DVD Debut: OFF AND RUNNING (1991)

Not every movie is going to wind up on streaming or be elevated to a disc-based physical format. Some are just “so far down, they’re not even on the map” to quote The Warriors but Vis Vision in Australia has scourged back catalogues to give collectors the relatively unknown Cyndi Lauper classic, Off and Running, its very first release on DVD back in November 2024.

After witnessing a murder, struggling actress and underwater dancer, Cyd Morse, goes on the run and crosses paths with a good-natured golf pro, Jack Cornett (David Keith), before getting saddled with a rebellious young boy.

Off and Running has a level of quality commonly associated with a ‘Midday Movie’ on free-to-air television. I was half expecting to see the Channel 7 emblem in the bottom right-hand corner. It’s not particularly interesting nor does it excel at any point. If anything, the film simply meets the basic criteria of moviemaking. Interestingly Off and Running never made it to theatres in the U.S. due to financial troubles with the distributor, Orion Pictures. Instead, it went straight to video but eventually received a short run in UK theatres the following year.

Cyndi Lauper, who is normally a walking picture of wild fashion, is noticeably underdressed this time round and unlike her first feature, Vibes, none can be felt. Granted, her larger-than-life personality and her signature New York accent do manage to keep the film standing. Also, the scenes where Cy takes refuge in a unique UFO-inspired hotel co-owned by Jack adds a slight surreal mid-60s mood; and the late Richard Belzer as Jack’s partner Milt Zoloth makes a brief appearance and is playing his sarcastic self.

VIDEO AND AUDIO

Off and Running was shot on film, but Via Vision’s debut DVD appears to have come sourced from a fair low-grade video master. Presented in 4:3 the image resembles a pre-digital television broadcast. It’s washed out with a dull colour, and there is no texture whatsoever, but the disc is NTSC formatted, although region 4 locked. Subtitles are not included.

I was looking forward to Off and Running due to its obscurity and I enjoy being among a small minority of viewers for such titles, but it was an underwhelming experience. It fails to match the energy that’s advertised. If it’s of any consolation, Via Vision has managed to preserve a film that I think could have easily been lost to time.

OFF AND RUNNING
(1991, director: Edward Bianchi)