A great Ensemble joins Burt Reynolds for this enjoyable, light-hearted action crime comedy where the easygoing Burt shows up at gas stations operated by the same company, revealed to be a crooked preacher played by Art Carney. Burke has musical Ambitions and gets himself involved in a country and western band and after surprising them by making a stop to rob a small gas station, he has them joining in on other heists in between gigs. After one gas station attempt at a robbery fails, they decide to target a bank, and it's none other than Polly Holliday as the nervous but friendly clerk, keeping her cool even though she is presented with a tin box birth claims is filled with dynamite ready to explode. There are a lot of familiar faces in small roles in this movie, but it's Carney and Ned Beatty as a vain country western star who stand out, even among a few real-life country performers which includes Mel Tillis.
There isn't as much a plot as a series of situations that are very comical, and it's basically Burt's rant against corporate takeovers of smaller businesses and the abuse of their employees. When he robs a gas station, he always shares a bit of what he takes with the clerk, giving them instructions on how to cover themselves with both their bosses and the police. The chase sequences are very funny, and the aftermath of the non successful bombing of the bank is hysterical. Under the direction of John G. Avildsen (who would score a big hit the following year with "Rocky"), this is a fast-moving comedy action film with lots of great country and western songs to keep the doors toe-tapping as they root for Burt and his gang to continue to succeed. I was a little disappointed with the ending however, but at least it wasn't left open for a possible sequel like other Burt action comedies.
There isn't as much a plot as a series of situations that are very comical, and it's basically Burt's rant against corporate takeovers of smaller businesses and the abuse of their employees. When he robs a gas station, he always shares a bit of what he takes with the clerk, giving them instructions on how to cover themselves with both their bosses and the police. The chase sequences are very funny, and the aftermath of the non successful bombing of the bank is hysterical. Under the direction of John G. Avildsen (who would score a big hit the following year with "Rocky"), this is a fast-moving comedy action film with lots of great country and western songs to keep the doors toe-tapping as they root for Burt and his gang to continue to succeed. I was a little disappointed with the ending however, but at least it wasn't left open for a possible sequel like other Burt action comedies.