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 2005 PG-13 / Action Comedy Directed by: Starring: |
- Cousins. Outlaws. Thrillbillies.
Summary Capsule
- A couple young good ol’ boys take a break from runnin’ the family moonshine to save their beloved home town from strip minin’
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Kyle's Rating: “Whoa, black betty (bam-ba-lam) / Whoa, black betty (bam-ba-lam)”
Kyle's Review: I had such an amazingly entertaining time with The Dukes of Hazzard that I was seriously thinking no one else had actually seen it and was just trashing it on principle or something stupid like that. I mean, it’s wasn’t the greatest, but it was clean, dumb fun. What was everybody’s problem?
Of course, I refer to Dukes of Hazard as a film much as I refer to Sorority Boys as a film. That is, I say “film” and make quote marks in the air with my fingers as I roll my eyes and make it clear that it is technically to be properly classified as a film because it was meant to be projected onto a big screen at movie theaters. I’m deadly serious when I say it’s clean dumb fun. Don’t tell your professors that you saw it, if you catch my drift.
Dukes of Hazzard is pretty much one of those movies that just sounded like a bad idea from conception to completion. A remake? Of a television show that wasn’t considered very intelligent or deep by anyone other than our current President? Starring a bunch of idiots and a literal jackass? And what is Jessica Simpson doing? Covering “These Boots Are Made for Walking” and doing a video showing off her curvy body? Sure, some of that sounds fun, but why would anyone do this?
Well, the final product won’t do much to distinguish itself from the made-for-television junk or crappy movies that tanked at the box office and get picked up for endless late-night reruns on content-hungry cable channels. Willie Nelson, Burt Reynolds, Lynda Carter, and Joe Don Baker are pretty much wasted. I can see how they were meant to be humorous (where’s the Carter/Nelson muffin flirting from the trailer? It wasn’t that bad) but all their stuff falls pretty flat. They should have saved money and cast unknowns and blown all that money on more stunts instead.
Because the stunts are cool as they are, but you’ve pretty much seen them all. There are a few fancy bits of driving in the city and backwoods that are slightly impressive, but all the big “yee haw” jumps and mouth-agape “oh my god” other jumps were all over the trailers. So if you’re looking exclusively for big car jumps and whatnot, stay away: you’ve seen all the big guns this film has to offer. The General Lee is certainly a great car and you’ll walk out thinking “I want one of those!” But unless you’re a crazy car enthusiast or something like that, that angle won’t really blow your mind. I’m not a car guy, though I will say that if I could have any dream car but for some reason I couldn’t get a Tumbler (go Batman Begins go) I would settle for a General Lee. Preferably without the confederate flag on top (they deal with that briefly, and it’s amusing, so nice job).
Ultimately, though, it all boils down to those titular Dukes, particular Bo and Luke. And without getting into man crushes or anything like that, I can say that Seann William Scott and Johnny Knoxville saved the movie, at least for me. It’s that usual thing where they were clearly having fun and the movie allowed them to play themselves (or versions of themselves that match how we think they probably are, which is masochistic girl-crazy zany indestructible easy-going dudes), so if you like them you’ll probably like the movie. It was probably too bad we couldn’t just stay with these guys more, or stay with these guys in more interesting situations that would allow them to be funny and charming, because they were the strength of the film. I wouldn’t vote for either of them for governor of California (but don’t hold me to that) but for the heroes of a summer cinematic romp, they’re great.
Now, you either like Jessica Simpson or you don’t. The row of teenage boys to my left didn’t express their thoughts on her music or personality, but they sure loved her body. And her body is on display quite a bit, though not as fully as many would like (give it a few years, people). I don’t know if I’m getting old or if Simpson just doesn’t light my fire like others do (go Scarlett and Rachel go), but I appreciated Simpson here like I appreciate art and museum exhibits that I don’t especially like much: I knew they weren’t going to linger in my memory once I left, but I certainly had the psysiological reaction (in my pants) that I knew I should, so that I knew my libido and health were still intact. Thanks, Jessica! And nice work delivering the self-aware line early in the film that sums up the meaning of your entire role; combined with your reaction later when your attempt at drawing away the roadblock cops fails for an obvious reason, it’s almost like you really are an “actor.” Wow!
