Do you remember how the movie studios tried to palm off Elvis Presley as a real macho racing car driver, who was an instant hit with the girls? Well, that old tried and true formula is dusted off once again, this time to "prove" what a macho person Kenny Rogers is. Te girls can't resist him, and he's fighting, slugging fit, both on and off the track. Well, at least there are no crummy process shots. Instead, clever editing gives the illusion that Rogers is actually out there, braving dangers head on! He can't help but be irresistible to the girls, but he has a heart of gold for these six orphaned kiddies, led by a delightfully nubile whom, of course, Kenny treats as a daughter -- and she likewise regards Kenny in a fatherly light, because she actually wants to meet boys her own age! So this is a movie that tries to have a bit of everything in car chases and comic sheriffs. And the odd thing is, that thanks to all the skills that gone into it making, the movie does succeed. It's agreeably acted, fast paced, has a nice music score, and makes good use of its natural locations. In all, I'd describe the film as familiar, but enjoyable!

Six Pack (1982): Dir: Daniel Petrie / Cast: Kenny Rogers, Erin Grey, Terry Kiser, Barry Corbin, Diane Lane: A gentler retread of the Burt Reynolds race car comedies only this time it is country singer Kenny Rogers at the wheel. We are suppose to be amused with a title that suggests six kids and a six pack of beer. By the time this film ends one may need more than a six pack. Rogers plays sports car racer Brewster Baker who is returning to the sport after a two year absence. He comes across six kids who fix or dispatch vehicles but it is obvious that these orphans will bond with Rogers who will parent them from the scheming Sheriff. Screenplay attempts to hide stupidity under a heavy dose of charm. Director Daniel Petrie does best with the racing footage. Rogers presents charm, which allows him to be a likable present but we know his destiny. Erin Grey plays his girlfriend with no other function other than to bang him for an evening. Terry Kiser plays an exaggerated rival driver called the Turk. Barry Corbin plays the stereotypical moron Sheriff to a much lesser degree of success than Jackie Gleason had in the superior Smokey in the Bandit. Diane Lane seems to be the one teenager with any structure at all to her role as she struggles with decisions and growing too fast on the road. Cashing in on the success of Rogers within a screenplay that must have taken several six packs to write. Score: 3 / 10

Kenny Rogers plays race car driver Brewster Baker, who finds himself saddled with a 'six pack' of thieving orphans. The kids know a thing or two about cars and prove to be a big help with Brewster's career, becoming a first-rate pit crew for him. Brewster grows attached to the kids but eventually has to choose between them and winning a big race.Kenny Rogers is good but the kids are the show, really. Two of them would go on to bigger things; Anthony Michael Hall and Diane Lane. The funniest of the bunch, though, is foul-mouthed Swifty, played by Robby Still. He gets most of the best lines. Pretty Erin Gray plays the love interest. Some nice country music and a generally pleasant tone throughout. A family movie, of sorts, but not a Disney movie for sure.

This movie played a few days ago on one of the old movie channels (Fox Movie Classics I believe). I had seen it a few years ago, but hadn't remembered much about it. It's not one of those movies that has much memorable about it.I felt the story had the potential to go places, but the acting was just not up to carrying it. I was disappointed in Kenny Rogers' performance (he should stick to singing). The kids were mostly blah, with the exception of "Breezy/Heather". But I also felt "Doc" and "Swifty" did a decent job.My son (who is almost 6) enjoyed watching this. He likes car racing, which was I'm sure his major attraction. And I enjoyed it for the most part too (it is a cute story). Some parents might not care for the boy (Swifty) cussing. He uses such words as "schit", "bastard", "damn", "hell", but never the "F" word.SPOILER...Brewster Baker (K.Rogers) is a down-on-his-luck race car driver. He is passing through a small Texas town and stops to fuel. During the stop, six kids strip his car. Brewster later chases down the culprits, rescues one from the river, and learns they are orphans. He also discovers that the local sheriff is in on their criminal enterprise. (The sheriff and his cohort deputy remind me a lot of Boss Hogg & Co. from Dukes of Hazard).Brewster is thrown in gaol but one of the kids (Swifty) breaks him out. (I found this scene humorous with Swifty toting a gun and trying to act like a gunslinger from some old west movie). Brewster flees town with the kids in tow and the sheriff in hot pursuit. But they all escape thanks to the resourcefulness of the kids who tampered with the sheriff's car.The kids get attached to Brewster and finagle their way into being his pit crew. And Brewster begins to warm to the kids also, but doesn't like the idea much.With the kids' help Brewster works his way back to a high position in the racing circuit. Things seem rosy until they meet Brewster's arch rival, Turk. It seems Turk is the reason Brewster lost out on his previous racing career. The kids pull a fast one on Turk, Turk and Brewster get into it, and in the last race of the film it seems Brewster is going to beat Turk and win the race. But, Brewster sees his kid pit crew being taken away by the Texas sheriff and gives up the race to save the kids. (Turk doesn't win BTW).The end of the movie shows Brewster marrying his girlfriend and keeping all the kids. (It's a nice ending).END OF SPOILER.My thoughts are they could have done so much more with this story. Some parts had the feeling that they were trying to copy stuff like "Smokey and the Bandit" and "Dukes of Hazard". They should have just done their own thing and forgotten about other programmes.On a positive note: There were a lot of good bonding scenes with the kids. Story-telling in the motel room, hunting for Breezy when she ran away, singing songs in the RV. And, although not well-acted, Brewster's relationship with the kids was exemplary...he acted the parental role (correcting Swifty's language, counseling Breezy, etc.), and still had fun with them (joking, stories). They developed his role well enough that you felt he was suitable to care for the kids.I'm giving a mediocre rating of 6 for this. Personally, I would have no problem with kids viewing this movie, but there is some mild language, and a couple of scenes (Breezy soliciting Turk in his trailer & Brewster's fight with Turk) that some may find inappropriate.This would be another of those rainy-day movies.