BEFORE: Most of the cast members of last night's film carries over - not expecting much of a plot, though...
THE PLOT: The Bandit goes on another cross-country run, transporting an elephant from Florida to Texas. And, once again, Sheriff Buford T. Justice is on his tail.
AFTER: Franchise films are funny - we Star Wars fans argue over the finer points of what makes one film better than the other, and Trekkies and Potterheads probably do the same. But when a franchise can't take itself seriously during its first sequel, it's not a good sign.
The 2nd "Smokey and the Bandit" film devolved into farce and slapstick, plus a few knowing nods at the audience - Burt Reynolds talks directly to the camera, practically apologizing for plot devices that he knows are no good. And if the actors can't take things seriously, how the heck am I expected to?
The presence of Dom Deluise trying (and failing) to maintain the demeanor of an Italian pseudo-doctor ("I'm not a gynecologist, but I'll take a look...") is another warning sign, as is Jackie Gleason doing triple-duty as Sheriff Justice but his two non-identical cousins from Canada, and, um, someplace else where cops are apparently gay.
They didn't know what to do with Sally Field's character either, so after breaking up with the Bandit, she went to New York and danced on Broadway, then somehow ended up back where she started, ready to marry Sheriff Justice's clueless son, because the writers couldn't think of any other way to get the characters back together. Yeah, it works as a story point, but otherwise makes zero sense.
The timeline doesn't work either, since the elephant has to get from Miami to Dallas right away, about 4 weeks from now. So there's time for the Bandit to quit drinking and go on a 3-week training regimen, thanks to a montage. He needs to train to drive a TransAm? Why not cut the training program short and give himself an extra week for the journey - why does everything have to happen at the last possible minute?
The plot (and I use the term loosely) culminates in an orgy of set-up police car stunts taking place in a desert canyon (despite the fact that there is no desert located between Miami and Dallas) as a bunch of tractor-trailers plays round-em-up with the police cars from Canada and um, that gay place. This movie was filmed around the same time as "Cannonball Run", and I have to say, it makes the other film look like "King Lear" by comparison.
The highlight of my weekend? A trip to the Cheesecake Factory. The low point - "Smokey and the Bandit II". There, I said it.
Starring the cast of last night's film, plus cameos from David Huddleston, Mel Tillis, Terry Bradshaw, "Mean" Joe Greene, and the Statler Brothers.
RATING: 2 out of 10 hidden beer cans
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