Goodbye Pork Pie

Goodbye Pork Pie is a 1981 New Zealand comedy film directed by Geoff Murphy who co-wrote the screenplay alongside Ian Mune. It stars Kelly Johnson, Tony Barry, Claire Oberman, and Bruno Lawrence. It became New Zealand's first ever local hit.

Plot
In 1978, 19-year old goon Gerry Austin steals a wallet using the cash and driver's license to rent a yellow Mini Cooper in the town of Kaitaia to take it around for a joyride to Auckland. There, John is depressed after his wife left him having moved to Invercargill. John wants to go there to talk to her, but doesn't have any transport until he comes across the Mini by chance whom Gerry dubs as the "Pork Pie". Together, they travel south of New Zealand to get to Invercargill picking up Shirl on the way, who is planning on going to Wanganui. Gerry's daredevil instincts have earned the group the nickname the "Blondini Gang". This gets the attention of the police who don't take this lightly and plan on preventing them from getting to Invercargill.

Good Qualities

 * 1) The idea of a young risk taker who rents a car via stolen money to take it out for a joyride picking up a recently separated man who is the polar opposite of him to take him to see his wife while on the run from the police is highly original.
 * 2) It innovates the car chase genre by incorporating slapstick, bawdiness, and local sensibilities.
 * 3) Gerry is a highly free-spirited character who takes risks no matter what. His outfit is also very cool.
 * 4) The dynamic involving the three main characters is great with Gerry's gung ho attitude, John's level headedness, and Shirl's reserved nature.
 * 5) The police are very hilarious and bumbling villains.
 * 6) Decent acting from the cast, especially from Kelly Johnson.
 * 7) Excellent comedic timing.
 * 8) The Pork Pie is an awesome looking car with its bright yellow paint job and flags on the aerial.
 * 9) Nice jazzy score.
 * 10) Given that it revolves around the main characters travelling from the northernmost and southernmost parts of New Zealand, you will get to see many of the country's major cities with its landmarks and locales as well its various landscapes.
 * 11) As mentioned above, this was New Zealand's first local hit and along with Sleeping Dogs, it helped to establish the country's film industry.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) Gerry can be a total hooligan with his reckless behavior and his tendency to put John and Shirl in danger.