User reviews

Sure, 'Every Which Way But Loose (1978)' is silly, but there's just something inherently endearing about seeing an orangutan and his truck-driving best buddy drink beer, get laid (yes, the ape sees some action) and bare-knuckle brawl their way through bent coppers and members of a Nazi biker gang as they traipse across the country after a girl who's up and vanished with both Eastwood's heart and a fistful (seven thousand) of his Dollars. It is a delightfully light flick. It's brazenly bizarre core concepts are gleefully glossed over to the point of pure passive acceptance on the part of the audience; as such it's highly entertaining throughout. It settles into its loose plot with a relaxed pace that pushes it from fun set-piece to fun set-piece, constantly keeping a smile on your face and burrowing its own private place within your heart. It's an unexpected joy. 7/10

I know what you're thinking- I'm such a huge Eastwood fan so my opinion isn't that significant. Honestly though, this has got to be one of the most underrated movies of all time. I laughed harder and had a better time watching this movie than just about any "comedy" I can think of. Clint did an excellent job in a different role for him as a guy who isn't so clever and great with the ladies. His best friend Clyde turned in an awesome performance as well. I also loved Geoffrey Lewis and the gorgeous Beverly D'Angelo and Ruth Gordon does a typically great act as the tough old lady. I agree with an earlier writer with respect to the one negative here- Sondra Locke's acting and singing. The only justification is that in the movie her character is just as bad. I have to believe that even people that aren't major Clint Eastwood fans would still like this one. Big fans should love it.

Fun flick. Caught it for the first time on video. Though it was obviously aimed for the redneck, teenage drive-in crowd, the stellar performance of Clyde raises this to the level of an art house flick. Clint did what Clint does best: fights and wins. The one distraction was the startling unappeal of Sondra Locke. Her lack of talent in acting is only surpassed by her lack of talent in singing. Other cast members included a loyal buddy, Orville, a swearing granny, two blundering cops, and a gang of wimpy bikers.

Without this film, the entire genre of Orangutan films, as well as the film career of Tony Danza, would have been inconceivable. We, as Americans, have often felt it necessary to identify a "True American Art Form." Some have suggested jazz, others rap. However, it is quite possible that even those fine examples could be traced to other, non-American, sources. The Orangutan film is, without question, ours and ours alone. For other fine entries in this genre, I recommend "Going Bananas," "Any Which Way You Can," and certain key portions of "Cannonball Run II." When the history of this civilization is written by the super-intelligent species of rats that will no doubt conquer us, the chapter heading will no doubt read "Right Turn, Clyde."

In Every Which Way But Loose, Clint Eastwood not only shares the screen with lady love Sondra Locke, but with an orangutan named Clyde. He had to call on all his skills to keep the film from being stolen by an ape.

This and its sequel Every Which Way You Can will never be at the top of Clint's cinema achievements, but it's a nice rollicking comedy about a bare knuckle fighter. If it were set in today's times instead of the Seventies, Eastwood's Philo Beddoe would be on the extreme fighting channel.

Seeing Clint's living quarters reminded me of John Wayne's similar arrangements in True Grit with Chin Lee and General Sterling Price the cat. Clyde's quite a bit more the handful than a cat. He lives with Geoffrey Lewis who is his second and corner man in the bare knuckle fighting business and handles all the wagers and Lewis's mother a 'helpless' little old lady with a shotgun, deliciously played by Ruth Gordon.

Making his living as a bare knuckle fighter, Clint just seems to run into people determined to take him down. That includes an involvement with aspiring country singer Sondra Locke whom he spends a good deal of money on and who then takes a powder on him. She's heading east so Clint, Lewis, and Clyde are as well. Along the way they pick up sharp shooting Beverly D'Angelo who saves them on one occasion.

The legendary bare knuckle champion is Denver Tank Murdoch and as that 20th century philosopher Ric Flair opined, to be the best you have to beat the best. So Clint is heading to Denver to find both Locke and Walter Barnes who plays Tank Murdoch with his three amigos.

