Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious If Predictable Entertainment!, September 16, 2002
This is one I save for time requiring sheer silliness with no observable traces of reality. I have to admit that it is a very contrived and predictable plot, but anything that is such an obvious spin-off of a fabulously popular television series would have a hard time being anything but derivative. Having said all that, I laughed all the way through the movie, and still chuckle thinking about a lot of the slapstick shtick used so liberally here. The storyline has been updated to make it a bit more topical, and the characters as depicted in the movie are slightly more contemporary than their counterparts in the TV series. But they are just as refreshingly corny and ordinary, and sometimes that is such an invigorating act to watch that it seems liberating somehow. The cast is uniformly terrific; the best is easily the late Jim Varney, showing surprising range in his star-turn recreating the Jed Clampett character in the shadow of the legendary Buddy Ebsen, who so many of us baby-boomers remember as being Jed Clampett. Of course, Cloris Leachman shows why she is such a celebrated actress in her hilariously naughty portrayal of Granny, and Erika Eleniak gives a wonderfully corny interpretation of sexy but innocent Elly Mae, more interested in ?rasslin? than boys, and as quick to ?whup? those boys if they get our of line. Also quite good is Diedrich Bader as Jethro (and also acting in drag as Jethro?s sister Jethrine, on the make and virtually unstoppable), as is Dabney Coleman as Mr. Drysdale, and a wonderful Lily Tomlin as Miss Hathaway. Of course, the villains are key in all this, and Rob Schneider and Lea Thompson spread their wings into comedic farce quite well. The scene with Thompson vamping Jed Clampett with her false French accent is hilarious for its ?shocking? unintended double-entendre, and is typical of how funny this movie is at times. As I said earlier, I save it for comic relief when I really yearn for mindless yucks, and it never fails me. Come on down and take a dip in the cement pond. I reckon you?ll find it powerful entertaining. Enjoy!
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12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious, July 30, 2002
This is one of the best movie remakes of a classic TV show that I have ever seen. In the movie, the salt-of-the-earth Clampetts discover oil, get fabulously rich, and move to Beverly Hills. Jed Clampett (played by Jim Varney) is in search of a wife to help raise Ellie Mae to be a real lady, but the family must beware of evil people who want to steal their wealth. Now, perhaps that sounds a little far fetched, but if you've ever met some simple folk who come into a lot of oil money, the whole story sounds very, very close to home.The casting is superb -- there are cameo appearances by Dolly Parton, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Buddy Ebsen. Lily Tomlin is hilarious as the familys secretary, and Jim Varney actually plays a very believable straight guy. This movie has no sex, foul language, or violence, and will bring lots of laughs to the whole family.
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15 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Good Movie? Somebody's A-Greenin' Ya, Jethro!, May 16, 2002
By A Customer
You don't need no sixth-grade education to see that there is more of tragedy than of comedy about this project. As with most films based on classic sitcoms, this one falls flat. Although there are some very talented actors in the cast, they are completely wasted by being saddled with a poor script and even poorer direction. The remainder of the cast is simply inept. Director Spheeris is apparently unable to effectively stage even the simplest gag, a serious handicap when attempting to film a supposed comedy. The viewer is left with a series of unfunny, uninteresting, unconvincing, and contrived scenes, none of which is even mildly entertaining. Discerning viewers will find this to be a complete waste of time. The original series was far from highbrow, but it was downright distinguished in comparison to this mess. Stick with the reruns of the original series, and skip this little disaster. Cousin Bessie could have done better than this.
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