Collo d'acciaio

Hooper (1978) *** (out of 4)

Sonny Hooper (Burt Reynolds) is the best stunts-man in the business and he's working on his latest picture with a director who keeps pushing him to his limits. Hooper slowly begins to realize that his career has caused his body to be broken and it's effecting his relationship with Gwen (Sally Field) but he brings on and up and coming stunt-person (Jan-Michael Vincent) and they are asked to do a dangerous stunt that has never been done before.

Director Hal Needham, Reynolds and Field made SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT the same year as this film and needless to say that one is the one that most people remember today and it's easy to see why. This film here is Needham's love story to the men and women who perform stunts in such movies and on that level the film works and is very entertaining but at the same time there's no question that there are some flaws in the picture.

The film is obviously trying to tell the story of a man whose body is broken down due to his line of work. Needham started off as a stunt coordinator so there's no question that he knows what he's talking about and the behind-the-scenes stuff is what's so entertaining here. It's fascinating getting to see what these stunt worker are doing behind the camera and there's no doubt that there are some excellent stunts in the picture. There are some high jumps that are performed and final car jump is without question wonderful.

The problem with the film is that the whole personal drama is pretty much wasted and it never fully works. A lot of the blame can go towards the screenplay and especially the drama between Reynolds and Field. Their characters are meant to be going through some major drama but the viewer just never feels it as the relationship is really underwritten and I would argue that the Field's character is so under developed that you just can't take her too serious.

It's really too bad there's not much done with the character because Field is good when she's on the screen. Reynolds also turns in another winning performance as you really do believe that you're watching a real stunt person and the actor perfectly nails the roles. Vincent seemed to always be playing the "new" guy on the scene and he too is a lot of fun here. Brian Keith, John Marley and Adam West add nice support and Terry Bradshaw also gets a funny bit.

As I said, HOOPER is flawed at times but there's no doubt that it's a fun movie and the cast certainly makes it worth watching.

"Hooper" is a delightful tribute by star Burt Reynolds and director Hal Needham - both of whom began their careers as stuntmen - to those brave men and women who risk life and limb for the movies. It remains endearing and upbeat throughout, sometimes getting serious but never melodramatic. It's naturally jam packed with amazing stunt work, and quite a few explosions as well. The cast is completely engaging, and everything is played with a respectable amount of humour.

Burt plays Sonny Hooper, an old pro stuntman who realizes that a new day is coming, and that a new breed is emerging: younger, tougher, more daring. A prime example is up and comer "Ski" (Jan-Michael Vincent), who comes to work on the same movie that Sonny is currently gaffing. It's Ski who encourages Sonny to try one of the riskiest car stunts ever filmed.

"Hooper" has just enough story to be involving, and one can't help but like these characters. Burt is charming, with an incredibly foxy Sally Field playing Gwen, the girlfriend who stands by him. Vincent is very likable, as are the supporting performers such as Brian Keith, John Marley, James Best, Adam West (in what is really a nothing role, as the actor for whom Sonny doubles), George Furth, Don 'Red' Barry, Robert Tessier, and Tara Buckman. Comedian Robert Klein is good as Roger Deal, the jerk director of the movie-within-the-movie, who cares not for going over budget or risking lives as long as he gets his shots.

Burt has a great moment right at the end as he acknowledges us in the audience before providing us with an appropriate and satisfying punchline.

Eight out of 10.

Well, another funny-profane-interesting-irreverent Burt Reynolds movie of the 1970s. He made so many of these type of films, several with his girlfriend at the time, Sally Field. Almost all of them have the same feel to them.

Field echos Reynolds good looks and bad morals by running around in a tight shirt with her nipples showing and pair of short shorts with a butt sticking out. This is not untypical of the movies in the 1970s, where "freedom" had arrived and many filmmakers abused it. No one had more fun with those low-moral characters than Reynolds (and Fields, I suspect, too).

Yet, I have to admit most of the Reynolds films, including this one, were never boring and usually fun to watch. Being young and a bit immature helped us appreciate these movies back then.

You're not going to find a moving story about a man coming to terms with his own mortality here, but from just a look at the cover of the DVD, you probably weren't expecting it. What we have here is a very pleasant diversion that never takes itself too seriously. Just before things start to get a little too sentimental, someone always jumps off a tall building or flips the car he's driving. Overall, the film has a nice pace. The gags (as in slapstick) are occasionally hilarious, and the gags (as in stunts) are outstanding--I believe this film holds the record for longest rocket car jump. And Burt is his usual self, so utterly unself conscious, he can deliver lines like, "If you don't try to do any stunts, I won't try to do any acting." Make of that what you will. ;-)

"Hooper" is yet another example of Burt Reynolds at the top of his game. Burt was a superstar who enjoyed making these action comedies for the summer drive-in crowd. The films usually made bundles of money and were usually pretty enjoyable. "Hooper" is one of Burt's better comedies of the 70's. He plays the title character, an aging Hollywood stuntman looking to make that last great stunt for the money and retire before his body gives out on him and serious damage occurs. Sally Field yet again plays Burt's girlfriend and, yet again, isn't given a whole lot to do. Jan Michael Vincent plays the new, young, hot shot stuntman that worries Burt. Brian Keith has a nice turn as Sally's father who happens to be a veteran stuntman himself.

The characters are not the important thing though. You go to see "Hooper" to laugh and enjoy the action scenes. The filmmakers deliver the goods on both counts. One standout scene involves a bar fight involving such tough guys as Terry Bradshaw. Burt confronts Terry one on one and it's the comic highlight of the film. The stunts are sensational and the final stunt is, thematically, totally ridiculous. But it's so well filmed we forgive the obvious silliness.

"Hooper" is a fun film to watch but make sure to see it uncut. It seems that many of Burt's PG-rated movies of the 70's stretched the limits to get as close to the R-rating as possible without going over the line. "Hooper" is no exception.