A Review by Phil Calabro
2005, Warner Brothers/Village Roadshow, Dir. Jay Chandrasekhar, Starring Seann William Scott, Johnny Knoxville, Jessica Simpson, Burt Reynolds, M.C. Gainey, Willie Nelson, Lynda Carter, James Roday, David Koechner, Nikki Griffin, Jacqui Maxwell, Joe Don Baker
Don't deny it: you've heard somebody complain that Jessica Simpson looks like the year's worst breakthrough actress, and that 'Dukes of Hazzard' looks like one of the stupidest movies yet - but you know they're still going to see the movie. Sure, sounds illogical, but there's one every year - a movie that always seems so outlandish and mindnumbing that all the criticism in the world isn't going to stop audiences from piling into the box office for it. But that isn't to say I didn't enjoy 'Dukes of Hazzard', in fact, I kind of enjoyed it - but in that outlandish and mindnumbing way. Director Jay Chandrasekhar of the Broken Lizard troupe takes enough creative liberties to change the squeaky-clean country show's image, and it will probably disappoint most fans. But it's still harmless fun in the end, and functions like any other comedy today does. Expect some action, some sexual puns, and lots of fireballs - but don't expect the movie to be excellent, either.
Just a story bout some good ole boys from Hazzard County, Georgia - two cousins named Bo (Scott) and Luke (Knoxville) Duke, who have a reputation for being fast drivers and overall mischievious pranksters across the city. They live with their Uncle Jesse (Nelson), a distributor of illegal moonshine, and their deliciously attractive cousin Daisy Duke (Simpson), a waitress who can get the boys out of trouble a lot of the time. They are constantly pursued by the head sheriff Roscoe Coltrane (Gainey), and his executive head and richest man in Hazzard, Boss Hogg (Reynolds). After Hogg takes away the Dukes' enormous sect of land by planting a phony moonshine machine on it, Bo and Luke learn that he's planning to stripmine the entirety of Hazzard for his own profit. Using a big dragrace with celebrity racer Billy Prickett (Roday) as the topliner, Hogg sets up a court meeting at the same time where objections are to be heard for the stripmining. The boys must race against time and detour the audiences to the courtroom before time is up.
No acting job in the movie is terrible, if that's any relief - but nothing's beyond satisfactory either. Seann William Scott and Johnny Knoxville are likeable variations of Tom Wopat and John Schneider's original Duke cousins. Of course, they're normally catering to audiences for movies like 'American Pie' and 'Jackass: The Movie', so we tend to get trademark humorisms from both of them. Seann William Scott's Bo is more of a stupid Steven Stifler, oblivious around relationship skills and more of a talker than his cousin. Knoxville's Luke is a crossbow-helming daredevil, who can never be entrusted to drive their classic 1968 Dodge Charger, The General Lee. Anyone who thinks Jessica Simpson is being thrust into the world of acting through this movie, don't fear - she's just a beautiful prop that pops onto the screen every 25 minutes. Burt Reynolds doesn't look anything like Boss Hogg, but he's just as despicable - one of the more likeable versions of the characters.
Is there much more to say about the movie? Not really. It's loud, less campy than the television show, and has a lot more action than before. As some of you may recall, Ben Jones, a former Georgian congressman and the actor who played Cooter the mechanic on the original 'Dukes', wrote a scathing letter to fans about the movie. He warned the die-hards, 'don't see this movie until they clean it up.' Is this a fair statement? Understandably to those who experienced the TV show like he did, it's a big shock to see the change - but should audiences and fans really beware of the movie? Sure, the adaptation is bit filthier with a lot more innuendo shoved into the timeframe, but this is the 21th century - it's given a fair chance much like any other show would be. The whole show is either patronized or joked about in good fun - whether it's the car jumping off a ramp or the 'kissin' cousins' jokes, 'Dukes' isn't too offensive. Some people just need to learn to take a chill pill.
'Dukes of Hazzard' isn't great entertainment, but it's worth a watching if you're looking for a good hillbilly thrill this weekend. Excited to see explosions, wild car stunts, and Jessica Simpson's tight body all at the same time? Then this is going to be heaven on earth for you, my friend. I can assure you that.
