Review of W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings

Anyone wondering how Reynolds became a top box office draw and off screen personality in the 70s need look no further than this film, despite its mediocre box office performance. As a ne'er do well con man and stick-up artist, he oozes charm and charisma throughout (and looks dang good in a series of snug trousers!) Taking place in the 50s, the film has Reynolds stealing from a series of gas stations, for whom he has vengeance in mind, but then becoming entangled with a charming and naïve country music band (called Dixie and the Dancekings) and posing as their manager. He finagles them into a small Nashville club and works as much of his charm as he can to get them noticed, but still has to resort to hold-ups in order to bankroll them. Eventually, the oil company sends out Bible-thumping ex-sheriff Carney to reel Reynolds in, just as the band is on the threshold of enjoying some degree of success. Reynolds is sly and handsome, working his brand of magic on the women of the film, yet winning over most of the men as well. This is gentle, easy comedy for the most part and he assays it beautifully. Van Dyke, in her feature debut, is an unusual type for Reynolds to act opposite, but they manage a solid amount of chemistry and she does an admirable job. Reed, a longtime friend of Reynolds' who would later costar in the "Smokey and the Bandit" films with him, is also good. Carney takes a heavy-handed approach here and is almost unrecognizable in such a stern role. A lot of notable and familiar faces from the country and TV milieu appear in supporting roles and cameos. Quirky enough to be unpredictable and interesting, even heartfelt at times, it's also not any sort of blockbuster movie. It sets out to entertain with some music, some humorous set pieces and the innate affability of its star and on those terms, it succeeds nicely.