ROADSIDE PROPHETS (1992) ***1/2 long lost classic review by COOP

I’m so glad I came across this one again on the Independent Film Channel. I never have been able to find a copy of it on DVD, although I understand its available now.

I have fond memories of watching this on video in high school. John Doe (frontman of the band X) plays Joe, a blue collar worker who takes the new guy at work out for a beer. The new guy tells him about “El Dorado,” an amazing place in Nevada, before getting electrocuted by a stand up arcade machine. Joe feels so bad for the guy, he decides to hop on his Harley and ride with the guys ashes to find El Dorado. A pesky kid (Adam Horovitz from the Beastie Boys) tags along and on the road, they encounter a bizarre, all star cast who dole out pieces of wisdom and philosophy. Think of it as a more whimsical version of “Easy Rider” for the 90’s.

Every character besides the two leads are cameos, many of them legends in their own right. Arlo Guthrie, Timothy Leary, David Carradine show up to drop their two cents. John Cusack steals the show as a serial dine-and-dasher. This isn’t a great movie, but it’s a cool one. Worth the gander if you like quirky, indie cinema.

Here’s John Cusack’s hilarious scene. Look for Don Cheadle in a bit part as a waiter…