Any film that starts and ends with a Marvin Gaye track must be doing something right!
There are about twenty songs throughout the film featuring the likes of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Four Tops, Jimmy Ruffin and more.
This could be called a "Buddy Movie" but it's so much more than that. It is a rare example of a great British comedy thriller that stands the test of time, and features some familiar faces that are still on our television screens today.
A jobless Liverpudlian Richie Lee (Henry) and a disillusioned American (Shea) set up a mobile 60's soul disco' in an attempt to recapture the days of their youth and perhaps make a little money on the way. Indeed, some money is "made" along the way but they run into trouble in the form of two oldschool cockney gangsters played by Peter Vaughn and George Baker who joyously devour every scene they are in.
Some genuinely great comedy moments are scattered throughout the film. The press conference is typical of the humour of the time with a dig at the British police. The sight gags in the scene with Bobby Knutt as a randy used car salesman
work very well. The wanted persons pictures in the Sun newspaper which are hopelessly wrong provide another good belly laugh.
Of course Coast To Coast is best remembered by most people for the performance by Richie and John and the band at R.A.F. Mildenhall. An impromptu version of the Dobie Gray classic "Drift Away" works really well at that point in the story and I still can't watch it without joining in.
A satisfying end to the film is tainted only by a teasing hint of a sequel. To the best of my knowledge a sequel was made but never screened. Perhaps the saddest fact is that no broadcaster will show the original due to the ludicrous demands for royalties made by Motown.
I suppose I should be grateful that my recording of the original broadcast of Coast To Coast even though it's sixteen years old is still very watchable and when I'm a bit low it's an excellent pick me up.