Director: Hal Needham
Starring: Burt Reynolds, Jan-Michael Vincent, Sally Field, Brian Keith, Adam West, Robert Klein
Written by: Thomas Rickman, Bill Kirby, (story) Walt Green and Walter S. Herndon
Running Time: 99 mins
Original Cert: A
DVD not available
Hooper was a personal project for The King of guilty pleasures, Burt Reynolds and his friend and director, Hal Needham. Coming off the massive success of Smokey and the Bandit, the pair took a subject they knew a lot about, that of the stuntman, as they both dabbled before become famous. What they delivered is another haphazard yet enjoyable romp set around the world of movie making, more notably, those who throw themselves around for a living.
Sonny Hooper is one the film industries greatest stuntmen, and he knows it. Working on a spy thriller for egomaniac director Roger Deal, the years of performing “gags” is starting to take its toil, especially in Hooper’s back. Stubborn as he is, Hooper refuses to retire, particularly when a new kid comes to town claiming to be the new Sonny Hooper. Ego on the edge, the stuntman decides to do one final gag, that of jumping a 300 foot ravine in a rocket car. Only trouble is, it could cripple him forever.
The one thing you notice about Hooper that makes it stand out among the Reynolds/Needham films, is that is has a plot. Admittedly it’s not much of a plot but compared to Smokey and The Cannonball Run, this is a huge thing. The thing is with these movies is that you can forgive them for not having a story. The cast seems to be enjoying themselves so why can we?
Reynolds is such a loveable rogue you can help but warm to his often improvised wise-cracking. It’s a charm that he delivers time and time again without actually changing character. He is Smokey, he is Hooper and all are Reynolds. Sally Field once again plays Reynolds girlfriend and so is limited to looking pretty and being a nag, especially when news of Hooper’s back filters through. Brian Keith is fun as Field’s father and former stuntman while Adam West (yes, Batman himself) plays himself in a spoof Bond film (with Bond style theme music). The only off note in the cast is Jan-Michael Vincent. He seems out of place, like an actor looking for a serious film, instead of this light-hearted romp.
The other star of the film, of course, are the stunts. A few simple bike falls and building jumps build up to bigger and better things, including a record breaking 232 foot freefall drop and the big finale, with explosions all over the place while cars dodge falling chimney stacks and then THAT jump.
It’s all done with a lightness of touch and a bundle of fun. No one could accuse these films of high art. They exist for one reason and one reason only, to make you smile. Pound for pound they do that and while some critics could be a little snobby about these films, they are best medicine if you are feeling down or if you just want to spend time with some reliable friends because that’s exactly what they feel like.
wrensterworld 