Smokey Bites the Dust

OK, sure the movie pretty much sucks, but it's definitely worth it to see some cool car chases if you are a car chase fan. After realizing how many precious classic Dodge Chargers were destroyed during the "Dukes of Hazzard" TV run, it's also kinda sad to see a hot '57 Chevy banged up in chases (watch the disappearing dents, they used more than one of course) but the highlight definitely is that great crash by the '57 through the roof (where of course, McNichol simply keeps driving after the car lands). This chase, with the '57 Chevy, just may be one of the greatest car chases ever put on film actually, it's just too bad it's in a comedy and not a 'serious' film.

The comedy is definitely bad, with maybe the funniest scene probably being the truck driver who backs in McNichols' way in an alley, who says "nooo!" with a hilarious look on his face. So hey, pick this one up off ebay for the chases, and watch with the volume turned off when you can to avoid the painful dialogue.

I first saw this in '85. Instead of having Burt Reynold's in the driver's seat, we have Jimmy McNicol, driving the local town cop (Barnes) insane, giving him daily chases and taunting him on his installed c.b. This time he's gone too far, where he runs off with Daddy's (Barnes's) little girl, and he's none too happy about. And it's prom night too. All this is a car chase movie, where forget plot or logic. We even see two ten plus kids smoke, the boy looking very much like that silent chubby kid, Peter in The Cosby Show. But unlike Cosby this isn't funny, just a sheer excuse to spend 86 minutes. We have impressive pile ups, crazy chases, a snake slithering across the road, near it's start, if to maintain further interest. Some known actors star in this, an early price to pay, for future stardom. We too have an imprisoned guy making moonshine, and a younger William Forsythe, a jock, who's girl is riding with Smokey (McNichol) though of course this is not the real character's name. What left me in puzzlement was it's enigmatic R rating. May'be it was the reference to watching two kids smoke. I don't know what else it could be, as this film doesn't deserve to go beyond a PG. May'be the censors were on a mental vacation, like the makers of this movie, and when the writer's surname is named after a piece of fruit, you know you got problems.

My childhood days of THE DUKES OF HAZZARD are long gone, which means it's time to dig up what was once grand: car chase movies. This one is special because it's another rip-off of SMOKEY & THE BANDIT, and also another with the name "Smokey" in the title (how many were there???). Every so often, a movie would thrill us living around 1980 over its display of automotive carnage, but haven't we seen enough? It's no better than GRAND THEFT AUTO, another Roger Corman production about high-speed pursuits. Not sounding politically correct in these modern times, kids would've probably liked this cartoonish flick that's been easy to please, as it shows off some over-the-top goofiness and kooky characters, including a "sheik" (!!!). The car crashes are fun to watch for 8-year olds, though. And, yes, no movie is complete without Dick Miller as comedy relief. Likewise, if you've seen one movie, you've seen it all. Diehard fans won't go wrong, but the movie offers absolutely nothing that's new and improved.

People who rated this down do not know the appeal of loony b-movies. "Smokey Bites The Dust" is for those who appreciate watching a wild escapade while drinking brews and relaxing after an intense week. Plenty of car chases, but what I dig the most are all the rules this movie breaks. You even have a young boy and girl smoking cigarettes by conning people, even police. I don't care what any do-gooder millennial says, it's pretty damn funny! Also, the perfectly laid-back 70's aura drew me in, especially since I'm a 70's junkie (I grew up in that decade). Oh, and because of the fact Jimmy McNichol (Kristy's brother) has the starring role as a car thief and "abductor". Let's just say it's almost as rad as "The Van" and more rad than "Used Cars", both of which are similar in theme. Again, this cult classic is for people who enjoy late-night carefree fun, not for people addicted to Judge Judy reruns.

This movies' thin excuse for a story: shameless car thief / speed demon / obnoxious punk Roscoe Wilton (Jimmy McNichol, "Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker") kidnaps homecoming queen Peggy Sue Turner (Janet Julian, "Humongous") and spends the majority of the movie outwitting and out-driving her flustered sheriff father (Walter Barnes, "The Big Gundown"). Naturally, many others get involved in the chase, too.

The price paid for the success of "Smokey and the Bandit" was indeed a steep one, as we once again get a cartoon with frenetic over-acting and mostly lame comedy. (That said, there is an occasional inspired gag.) The action is definitely preferable to the comedy, although, even so, a lot of the highlights are actually *lifted* from earlier Roger Corman productions "Eat My Dust!", "Grand Theft Auto", "Thunder and Lightning", and "Moving Violation".

The movie is passable overall; if you're not too judgmental and just want to put your brain in neutral for an hour and a half, you may be adequately entertained. Certainly this is a lively affair, with a breakneck pace and a cheerful "everything but the kitchen sink" approach; this leads to an admittedly amusing finale with a donnybrook involving multiple parties.

Other familiar faces you'll see include the always welcome Dick Miller ("Gremlins"), Kedric Wolfe and Charles Howerton from the directors' previous monster movie "Up from the Depths", William Forsythe ("The Devils' Rejects"), in one of his earliest feature film appearances, Kari Lizer ("Private School"), Mel Welles ("The Little Shop of Horrors"), Michael Greene ("To Live and Die in L. A."), Beach Dickerson ("Creature from the Haunted Sea"), Rance Howard ("Chinatown"), Nancy Parsons ("Motel Hell"), Angelo Rossitto ("Freaks"), and Tony Cox ("Bad Santa"). Director Charles B. Griffith appears on screen as the "mellow rabbi".

This may play like a "greatest hits" package of New World vehicular mayhem, but doubtless that some viewers will have few complaints. At least it's all relatively harmless.

Gale Anne Hurd was the co-producer.

Five out of 10.