Return to Mayberry

This update of the old "Andy Griffith Show" is one of the better reunions of the many that popped up in the 1980s. No fewer than 16 actors who appeared in the original series are present, including Ron Howard, who by this time had gone on to much bigger and better things as the director of many hit feature films.

The plot finds former Mayberry sheriff Andy Taylor and his wife Helen returning to town for the birth of son Opie's first child. Perennial second-banana (and Andy's former deputy) Barney Fife is now running for sheriff, the job he always wanted. But it turns out that Andy wants his old job back, too. This unspoken conflict and the selfless efforts by Andy and Barney to resolve it are very touching.

There's a silly subplot about alleged sightings of a monster in the town lake that detracts from the proceedings. And some of the continuity from the sequel "Mayberry RFD" series isn't followed. But what you really want is to see how these old friends and neigbors are doing, and to feel some nostalgia. And on these two points, "Return to Mayberry" doesn't disappoint.

I caught this movie at 3:00 in the morning and have since taped it. I was 8 when this movie first aired on t.v. but appreciate it a heck of a lot more now that I'm older. Seeing the star's from the old Griffith Show reunited was wonderful and they all looked like they were having such a good time working together again. It's a shame that Aneta Corsaut, Jack Dodson, Hal Smith, and Howard McNear have passed away. When they died we lost a special part of Mayberry.

No it is not a classic. But for ANY fan of the Andy Griffith Show "Return to Mayberry" is a sweet movie that reunites almost all of the original cast. The story is somewhat lame but it's fun just to sit back and watch the old gang at work. It is even more bittersweet knowing that 3 of the cast members (Aneta Corsaut, Jack Dodson, and Hal Smith) have since died. And kudos go most of all to Ron Howard who is now one of the top directors in Hollywood. He easily could have thumbed his nose at this movie. It just goes to show that there really are nice people still in Hollywood.

This was quite good for what it was-a nice nostalgic ode to the great '60s series, most of the guys-from Howard Morris, Hal Smith to Denver Pyle and Ron Howard came back to supply some class to the precedings. Plotwise it's Andy coming back to help Barney Fife and set things to rights, nothing more-but that is fine, that is what the audience wants, and gets.

This was #2 for the week when it premiered on NBC back in '86 I remember, with good reason. I have seen it twice, I liked it and so will anyone who liked the show or the stars, esp. Griffiths or Knotts.

*** outta ****, pretty good.

When this movie first aired I was 8 yrs. old, now that I'm 23 I can appreciate this movie more. I am a huge fan of Andy Griffith and The Andy Griffith Show and after seeing this movie it was clear that the same magic was still there even 18 yrs. after the original series ended. Andy was still just as wise and sweet as he always was, solving the towns problems and making his deputy look like the hero and Barney was still sweet-talking the unseen Juanita over the phone. The differences were even great to see. Otis had gone sober and was now the ice cream man, Opie was all grown up now married and with a child on the way, and Howard was going through mid life crisis. It was especially great to see that Thelma Lou was now divorced and free for Barney again. There are some things that left me wondering like where was Andy and Helen's child Andrew Jr. that we learned about on RFD? Why didn't Opie marry Mary Alice Carter, the girl he had a crush on since 1st grade? I'm just glad to see all the familiar faces from Mayberry back together again in this outstanding reunion movie! If you ever catch this on t.v. do what I did and tape this movie!!!