Elmore Leonard, screenwriter and writer of the novel upon which this film is based, apparently disowned it after Universal Pictures ordered extensive re-shoots. Leonard was very critical of star/director Burt Reynolds for what Leonard perceived as Reynolds' not fighting Universal hard enough to prevent the studio from doing it.
Annie Potts had a part in this picture but it was cut from the final release. However, her credit appears in the teaser poster when the film was set to be released in 1984.
Burt Reynolds's underweight, weak and thin look was because he was still suffering from the effects of an accident that occurred on the set of his previous movie City Heat (1984). His jaw was broken when he was hit in the face with a metal chair while filming a fight scene. He was restricted to a liquid diet and lost over 30 pounds by the time that movie wrapped. Apparently this accident led to Reynolds becoming addicted to painkillers.
This movie was originally set for release in August 1984 but Universal Pictures demanded that director Burt Reynolds shoot additional action scenes--at a further cost of $3 million--and cut down the film's humor to make it more commercially viable.
Julie Walters turned down the female lead. Burt Reynolds personally offered her the part, but she found it uninteresting.