Fast Break (1979)

54% of users liked it
(106 ratings)

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… More 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. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Jack Smight
Written By: Sandor Stern
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 2, 1979 Wide
Studio: Lionsgate

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
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.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
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.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Totally implausible (though surely not meant to be taken seriously), highly predictable, and not particularly funny.
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
A hugely likable basketball comedy. Gabe Kaplan is so appealing here that you wonder why he didn't become a bigger star.