He also manages to arouse the anger of John McQuade and his Black Widow Biker gang. These people are the sorriest biker gang ever depicted on the big screen. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE manages to best this crowd of losers. But they never give up.

Best in the film are Ruth Gordon and Clyde, not necessarily in that order. I've often thought that the Academy Awards should have a best animal performance in a given year. That year the Oscar gold would have been taken by the orangutan. I wish the film had elaborated a little more on when Eastwood and Lewis break into a zoo to get Clyde's male needs satisfied.

For a lighter and brighter side of Clint Eastwood, don't miss Every Which Way But Loose.

Every Which Way But Loose is directed by James Fargo and written by Jeremy Joe Kronsberg. It stars Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, Beverly D'Angelo and Manis The Orangutan.

It surprised the studio executives, even had them sweating about the release, but the adventures of Philo Beddoe (Eastwood) and his pet Orangutan proved to be a smash hit at the box office.

Beddoe is a trucker who also happens to make money by bare knuckle fighting, and he's very good at it. Clyde the orangutan is a full on personality himself, and between them they wind up being trailed by vengeful coppers and a very incompetent motorcycle gang. Philo's brother Orville (Lewis) is along for the ride and polar opposite love interests come into play via Lynn Halsey-Taylor (Locke) and Echo (D'Angelo).

Plot is very thin on the ground, we are in fact viewing a series of events that are mined for comedy purpose - which totally work. Action comes by way of the punch ups Philo gets into, with Eastwood as always proving to be one of the better punch throwing actors of his generation, while Lewis shines bright as the best friend and voice of reason to Philo.

The love story sub-plot involving Lynn and Philo - and its subsequent revelations - feels a touch out of place, since this is such a chilled and relaxed comedy picture. Which is the key, the makers know what they are doing, they are having fun and ask the audience to do the same. The public lapped it up and ensured that a sequel of similar tropes would follow. That also proved to be popular since it was more of the same.

Open the beer and popcorn and just run with it, it was never meant to be high art etc. 7/10

I remember it as a slightly dangerous film to watch as a 15 year old, having watched it recently, it seems I was easily pleased back then. Corny, cheesy, harmless, inoffensive fits the bill.

Right turn Clyde. A man, a monkey, some hells angels wannabee's and some dude named Orville. What more could you want? Throw in some bare knuckle action of Clint breaking everyones face loose and its a classic. This is without a doubt one of the all time late night classics. The story, (its fluff), revolves around blue collar tough guy Filo Beddo and his buddies. One of which is Clyde, an orangatan and Orville, a greasey tow tuck driver. Which is worse is up to you. The gang gets into some bare knuckle boxing fights for cash and heads out on the road. Running into trouble with a hilarious wannabe biker gang and ending up with a showdown between Tank Murdock and Philo for some sort of tough guy championship. The movie is dated, has some cheasy music, (at least its not disco) lots of fight scenes, some great running gags at bikers, cops, rhinestone cowboys, and generally anyone clint doesnt like, but its very enjoyable and definitely worth a trip to blockbuster.

I know our favorite tough guy didn't direct this film, but you have to wonder if perhaps he was spoofing his tough guy rolls in this movie. After DIRTY HARRY, MAGNUM FORCE, and some others where he takes zero crap from anybody, he has this refreshing little thing about a bare-knuckle fighter that is really a fun little ride. He's still tough old Clint, but with a better sense of humor. It's been said before, Clyde (the ape) practically steals Clint's thunder, and they play off each other very well. (How many guys would have the gumption to ride around the highway with an ape?) That motorcycle gang is a real hoot. Sondra Locke is his love interest. She can't sing worth a tinker's damn in this movie, but she improves in the sequel. Another movie where you just sit back, enjoy the ride, and watch Clint kick ass and take names, as usual. 7 out of 10.

Beer, country, fighting, Eastwood and a monkey, or is that an orangutan? Sounds great, eh? Well no. I don't know what they were smoking back then when they came up with the idea: Hey, Eastwood could do a movie where he's fist fighting truck driver and his best fried is an orangutan.

