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Source:
rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup
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HERBIE for adults, THE DUKES OF HAZZARD is just as stupid and silly as the recent kids' movie, HERBIE FULLY LOADED. THE DUKES OF HAZZARD, directed by Jay Chandrasekhar (CLUB DREAD and SUPER TROOPERS), as I'm sure you're well aware, is a remake of the 1979 television series. The movie has a plot, but it is so superfluous to the movie that there is little point in discussing it. Suffice it to say that it involves despoiling the environment and winning a race.
Burt Reynolds is there to sneer a lot as the big bad guy in the all white suit, and Willie Nelson is on hand as an old codger who tells non-stop jokes such as, "What do you call a farmer with a sheep under each arm? A playboy." But the stars of the film are AMERICAN PIE's Seann William Scott and A DIRTY SHAME's Johnny Knoxville as crazy cousins Bo and Luke Duke. These two leads throw themselves into their frantic acting with such abandon that it is exhausting just watching them. Even if you hate the picture, you've got to admit that these guys really gave it their all. Speaking of giving, Jessica Simpson, as their cousin Daisy, shows off her killer smile and body in her part as the alluring lass whom no man can ignore.
Most of this physical comedy is done by driving extremely fast. Bo and Luke drive an old 70s muscle car with a Hemi engine that slips and slides around every curve and literally flies over every hill. Since their car, named General Lee, has a confederate flag on the top, they are both cheered and ridiculed by the Georgia locals, where the story is set. When a bunch of big African Americans call them "hillbillies," Luke sheepishly suggests, "Actually we prefer Appalachian Americans." If you're in the mood for stupid humor, THE DUKES OF HAZZARD will fill the bill. But it certainly isn't a movie that you'd want to recommend to somebody you're trying to impress.
THE DUKES OF HAZZARD runs 1:37. It is rated PG-13 for "sexual content, crude and drug-related humor, language and comic action violence" and would be acceptable for kids around 11 and up.
My son Jeffrey, age 16, gave it ***, saying that he found it just basic fun. His girlfriend Yasmin, also 16, gave it ***, saying that she found Scott to be a sexy beast. They both commented that Simpson was much better than they expected.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, August 5, 2005. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
By : Steve Rhodes (http://www.internetreviews.com/)
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Source:
rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup
Rating:
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Dukes of Hazzard is the 2005 movie interpretation of the early 80's TV show. All of your favorite characters are back, though they're played by an all new cast. And the movie is set in current day.
Although set in the present, not much has changed about Hazzard County. Boss Hogg is still the scamming Commissioner. Roscoe is still the Sheriff. Cooter still fixes The General when the boys tear it up. All the action is at the Boar's Nest where Daisy works as a waitress. Only a couple of minor differences worth noting, Bo and Luke are running liquor for Uncle Jessie. And it seems Uncle Jessie has a bit of a girlfriend, played by Linda Carter. She's gotta be 50+ at this point, but we'd still love to have her put on her Wonder Woman outfit, tie us up with her golden lasso and make us lie to her.
If you're not familiar with the Duke family and Hazzard county, you only need to know a few things about Bo and Luke Duke. They're just a couple of good old boys, never meaning no harm. But it beats all you never saw, they've been in trouble with the law since the day they were born. They're straightening the curves, flattening the hills, and someday the mountains might get 'em, but the law never will. You see, they're just making their way, the only way they know how. But that's just a little bit more than the law will allow. They're just two good old boys, wouldn't change if they could. They're fighting the system like a true modern day Robin Hood.
With all due respect to the late great Waylon Jennnings of course. And Waylon was missed, we had a bit of a balladeer, but it just wasn't the same without him. As for the rest of the cast, Knoxville and Scott are easy to adapt to as a couple of clowning versions of Bo and Luke. We quickly got past the Coy and Vance flashbacks. The best casting was Jessica Simpson as Daisy, as she successfully pulled off being smoking hot while still being innocent. We also enjoyed Willie Nelson as a cussing, dirty joke telling Uncle Jessie. However, we cant say the same for Burt Reynolds as Boss Hogg. We didn't expect him to play it like the TV series version, but Burt really phoned in his performance. The worst casting was Roscoe. We question whether M.C. Gainey bothered to even watch a single episode of the original show.
The real scene stealer is the General Lee who in a lot of ways saves the movie. The General Lee is true to the original right down the the now very politically incorrect rebel flag, which is addressed in a very classic moment where characters from the 80's meet currently reality. There's a lot of really nice chase scenes including some excellent drifting. And you'll see the General launched higher, longer and further than ever before, and it's the real car not a miniature or cgi. Watch the bloopers during the credits for proof.
We really wanted to love this movie. But instead we ended up just wanting to be friends with it. The plotline works like a long episode of the old TV series. But what really stuck with us was the lack of chemistry between many of the cast members. Willie seemed uncomfortable as Jessie, and Boss Hogg and Roscoe just did not work at all. Bo and Luke seemed to be having fun, almost everything else felt forced. However, the General Lee's chase scenes, Daisy in her shorts and some good laughs are enough to warrant 3 stars. If you miss it at the theater, at least be sure to give it a look on DVD.
By : William Robert (http://www.moviesforguys.com)
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