Malibu Express (1985) | Action, Bikinis, Bombshells & 80s Beach-Side Cheese | VHSSB Podcast

Malibu Express (1985) was chosen by Patreon supporter Herb, who has mastered the art of selecting premium-grade, sun-bleached 80s glamour for the show. Written and directed by Andy Sidaris, the film was part of his long-running “Bullets, Bombs and Babes” cycle — a collection of action-comedies known for fast cars, glamorous models, and plots that take a distant back seat to the spectacle. Produced on a modest budget, the movie was shot largely around Malibu and Los Angeles, using Sidaris’s signature mix of real locations, Playboy Playmates, and outrageous action beats. Sidaris, a former sports TV director, carried over his love of dynamic camera movement, helicopter shots, and glossy production values, giving the film a surprisingly polished look despite its low-budget roots.

Behind the scenes, Malibu Express was a family operation. Andy Sidaris worked closely with his wife, Arlene Sidaris, who produced many of his films and helped build the distinctive “L.E.T.H.A.L. Ladies” brand that would later define his work. The cast was a mix of rising models, stunt performers, and cult character actors — all encouraged to keep the tone light, playful, and unapologetically over-the-top. The movie embraced the early-80s explosion of VHS demand, engineered specifically to appeal to video-store thrillseekers looking for bikinis, guns, fast boats, and pure escapist nonsense. While critics dismissed it, Malibu Express became a staple of late-night cable and home video, paving the way for Sidaris’s even more outrageous follow-ups like Hard Ticket to Hawaii.

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Trailer Guy Plot Summary

Buckle up… because the sun’s out, the boats are fast, and the shirts are nowhere to be found.

Meet Cody Abilene — part detective, part playboy, and full-time trouble magnet. When a simple job turns into a whirlwind of bullets, bikinis, and beachside chaos, Cody cruises into danger with nothing but his wits, his charm, and a cowboy hat that refuses to quit.

Malibu Express — where the action is hot, the engines are loud, and the mystery is mostly an excuse for more explosions.

Fun Facts

1. Malibu Express was the first film in Andy Sidaris’s “Triple B” series, which later included cult favorites like Hard Ticket to Hawaii, Picasso Trigger, and Savage Beach.

2. Lead actor Darby Hinton was best known at the time for playing Israel Boone on the classic TV series Daniel Boone before reinventing himself as an 80s action-comedy star.

3. The iconic red DeLorean-style sports car Cody drives in the film is a Sterling Kit Car, built on a Volkswagen chassis to give the illusion of a futuristic supercar on a budget.

4. Although set in Malibu, many interior scenes were filmed in Sidaris’s own home, a common cost-saving tactic he used throughout his career.

5. The movie features early appearances by Sybil Danning and Kymberly Paige, who later became regulars in Sidaris’s L.E.T.H.A.L. Ladies universe.

6. Malibu Express was a major VHS hit, with video rental stores frequently placing it in their “top 10 rentals” thanks to its eye-catching artwork and 80s sex-comedy-energy.

7. Sidaris employed a small but consistent stunt team, meaning some action performers appeared in nearly every film he made throughout the decade.

8. The mansion used for exterior shots belonged to a real Malibu millionaire, who allowed filming in exchange for a small role and a producer credit.

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