I love films (and not just films) that work on a number of levels and this is one. You can take it as an interesting curio that neatly spoofs contemporaneous cop movies Bullitt and Dirty Harry with an outlandish murder hunt tale, but it also works on an allegorical level speaking about restriction, existentialism, dreams, reality and surreality and the desire for liberty.
It isn't especially successful. In many ways it is deeply flawed- the SFPD cop Frank Shaft, for example, is a nice idea poorly executed- but when it hits home, then it hits the jackpot. The comic swipes at Agnew and Nixon have added poignancy these days and the Wizard of Oz reference is sublime but my favourite gag was the invented Wright brother Abraham (played with relish by Stacy Keach) as the acquisitive owner of a string of retirement homes. No, it was the titles stopping and restarting from the beginning in unison with the action on screen. No, it's the scars on Sally Kellerman's back.
There is an interesting narrative role with Rene Auberjonois as a lecturer who is occasionally shown giving a straightforward lecture on ornithology with each section shown being pertinent to the action that precedes or follows it. There is also a lovely debut performance from Shelley Duvall and Bud Cort (looking like Wally from 'Where's Wally?') is smashing in the title role.
Next time I want to see a movie that I can laugh along with and then think more profoundly about later, this might be it. Terrible story, great movie. 6/10.
