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Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
4/25
4/25:
Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 sinks lower and fails to turn in profit, signaling the end of the
franchise (at least for the time being).
Despite some corrections to get back to the roots that made the original so good, it shoots itself in the
foot many times by becoming a typical raunchy 80's comedy picture. The filmmakers are also more interested in
putting stuff in front of cars to ram through and having them smashed than providing quality entertainment.
As for the story, it's about uh...transporting a fake fish across some states for $250,000?
Jerry Reed decides to be *slap my forehead* Burt Reynolds. For Pete's sake, why...? Honestly, he looks a
lot closer to Richard Petty. Jackie Gleason continues to embarrass himself. It's hard to believe he
was Ralph Kramden of The Honeymooners. He even said, "This picture is much better than the
other two Smokeys. There are more laughs. I write everything I do, but I don't take any screen
credit - just the money." Right... In case if you were impressed with Mike Henry's body, he used to play
in the NFL for six seasons.
In many ways, the third part feels like a remake of the original. Jerry Reed and Colleen Camp are Burt
Reynolds and Sally Field, respectively. The mission is nearly the same with Jackie Gleason as the archvillain
accompanied by his son. They make a pit stop. There are plenty of car chases. At the end, the man himself
finally shows up in a cameo to remind the audience why the film sucks because he isn't in it.
All in all, to illustrate the bizarre stupidity of everybody involved, the working title of the
third part was Smokey IS the Bandit with Jackie Gleason playing both roles.