Story: When game maker Milton Parker (Vincent Price) passes on, the line for the reading of the will could wrap around the corner. But his fortune won’t just be handed out, instead he left instructions that the inheritance would be decided in one last game. All those with a claim to stake have to compete with each other, armed only with a list of countless objects to track down and return to the estate. This scavenger hunt will determine who ends up rich and who is left out in the cold. But some players choose to stack the odds, at the expense of their cut, by teaming up with others to lighten the task. As all of these teams compete to track down this eccentric list of obscure items, who will wind up on top with all of Parker’s wealth?

Entertainment Value: The star studded, large scale spectacle comedy used to be a frequent sight, but movies like Scavenger Hunt don’t always hold up well. The story here is simple and effective, starting with a cameo from Vincent Price to kick off the hunt, then it is more or less just a series of encounters between the players as the hunt takes place. I found Scavenger Hunt to be very hit and miss, which is kind of to be expected, given the sheer volume of characters and jokes thrown onto the screen. With rapid fire humor and a constant cycling of performers, some of the material was bound to fall flat. And when the humor here falls flat, it is painfully unfunny to watch. On the other hand, even when the material works well, the laughs are minor for the most part, so at its best, I feel like Scavenger Hunt is passable. I enjoyed seeing such a large cast in action and the movie does entertain at times, just not consistently enough to earn a recommendation.

The cast is certainly the main draw here, as the characters and performances provide most of the fun, rather than the writing or the set pieces within the hunt. This volume of actors means not everyone gets much time, but the movie is good about focusing where it needs to and sticking with the central groups, while sprinkling in little cameos and surprises. I think some of the smaller roles turn out to be the film’s highlights, with Vincent Price and Arnold Schwarzenegger as examples. In truth, it is fun to see who pops up next, but with so little between these appearances, Scavenger Hunt struggles. Richard Benjamin has a central role and performs well, if in a rather forgettable role, while Tony Randall, Richard Mulligan, and Ruth Gordon have some of the better of the prominent performances. The cast also includes Scatman Crothers, Meat Loaf, Roddy McDowall, Cloris Leachman, Cleavon Little, and Pat McCormick, among many others.

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