BrickNash
Just becasue a film may be the worst in the franchise doesn't automatically make it bad - words to live by when approaching this film.Really, this film is a decent laugh with car chases aplenty and the charm of Jerry Reed. It's all silly, like why would Snowman even pretend to be the Bandit in the first place, but it's a hugely enjoyable piece of trash that is perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon, or even just a Smokey binge in general.The star of course is the magnificent Jackie Gleason, and quite frankly he's just as good here as in the previous two films. The banter between him and junior combined with Gleason's delivery is still great, and he can carry the film perfectly well for what it is.Yes there is a noticeable lack of the Hal Needham touch, but really, don't let the purists drag you down. It's not a great film, but it's fun and there's plenty here to keep you entertained. for an hour and a half.Smokey & The Bandit isn't high cinema, it's low brow, grassroots entertainment made for fun and excitement. This film fits in nicely with that.
mm-39
Just when you thought it could not get any worse? Smokey and the Bandit 2 was lame, and the answer is yes part 3 was worse. Part Three had no Bandit! No Burnt Reynolds! Smokey and the impostor would be a better title. Beside no Reynolds part 3 had no plot. Grabbing a plastic shark off Buford T Justice car was the story. Lame and more even lamer the story became.. The adventure has cheap gags, T & A, and lame comic skits. The only positives out of Part 3 was a few cool stunts involving fire and the ending were Buford would rather chase the Bandit the go back to retirement. 1 or 3 out of ten. Depends what mood I'm in!
AaronCapenBanner
Despite Burt Reynolds only agreeing to be in a cameo part at the end(and no Sally Field at all) studio went ahead and made this pitiful, embarrassing sequel that has Sheriff Buford T. Justice retiring, only to be called back one last time by Big Enos & Little Enos, who defy him to catch the Bandit. Despite the "real Bandit" being elsewhere, his friend Cledus decides to become the "new Bandit" and Buford(with his son in tow) chase him instead.With no plot to speak of, and a distressing number of lame, crude gags, this utterly pointless film was one of the worst films of its decade. Hard to believe this went into production at all, and remains a jaw-dropping experience.This really stinks!
microfame
I've been swimming in 70's nostalgia lately, reliving my childhood, and I've taken a stroll through many of the 'car chase movies' that had their day in that decade. Some I had strong memories of seeing as a child, like "Gumball Rally" and "Cannonball Run". I recently re-watched the first "Smokey and the Bandit" and it hit all the right notes -- well-paced, nice proportions of fun and action, and a fine cast. "SATB 2" was also fun viewing...a slightly weaker story, but offset by the welcome addition of Dom DeLuise. I came across the "SATB" triple-pack DVD set, and got it to consolidate shelf space on my DVD rack, and to finally see "Part 3".....Good Heavens, this was bad, and painfully unfunny. A movie can't be filled with only supporting characters, and while Sheriff Justis' idiot son saying "Daddy, Daddy..." is funny a few times in the original, it is NOT funny in big doses throughout a whole film. Even Gleason's performance seemed forced, and some voice dubs didn't even sound like him. How could Jerry Reed go from so likable and natural in the first two films, to so crazed and annoying in the third? The writing was terrible, Colleen Camp was a complete piece of wood, and the jokes were embarrassing excuses for humor. This film proved that the fun-loving 70's were over, and the tasteless stench of the 80's is evident here in every shot. Excremental.
