Race Cars, Laser Cannons, and 80s Dystopian Madness in "The Last Chase"

Imagine it's 1979, and someone decides it's a great idea to make a classic science fiction movie starring Lee Majors and Burgess Meredith. "It sounds promising, doesn't it?"

Hold onto your popcorn because that movie is "The Last Chase." You probably haven't heard of it because it was one of those low-budget, early '80s flicks that didn't exactly get the red carpet treatment. In fact, the marketing was so minimal you'd think they were trying to keep it a secret.

Toss in some shaky distribution decisions and a plot that only a die-hard classic science fiction fan could appreciate, and you've got a movie that's as famous as your neighbor's garage band.

But hey, we're living in an age where even the dodgiest movies can find a second life on streaming platforms, so why not give this one a shot?

The movie kicks off with a scenario that, believe it or not, feels almost topical. In the mid-1980s, a viral pandemic swoops in and takes out a huge chunk of the population, like a bad case of the flu but with way worse timing.

Just to make things even more fun, there's an oil crisis that has everyone running on fumes—literally, as if people were probably siphoning gas from their lawnmowers.

The government, in all its wisdom, decides that the best solution is to ban fossil-fueled engines entirely. So, no more cars, planes, or anything else that makes life remotely enjoyable.

Welcome to a future where electric golf carts are the pinnacle of automotive technology, and your daily commute is basically a sad parade of bicycles.

Enter Franklyn Hart (Lee Majors), a former race car driver who lost his family to the pandemic and now spends his days as a spokesman for Mass Transit.

But don't be fooled by his public persona—this guy is secretly longing for the days when you could hit the open road without Big Brother breathing down your neck.

So, naturally, he does what any rational person would do in this situation—he starts rebuilding his old race car in his garage. Because nothing says, "I'm ready for a fresh start," like a midlife crisis on four wheels.

Then things get even weirder. Out of nowhere, California starts broadcasting propaganda claiming that the oil shortage is a lie and that they're living it up out west with all the gasoline they can guzzle.

Hart, of course, decides he's had enough of the nanny state and, with the help of a rebellious teenage hacker named Ring, takes off in his newly restored car on a cross-country quest for freedom.

The only problem? The government doesn't have a single vehicle fast enough to catch him.

Their solution? Dust off an old F-86 Sabre jet and send a retired pilot (Burgess Meredith) after him. Because when your entire dystopian society is hanging by a thread, the logical thing to do is reenact a low-budget version of "Top Gun."

From there, the plot unfolds in a way that's both predictable and utterly baffling. Hart and his teenage sidekick zoom across the country while being chased by a jet that, let's be honest, probably should have been retired along with its pilot.

Along the way, they encounter everything from a bizarre hippie commune to a random laser cannon in the desert—because why not?

But through it all, the movie keeps you hooked with just enough action and unintentional comedy to make you wonder, "How did this ever make it to theaters?"

Synopsis

So, here's the deal—everything in this 1980s version of the future looks like it was designed by someone who really hated fun.

The world has gone completely off the rails thanks to a massive viral pandemic (because what's a dystopian movie without one of those?).

And if that wasn't enough, the oil crisis gets so bad that the government decides to ban cars—yep, you heard that right—no more cars, no more planes, and forget about road trips unless you're ready to pedal your way there on a bicycle.

The result? Everyone ends up riding around in electric golf carts like they're trapped in the world's lamest theme park.

In rolls Franklyn Hart, played by Lee Majors, who was once a big-time race car driver before the world decided to completely flush itself down the toilet.

Now, he's stuck in Boston, working as a spokesman for Mass Transit, which is basically a fancy way of saying he spends his days telling people how great it is to ride the bus. But deep down, Hart misses the thrill of the open road, so he secretly rebuilds his old Porsche 917 in his garage, dreaming of the day he can break free from this government-controlled nightmare.

Then, out of nowhere, California starts broadcasting that it has all the gas it needs and is living life like it's 1979.

Inspired by these messages, Hart decides it's time to make a break for it. He teams up with a rebellious teenage hacker (because every good escape plan needs one of those), and together, they set off on a cross-country road trip to the land of sunshine, freedom, and, presumably, way too much traffic.

But of course, the government can't let Hart just drive off into the sunset, so they dust off an old F-86 Sabre jet and send Burgess Meredith, a retired fighter pilot who apparently has nothing better to do, to hunt him down.

What follows is a high-speed chase that somehow manages to make a race car vs. jet fighter scenario feel about as exciting as watching paint dry.

Along the way, they run into hippies, dodge laser cannons, and navigate through enough plot holes to sink a battleship—but hey, at least the scenery's pretty.

In the end, Hart and his teenage sidekick manage to outsmart the government and make it to California, where they cross a bridge into a sunny paradise that looks suspiciously like a matte painting.

It's a victory for freedom, fast cars, and really questionable special effects.

So, if you're in the mood for a movie that's equal parts cheesy, confusing, and strangely entertaining, "The Last Chase" is worth a watch—just don't expect it to make a whole lot of sense.

Theme

So, what's the deep, philosophical theme of "The Last Chase"? Well, it's pretty simple. Freedom is awesome, especially when it involves driving really fast cars and giving a big ol' "take that" to The Man.

In this movie's world, everything goes completely bonkers—gasoline disappears, fun gets outlawed, and the government decides the best way to keep people in line is to make sure nobody ever enjoys a road trip again.

But don't worry, because Franklyn Hart is here to show us the true meaning of happiness by getting behind the wheel of a vintage race car that somehow still runs after being buried in a garage for two decades.

This film's message is clear—real dystopia isn't about zombies or nuclear fallout. Instead, the ultimate nightmare is a world where you're stuck taking the bus.

Hart's journey across the country isn't just a race to California. It's a high-speed dash straight into the heart of the American Dream, where the roads are long, gas is cheap, and no one is going to tell you your car needs to be more fuel-efficient.

At its core, "The Last Chase" is all about the idea that cars aren't just vehicles. They're symbols of freedom, rebellion, and the chance to look really cool while speeding away from your problems.

And if you think this movie might be hinting at a critique of environmentalism, think again. There's no hinting here—just a full-throttle love letter to the good old internal combustion engine.

Who Will Watch This

So, who's going to be first in line to watch "The Last Chase"?

Well, if you're the kind of person who thinks every movie should have at least one car chase, a jet fighter, and a plot that feels like it was cobbled together by a group of middle schoolers with way too much caffeine, then this is the movie for you.

This film is perfect for anyone who idolizes Lee Majors, believes that a fast car is the solution to all of life's problems, and has a deep-seated fear of being forced to ride a bicycle.

It's also a must-see for classic science fiction fans who enjoy the quirky charm of a movie that tries really hard to be serious but ends up being way more entertaining because it's not.

If you're someone who will watch anything with Burgess Meredith to hear him deliver lines with the gravitas of a man narrating the end of the world, then you're definitely in for a treat.

In a nutshell, "The Last Chase" is for anyone who likes their action movies with a side of nostalgia, a dash of absurdity, and a generous helping of unintentional comedy.

If you think car chases are an essential part of cinema and the idea of sticking it to The Man while tearing through the desert in a race car sounds like a blast, then this is the movie you've been waiting for.

So grab your popcorn, buckle up, and get ready for a ride that's more fun than it has any right to be.