The man was capable of so much more. He was truly great in Deliverance, in Boogie Night, and in his final film.
But in that same great final film, he came to terms with his life and career. He regretted going for the easy cash in simple minded action films like this one.
There was a backlash against Reynolds' films. Mother Against Drunk Drivers pointed to him as the worst example of films promoting reckless, often drunken, driving. The small town in Texas I grew up in the 70s had lots of teens trying to imitate him. That meant driving reckless when bored on the weekends. It also meant lots of accidents, injuries, even deaths.
There are scenes that make you wonder why anyone thought they were funny. Martin and Davis shown throughout the film as drunk driving at 120 miles an hour. It's like telling kids it's fun to play Russian roulette.
And some parts are pathetic. We are supposed to believe the same two Rat Packers, in their 60s and scrawny, can beat up a gang of bikers a third their age? It's as sad and desperate as hearing an aging rocker sing about high school. What a horrible end to great careers.
Overall as action or comedy, it's so so anyway. Like Dukes of Hazzard, a lot of posing as rebellious. Self destructive behavior isn't being cool.
But in that same great final film, he came to terms with his life and career. He regretted going for the easy cash in simple minded action films like this one.
There was a backlash against Reynolds' films. Mother Against Drunk Drivers pointed to him as the worst example of films promoting reckless, often drunken, driving. The small town in Texas I grew up in the 70s had lots of teens trying to imitate him. That meant driving reckless when bored on the weekends. It also meant lots of accidents, injuries, even deaths.
There are scenes that make you wonder why anyone thought they were funny. Martin and Davis shown throughout the film as drunk driving at 120 miles an hour. It's like telling kids it's fun to play Russian roulette.
And some parts are pathetic. We are supposed to believe the same two Rat Packers, in their 60s and scrawny, can beat up a gang of bikers a third their age? It's as sad and desperate as hearing an aging rocker sing about high school. What a horrible end to great careers.
Overall as action or comedy, it's so so anyway. Like Dukes of Hazzard, a lot of posing as rebellious. Self destructive behavior isn't being cool.