Review of Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) by Stuart K — 30 Dec 2012
By this point, Burt Reynolds and director Hal Needham decided to do Stroker Ace (1983) instead of a third Smokey and the Bandit film. This one started off life as Smokey IS The Bandit, with Jackie Gleason playing both parts.
However, after it tested horrendously, most of the film was reshot, and they coaxed Reynolds back for a cameo. It's the weakest of the lot, and they should have stopped after 2 films. Sheriff Buford T.
Justice (Gleason) has retired, and has moved to Florida with his son Junior (Mike Henry), but life there is far from quiet. Then he runs into Big Enos (Pat McCormick) and Little Enos (Paul Williams), who make a wager with Justice, for him to deliver a stuffed shark from Florida to Texas.
Justice accepts, but the Enos clan put loads of traps in his way to ensure he fails. They even call upon Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Jerry Reed) to pose as The Bandit, to try and distract Justice.
But, Justice and his son are determined to succeed, and things get even more out of hand when Snowman steals the stuffed shark, leading in a big chase. It's more of the same from last time, and it makes you wonder how bad the one they filmed first time around had to be for them to come up with this?? Even Gleason, who falls in with nudists looked tired by that point, and it's no surprise that this sank without trace at the box-office.
This review of Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) was written by Stuart K on 30 Dec 2012.
Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 has generally received negative reviews.
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