The Dukes Of Hazzard Review
by William Robert (webmaster AT moviesforguys DOT com)August 3rd, 2005
Dukes of Hazzard (2005)
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott, Jessica Simpson, Burt Reynolds, Willie Nelson
Rating: 3/5
Reviewed by Billy Bob from www.moviesforguys.com
Dukes of Hazzard is the 2005 movie interpretation of the early 80's TV show. All of your favorite characters are back, though they're played by an all new cast. And the movie is set in current day.
Although set in the present, not much has changed about Hazzard County. Boss Hogg is still the scamming Commissioner. Roscoe is still the Sheriff. Cooter still fixes The General when the boys tear it up. All the action is at the Boar's Nest where Daisy works as a waitress. Only a couple of minor differences worth noting, Bo and Luke are running liquor for Uncle Jessie. And it seems Uncle Jessie has a bit of a girlfriend, played by Linda Carter. She's gotta be 50+ at this point, but we'd still love to have her put on her Wonder Woman outfit, tie us up with her golden lasso and make us lie to her.
If you're not familiar with the Duke family and Hazzard county, you only need to know a few things about Bo and Luke Duke. They're just a couple of good old boys, never meaning no harm. But it beats all you never saw, they've been in trouble with the law since the day they were born. They're straightening the curves, flattening the hills, and someday the mountains might get 'em, but the law never will. You see, they're just making their way, the only way they know how. But that's just a little bit more than the law will allow. They're just two good old boys, wouldn't change if they could. They're fighting the system like a true modern day Robin Hood.
With all due respect to the late great Waylon Jennnings of course. And Waylon was missed, we had a bit of a balladeer, but it just wasn't the same without him. As for the rest of the cast, Knoxville and Scott are easy to adapt to as a couple of clowning versions of Bo and Luke. We quickly got past the Coy and Vance flashbacks. The best casting was Jessica Simpson as Daisy, as she successfully pulled off being smoking hot while still being innocent. We also enjoyed Willie Nelson as a cussing, dirty joke telling Uncle Jessie. However, we cant say the same for Burt Reynolds as Boss Hogg. We didn't expect him to play it like the TV series version, but Burt really phoned in his performance. The worst casting was Roscoe. We question whether M.C. Gainey bothered to even watch a single episode of the original show.
The real scene stealer is the General Lee who in a lot of ways saves the movie. The General Lee is true to the original right down the the now very politically incorrect rebel flag, which is addressed in a very classic moment where characters from the 80's meet currently reality. There's a lot of really nice chase scenes including some excellent drifting. And you'll see the General launched higher, longer and further than ever before, and it's the real car not a miniature or cgi. Watch the bloopers during the credits for proof.
We really wanted to love this movie. But instead we ended up just wanting to be friends with it. The plotline works like a long episode of the old TV series. But what really stuck with us was the lack of chemistry between many of the cast members. Willie seemed uncomfortable as Jessie, and Boss Hogg and Roscoe just did not work at all. Bo and Luke seemed to be having fun, almost everything else felt forced. However, the General Lee's chase scenes, Daisy in her shorts and some good laughs are enough to warrant 3 stars. If you miss it at the theater, at least be sure to give it a look on DVD.
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