more at the clichéd lines than anything else, which is fine. I don't mind laughing AT a movie, as that's also legitimate entertainment.Don't expect much for adventure. It's not like Indiana Jones or similar movies. You never feel like the protagonists are in any real danger. I hope that's intentional, or the movie makers are pretty bad at creating real tension.This all sounds like I am down on this movie. In fact, I sat and watched most of it. That means I was entertained. I don't love Carradine but he has his moments. Channing is cute at times, and pretty likable. Reminds me a bit of Sally Field in Smokey in the bandit - a cute chick riding along in the car with a cute voice and a cute personality.If you dig 80s cheese, rally movies and comedy-adventures with more silliness than substance, you might like this. And there's some nice scenery of African animals I thought was well done.

In the tradition of " Cannonball Run " and " The Great Race " " Safari 3000" tells the basically simple story of a African continent road race. It's not a classic and there aren't any great stunts but all the actors ( Stockard Channing and Hamilton Camp in particular) look like they're having a roaring good time with the silly dialogue and consequently so will you. There are a couple of raunchy lines that will go right over the kiddies heads so it's one for the entire family. Lots of wild animals and some natives who are aren't as primitive as they appear, actors having a great time, all in all a fun way to spend an hour and a half. Of course, as in all low budget movies there are some unintentially funny moments, like the African used car dealer at the beginning who only gets his accent down in the second half of his scene.

About the only item worth noting on this lackluster film was the chemistry between Stockard Channing and David Carradine. It seemed as if the two actors were reading off each others reactions rather than a script. Perhaps that was part of the problem with this movie.At times this film reminded me of the Disney film "The Love Bug." Of course "Safari 3000" is no where near as good a movie as "The Love Bug," and that isn't saying very much. Absolutely skip over this movie and be glad you haven't given up two hours of your life.