So yeah: both the General Lee and the Jessica Simpson have incredible bodies to be admired (I wonder if car freaks get more turned on by the car than the girl) and the cast other than Scott and Knoxville is lame. But so what? It’s just a bit of gloss and profanity above a made-for-tv film, but know what you’re getting and you might have fun. I never thought in April or May that ultimately I’d rather rewatch Dukes of Hazzard than the expensive-looking-but-dumb-in-a-bad-way The Island, but that’s how it goes. But buy me enough drinks, and I just might be up for a double feature. Who knows? And if nothing else, Dukes will provide you with plenty of reasons to never cross that Mason-Dixon line or go anywhere where moonshine is a viable drink for sitting on the porch. Stay in the city, people!
 Posture, boys! Posture!
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- The General Lee takes some scratches and general abuse, but it varies between shots. Not as blatant as the smashed headlight that fixes itself in Mitchell (good call, MST3K!) but close!
- When Bo and Luke are being chased through Atlanta by the police, the scenes were shot in New Orleans.
- The roundabout is Lee's Circle, the street car tracks, the statue of Robert E. Lee, and the National D-Day Museum all can be seen. Also the when the General Lee jumps onto the interstate, a mile post 3 sign along I-610 in can be seen.
- In the scene where Daisy Duke is talking with Billy Prickett about the different sponsor logos on his car, the audio was clearly re-dubbed and doesn't match what she is really saying.
- When Bo and Luke are outside and they are attempting to get inside Boss Hogg's office, it is easy to see that it is completely dark outside and it is late at night. When they do get into the office, sunlight can be seen shining into the room. Later the same night the sky is seen again and it is only dusk, even though it was clearly dark out only moments before.
Is It Worth Staying Through End Credits?
Absolutely not! Stay to watch the bloopers/outtakes right after the movies ends, because they aren’t as funny as everyone said they were, but they’re okay. But leave immediately afterwards, or else you’ll be frozen in your seat as your sensory organs melt out of your head as Jessica Simpson murders the song “These Boots Were Made for Walkin’” and destroys your soul in the process. No. No. Nooooooooooo!
Intermission! [some sources: IMDb]
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Jessica Simpson, who plays Daisy Duke, beat out Britney Spears, Mandy Moore and Jessica Biel for the role.
Paul Walker and Ashton Kutcher were considered to play the Duke boys. Anthony Anderson was also considered to play Boss Hogg.
One of the original series car from the '80s was also used in this new movie as a close-up car. It's a converted '68 Charger to look like a '69. The original engine was replaced by a brand new Hemi-engine. The car was used for a few close-up scenes and was send back to Warner Bros.
26 Dodge Chargers were used for the making of this film. Several 1968 and 1970 Dodge Chargers were converted to look like 1969 Chargers. Only one hemi Charger was used, the rest were 440s, 383s, and a few small block 318.
Groovy Quotes
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Cooter: [talking about the General Lee] I'm fixin' to fix it.
Rosco P. Coltrane: You're fixin' to fix it? Boy, you couldn't fix an election if your brother was the governor.
Bo Duke: I'm never getting' out of this car again! I'm gonna eat in it, I'm gonna sleep in it, and I'm gonna make sweet love to it!
Luke Duke: You mean you're gonna make sweet love *in* it.
Bo Duke: No, I'm gonna have sex with it.
Katie Johnson: This is my roommate Annette from Australia.
Bo Duke: Oh, let's put another shrimp on the barbie!
[everyone stares at him]
Bo Duke: That's what they say down there...
Deputy Enos Strate: If Sheriff Rosco knew I was here, Boss Hogg would tan my hide.
Luke Duke: He spanks you?
Uncle Jesse: [after Luke crashes through a police roadblock] Give me your godd**n licence!
Luke Duke: What license?
Daisy Duke: You know what's gonna happen. They're gonna get caught and get thrown in jail. Then I'm gonna have to shake my ass at somebody to get them out.
Uncle Jesse: That's why we love ya, honey.
Soundtrack Review
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Not too bad. Pretty good, I guess. The cover of “Black Betty” by Spiderbait that’s used in the beginning of the trailer actually got me pumped for the movie (and to go buy “Tonight Alright” by Spiderbait), so I was bummed slightly that it wasn’t used in the film. Oh well.
If you liked this movie, try these:
This review page was last updated on 8.30.05
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