Softwing
Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??
CrawlerChunky
In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Sanjeev Waters
A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
Michael_Elliott
Gator (1976) ** (out of 4) Gator McKlusky (Burt Reynolds) is asked by the Federal government to help them track down and get evidence on Bama McCall (Jerry Reed), a bad man doing bad things and not paying taxes so it's the one way to bust him. The only thing is that Gator and Bama used to be good friends.This sequel to WHITE LIGHTNING was the directing debut for Reynolds and for the most part it's a mildly entertaining movie, although there's no question that it falls well short of the entertainment value of the first. There's basically one major problem with this sequel and that's the fact that it's pretty much like every other "chase" picture that came before it. It's almost as if the writer had a checklist he went down to make sure everything you'd expect from a picture like this was here.This film does offer up some nice performances, which certainly help the extended running time. Reynolds is pretty much playing that lovable "good ol' boy" and he was certainly a pro at that. He manages to make the Gator character a fun one and one that you could root for. Lauren Hutton is good as the love interest and Jack Weston really stands out in his role as the agent. Jerry Reed also deserves a lot of credit for his turn as the bad guy as he actually made for a good and menacing villain. And yeah, he sings the pretty good title song as well.The problem with GATOR is that it's pretty much a "been there, done that" type of movie as everything we're seeing is something we've seen countless times before and there's just nothing fresh here. Reynolds direction is good but there's nothing overly great about any of it. I'd also argue that there's not as much comedy that works here. With that said, there are some good stunt work and especially towards the end with a certain jump onto the beach.
vchimpanzee
When I saw this, I was not aware it was a sequel. It just so happens I saw "White Lightning" on the same TV station a week later, after I had found out this was a sequel. So now I can compare the two movies.If I hadn't known Gator was a character from "White Lightning", I wouldn't have believed it. Gator in this movie was more like Burt Reynolds' "Smokey and the Bandit" character. In other words, Reynolds just being Reynolds, a smart aleck, though intelligent and charming.This movie was more fun but not as high quality as "White Lightning". Nevertheless, it did have its dark side. Although it started out with a "Dukes of Hazzard" style chase but with boats, and it was mostly a comedy, the final scenes were not funny at all. It was a real shame.Jerry Reed did a very good job; Bama did come across almost like J. R. in most of his scenes with Gator, though in a lot of his scenes Bama was hardly a J. R. Ewing type. He was just plain nasty, and that one scene that nearly spoiled the movie for me was the real proof of just how evil he was. The standout performance came from Alice Ghostley as a woman who loved cats and once worked in the courthouse. Her former job meant she knew where to find information that could put Bama away--but because it was her former job, illegal tactics had to be employed. Of course they did! What fun would a movie like this be otherwise?It's mostly a movie for the type people who enjoyed "Smokey and the Bandit". Too silly for Oscar, but entertaining.
shipes_j
one of the most endearing qualities about this movie is the fact that it brings the seventies back to your memories...it was filmed in 1976 and it shows it often....the scene where jerry (reed) enters the "southside shuffle "topless" bar...nails the period completely... as well as other fashions, lingo, and of course burt himself...who "owned" the seventies....due to this movie and his other good ole boy films of the south....coupled with the overwhelming popularity of smokey and the bandit (yet to come a year later)...established burt as a seemingly permanent fixture in cinema back then...I always thought burt would stay on top I guess...he seemed invincible as the #1 box office attraction...he is definitely an icon of the seventies time capsule...his swagger and his sense of humor put a brand on me as I remember many times in my life (silently) asking myself...what would burt do in a situation like this?....as pure acting goes...the film had one of the best supporting actors around and due to his lack of experience I guess you would just have to sum up jerry reed as being a "natural".....he played the villain so well you wanted him to stop...and go back to the good ole boy that you knew he could be (later as cletus snow in smokey and the bandit)gator is/was one of my all time favorite films...from a time period that I thought would never end...I miss it and this film will help you reunite with it if you are nostalgic at all...
mm-39
This is White Lightning with the budget. Great story, and action with a mix of directing that gives the viewer a feel for the south. A tailor made role for Burt Reynolds, which became a high water mark, he never could reach again. I love the part where the tall guy uses the sun roof in order to drive the car, and the beginning narration. Too bad this format was not in use for Sharky's Machine, he would have done better in the 80's. This movie made him a star of the 70's, and this film ages well, which is the test of time. 8 out of 10 rent it today.
