II. Only after journalists and state officials began inquiring about the legitimacy of the university (and prospective students phoned to inquire about applications) did Columbia admit to the hoax. Reception The film did well at the box office, grossing about $9.5 million in domestic rentals in its first six months of release against a budget of no more than 3.5 million. Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote of the film, "Though it's a nice movie, it's as instantly disposable as junk mail." Roger Ebert gave the film 2 stars out of 4 and wrote, "We've seen this formula so often that 'Fast Break' is almost like a rerun." Variety wrote, "'Fast Break' appears to be a telefilm that has wandered into the wrong arena. Likable in a rather harmless fashion, the Columbia Pictures release seems certain to turn up on the tube soon, after quickly exhausting the potential of major markets where its basketball theme could click." Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave the film 2.5 stars out of 4 and called it "something between a movie and a television show. It's like six segments of a weekly sitcom. That doesn't make it bad — it has some funny moments — but this is hardly the sort of material that justifies a hefty first-run ticket price." Charles Champlin of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "'Fast Break' is what they used to call a nice little picture, and Hollywood now usually makes them for television instead. It's literally fast, straightforward, [and] uncommonly well acted by a fresh and attractive cast." Gary Arnold of The Washington Post wrote, "'Fast Break,' a negligible but marginally entertaining sports comedy about a rags-to-riches college basketball team, is the sort of attraction that used to fill the bottom half of double bills. When it's over, you don't feel disappointed, but you're still waiting for the main feature to begin." References External links 1979 films 1970s sports comedy films American basketball films American sports comedy films Films set in Nevada Films set in universities and colleges 1979 comedy films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films