Review of Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) by Lori W — 30 Dec 2012

It had to happen, after Smokey and the Bandit became the second highest grossing film in 1977, Universal ordered a sequel, although it came a year or two later than they would have liked, due to it's director and stars' commitments to other films.

It's not as good as the first film, but it does have a good finale out in the middle of the desert, but it's good to see the cast back together. This time, Big Enos Burdett (Pat McCormick) is campaigning to become Governor of Texas, and he needs a crate delivered from Miami.

He calls upon the services of The Bandit (Burt Reynolds), who has become an alcoholic, and split from Carrie (Sally Field), but the Bandit's partner Cledus (Jerry Reed) convinces him to take on one last job.

So, down to Miami they go, and they find their cargo to be an elephant called Charlotte, and they end up with Italian gynaecologist Dr. Frederico Carlucci (Dom DeLuise) with them, but Sheriff Buford T.

Justice (Jackie Gleeson) is back on their tail again, and he's calling in his family to help catch the Bandit. It's a very silly film, even more silly as it's an excuse for Reynolds and DeLuise to spar off each other, (see the outtakes at the end for proof), but director Hal Needham keeps the mood up, and the action is always work the watch, but don't expect anything more.