Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)

Too many fans seem to be blown away

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

In many ways I actually prefer this film to the first. The script isn't quite as snappy as the original, but the cast are back along with a few new faces and it's a great fun ride. The theme of washed up celebrity is quite a clever one and it's played out nicely in the film, although maybe not as strongly as it could have been.The jewel in the crown is the end set-piece in the desert, because it's huge, magnificently choreographed, and it really is a sight to behold. It blows the socks off the first film's ending and is definitely one of the best "trucker film" sequences ever put on celluloid. The elephant story is sweet too, and it's nice how it manages to help the Bandit find himself again.Honestly, this is a great film and a worthy sequel. Overall it's not quite as good as the first film, but in a lot of individual places it's far stronger and is definitely worth checking out, regardless of what the sea of negative sheep out there say.

If it wasn't for the almighty 'Star Wars' then the 1977 Box Office would have been topped by none other than 'Smokey and the Bandit' which performed equally as surprisingly. Therefore a sequel was inevitable. In fact... a sequel was the natural evolution considering how the original ended. However, what people got was a different beast all together.Instead of directly continuing from the original, we have a new tale, utilising the old characters. Only it doesn't feel particularly new, more rehashed. If it was made now, it might almost be considered a 'remake.' The 'Bandit' is back, only he's all burned out and only tempted out of his alcohol-induced retirement by the promise of a big paycheque. Again, he has to drive across country, helping his trucker chum 'Snowman' to safely get his cargo to its destination. It's basically the same story as before. Again, it uses the same route. Again, it uses the same plot device of 'Smokey' (the cop constantly pursuing Bandit) only really chasing him because his son's bride has left him – yes, again – at the altar to run off with Bandit.It all feels a little like 'rinse and repeat.' Smokey catches up with Bandit. Bandit just so happens to know someone that can help him out. They block Smokey. The Bandit escapes and then it all happens again a few scenes later.Smokey's police car also seems to get completely trashed and yet be perfectly be okay to indulge in yet another high speed chase a little way down the highway. Of course the chases scenes are fun. At the time of production, the film boasted about having the most expensive car chase ever filmed for a movie. And there is one that lives up to that titled. Only one. Much of the driving seems to be done at the correct speed limit, meaning there's a distinct lack of tension going on.Yes, the stars return. And they do add an element of fun to the movie. If you liked them the first time round you'll probably like them again this time. However, since they're doing almost exactly the same thing as you saw them do in number one, then there's little point in watching them do it all over again, right?

Where to start. The plot was just too lame, less action than the first one, and just too depressing. Also why would Carrie/Frog try to marry Junior again if she knows she doesn't love him? Also Bo Darville was less charming in this one than in the first one. In this one, his personality was exactly the opposite from his personality in the first one. In the first one he was strong, he had self confidence, high self esteem, good sense of humor, etc. In this one he was weak, and he had zero self esteem. Exactly the opposite of what he was in the first one. Also why didn't they pick up from where they left off in the first one? The elephant story was just too cheesy. It was not nearly as solid as the first one. Also why did they have to destroy all the beautiful police cars? In the first one many police cars survived in the end. Also we don't know how Bufford T Justice's Pontiac Bonneville police cruiser ended up like that. In the first one we saw how each damage occurred. Also in the first one Bufford T Justice didn't abandon his pursuit on Bo Darville. So there was no reason for Carrie/Frog to try to marry Junior again to start a new pursuit.

This movie was a shameless attempt to cash in on the popularity of the first movie, with absolutely no attempt to write a movie worth watching. It was almost like the producers were trying to test how gullible the public is in paying money to see a sequel which was totally opposite in quality to the original movie. I really like Smokey and the Bandit. It had everything a quality movie could have. Burt Reynolds was charismatic, confident, and secure. In this sequel, he was gutless, confused and spineless. And the Sally Field character was a moralizing, preachy, annoying beau with her eyes set on correcting Bandit in the sequel. Kinda reminds me of most marriages! What we all loved about the original movie, fast driving, southern charm, Sheriff Justice's tough guy charisma, a real sense of urgency, are totally missing from this movie. The writers wrote a real piece of garbage in this one. The Bandit was reduced to a complete loser, who only succeeds because of his friends, not because of his abilities in like in the first movie. Worthless movie, totally.