Rat Race is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Jerry Zucker and written by Andy Breckman. The movie features an ensemble cast including Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese, Cuba Gooding Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Lovitz, Kathy Najimy, and Amy Smart.
The story revolves around a group of six strangers who are lured into a race across America by a wealthy casino owner, Donald Sinclair (Cleese). The racers are chosen based on their unpredictable behavior and given the opportunity to win $2 million by racing to a locker in Silver City, New Mexico, where the money is stored.
The racers include Nick Schaffer (Atkinson), an inept and neurotic tourist from London, Randy Pear (Gooding Jr.), a football referee who desperately needs the money for his daughter's heart operation, Vera Baker (Goldberg), a disgruntled mother who has just lost her job, and Enrico Pollini (Rowan Atkinson), an Italian tourist who speaks no English.
The race takes the participants on a wild and chaotic journey that includes stolen cars, roadblocks, plane crashes, cow stampedes, and other mishaps. Along the way, the racers realize that they are being watched by Donald Sinclair and his wealthy guests, who are betting on the outcome of the race. Sinclair manipulates the race to keep his favorite participant in the lead throughout the race.
As the racers get closer to the finish line, they begin to realize the true nature of the race and the greed and manipulation behind it. In the end, the racers discover that the locker containing the money is empty, and the true prize was the journey itself, and the friendships they made along the way.
Rat Race was a commercial success, grossing over $85 million worldwide. It received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the film's comedic performances and others criticizing the movie's reliance on slapstick humor. Despite the mixed reception, Rat Race has become a cult favorite among fans of comedy movies.
