Let It Ride
Let It Ride, a frolicking fantasy of a movie, is nothing more than ninety minutes of lighthearted entertainment.
It features a cast of offbeat but winsome characters, a secretly recorded incriminating conversation, a wishful prayer and a winking horse. The tale begins with a happy-go-lucky guy slipping into a silly argument with his wife and ends with him 'having a very good day.'
Jay Trotter and his wife, Pam, are aware of the provoking traits that have contributed to their separation but have decided to give the marriage another try.
They meet for dinner at a Chinese restaurant, each bringing an itemized list of resolutions designed to overcome their areas of contention.
Pam (Terri Garr) promises to control her temper in public. Jay (Richard Dreyfuss) promises to lessen his gambling. Each promises not to 'worry so much about money.'
Pleased with the evening’s developments they plan to reunite the next day after Jay leaves work at noon. But their rapport is quickly shattered when they get into a ridiculously funny argument over the imaginary 'international rules of fortune cookie taking.' It’s a loud argument, one that engages the other diners and possibly the viewers of the movie.
Resolutions, definitive statements of good intentions, are not always easy to set in motion. Cookie fortunes, little snippets of advice and prophesies of good luck, can be heeded or ignored at will.
This high stakes comedy unfolds to the backdrop of the couple’s attempts to reconcile their ambitious resolutions with their enticing cookie fortunes amid compelling temptations. It takes place on a hot, Saturday afternoon at the race track.
Jay, like his friend Looney (David Johansen), is a taxi cab driver. Looney gets his thrills by secretly taping his passengers’ conversations. When the friends meet that night Jay listens to a recording of a race horse owner coaxing his companion to bet heavily on Charity, the #4 horse in the first race.
Believing the owner has a lock on the race Jay determines that placing a bet on this horse would not be gambling. (Funny isn’t it how we sometimes rationalize our weaknesses?) Dismissing his pledge to Pam, Jay drives to the race track and shares his stash of gambling money with Looney.
They stop at the bar across the street for a beer. Jay checks the racing form only to discover that Charity has been designated the long shot. Immersed in the surroundings of drinking and gambling among his friends in this dark and dirty bar Jay becomes aware of the race track’s previous ruination of his wellbeing.
He walks into the restroom stall, kneels and begins to pray. Plead better describes Jay’s supplication to God, 'Let me just win this one...I’m due.' Just then he hears someone say, 'Let it ride.' He makes the bet.
Let It Ride was filmed in 1989 at Hialeah Park, located north of Miami. The beauty of the park is part of the allure of racing for Jay and Looney. Flying into the park against a sky of blue, flamingos pass the swaying palm trees to land and float upon the infield lake.
Against this picturesque scenery the excitement mounts when the bugle blows and the jockeys in their colorful costumes guide the horses - with their shiny coats, lush manes and flowing tails - from the stalls to the starting gate.
'They’re off,' shouts the announcer and all eyes follow the horses as they pick up speed. The champions pull ahead of the others on the backstretch. Charity inches forward. She’s nose to nose with Blurred Image as they near the finish line. When the flag drops the race is too close to call. The photo sign lights up.
After his first win Jay’s friends are quick to remind him that many people have pushed their luck only to end up penniless and woebegone. Jay dismisses their words of caution. The afternoon progresses along with no particular plan on his part. He simply takes life as it comes and lets his instincts guide him.
Jay is a middle-aged, cute and likeable, little guy. The brief scenes of him interacting with the other characters are what make this movie fun to watch. No detail of an authentic race track and its diverse inhabitants has been spared, giving the viewer an inside glimpse into the world of horse racing.
From the clairvoyant tattooed waitress at the café to the highbrow maître d’ clad in a starched, white shirt at the Jockey Club; from the bookie and his tough-talking sidekick to the zealous racetrack policeman; from Vibes, the intuitive gambler, to Marty, the bartender who uses a 40-point star system, all represent the colorful cohorts of this vice.
When Jay’s instincts take him to the horse stalls to chat with Looney’s taxi passengers, their conversation leads him to the Jockey Club where the high rollers go to booze and schmooze. Here Jay’s temptations extend to more than gambling.
Women come on to him by playing footsie under the table. The young and ditzy Miss Vickie (Jennifer Tilly) wears a tight, red dress that, with a few stitches, could double as a swimsuit. Mrs. Davis (Michelle Phillips) wears a copious amount of diamonds on her fingers and accepts Jay’s offer of a drink by matter-of-factly stating, 'I don’t see why not. I’m on the pill.'
At 1:45 Pam, dressed in her sexiest lingerie and annoyed at being kept waiting, calls Jay at the Jockey Club. Seemingly unconcerned about her state of mind Jay invites her to join him at the track. Shortly after arriving she learns that Jay has spent his money on more tickets.
Naturally, she throws a conniption fit. Jay, in a flash of brilliance, understands why Pam is against his gambling. But when he attempts to justify his actions she storms out in a huff and heads home to drink the afternoon away.
Meanwhile, Looney has lost all his money on a horse with the same name as his cat and has gambled heavily on a losing football team. Knowing the bookie will be pursuing him, he goes in search of money. Jay finds him hooked up to an IV at the blood bank.
Jay’s instincts and his luck don’t always coincide, but he keeps an optimistic attitude. The ticket seller (Robbie Coltrane), who has encountered all kinds of winners and losers, shows a steadily increasing admiration for our audacious gambler. They bond over cigarettes after a large bet. Jay makes other new friends and considers his time with them as luck enough should he lose his money.
The last race of the day once again ends with a photo finish, but by this time everyone at the track is cheering for Jay and the #2 horse, Hot To Trot. Jay started the day with a long shot and a failed promise. But with a generous nature, faithful friends and unconditional love he ended it a true winner.
Let It Ride didn’t win any film awards and had mediocre success at the box office. Most film critics were not kind to it. But despite its slow beginning it has become a favorite among classic comedy fans.
It’s like this: sometimes we have a craving for Beef Wellington, but from time to time nothing but fish and chips will satisfy our appetite. Richard Dreyfuss and a cast of fine character actors deliver a comedy that from time to time will satisfy our appetites for excitement, sociability and kooky vignettes.