Well, okay, let's give this movie a benefit of a doubt, I liked it when I was a wee tiny lad, under ten or so. That was enough for me back then. Thought I don't recall laughing very hard when I watched this flick, but I did like it. But then I saw it again. And I was amazed. And not in the good way.

Okay, Philo (Eastwood in very poorly chosen role) is a truck driver, who makes money on the side by fist fighting. His two friends are an ape and Orville (Geoffrey Lewis). Philo fells head over heels for this purty little country singer named Lynn (Sondra Locke) who then disappears. Off to find the lost love. Then there's a mixed bunch of Nazi motorcyclist and some cops after Philo and co. The whole movie turns out as a headless run with no sense what so ever.

Every Which Way But Loose actually does have some good elements in it, it has the potential of a entertaining movie, but now it's barely even funny. Sure, it does cause couple of loose smiles but it hardly makes you laugh. And even the action scenes are relatively badly made, so even they wont be enough to keep up the interest.

Final judgment: If you really want to see Clint Eastewood in a bad flick this might be the one to start with. Sure he has some worse films under his belt, but this one is pretty close.

I get that this is a comedy and there were plenty of ridiculous moments, but I did not find myself laughing...not once. I did love Ma who keeps trying to get her driver's license. I loved her. She was the best part of the film for me.

This roughly tells the story of a truck driver turned bare knuckles fighter who has an orangutan who drinks beer and gives people the finger. He meets and has insta love for a country singer who is hooked up with a guy in a biker gang named the black widows. Lots of fist fighting in this chase movie that contains a long con amongst all of this madness.

Apparently Clint's agent tried to talk him out of doing this film but Clint had the last laugh as it was a huge commercial success. I'm not sure what else was at the box office, but for me this was a watch and delete. Although, I enjoyed seeing Beverly D'Angelo.

Eastwood steps back from his macho action star image as he has a little fun in this first of two films (Any Which Way You Can is the other)that team the star up with an orangutan named "Clyde." It's not Hope and Crosby, but it is a fun pairing. The film doesn't take itself too seriously. It's having too much to do something silly like that.

A bit forgettable, if nothing terrible.

Clint Eastwood is solid enough, while the supporting Geoffrey Lewis, Sondra Locke and Ruth Gordon have a couple of moments. The plot is a little meandering and doesn't hold enough entertainment, even with an orangutan being present throughout 'Every Which Way but Loose'.

I found the pacing to be slower than I would've liked and the characters opposite the lead to be boring, whether it be John Quade & Co. Or the pair of police officers. I will say that I actually did enjoy the music used, which is arguably the film's main plus if I'm honest.

I can't say I'm expecting much from 'Any Which Way You Can', the sequel, but I'll give it a chance no doubt.

There are many road movies out there, but not many with an with an Ape in tow.

The plot moves on nicely as it gathers up more characters on Clint's trail throughout the film.

In a way, rather similar to the Blue Brothers, but with more primates and knuckle fights. Comedy all the way through with some great acting except for Sandra Locke.

Oh Clint - why did you succumb to that? And why on Earth did you marry her!

If it's on TV I'm normally drawn back into it.

Favourite scene? The Black Widow tattoo scene - hilarious!

And he does it well, I might add. This is a very funny film and is one that I think all comedy fans might enjoy. Clint Eastwood is a bare knuckle fist fighter, and a good one. His fights always draw betting people from all over. His best buddy is an orangutan named Clyde, who has a propensity for hitting people pretty hard, too. Costar and then live in lover Sondra Locke does a creditable job as well. A good one!

A 40-something-year-old bare knuckle brawler and country music lover falls in love with a country music singer. When she heads east to Denver he decides to follow her to find her. He brings his pet Orangutan and his brother along for company.

When Philo (Clint Eastwood) wasn't beating up everybody-and I mean everybody: other fighters, motorcycle gangs, and even police officers-he was chasing after Lynn Halsey-Taylor (Sondra Locke). I guess it was romantic in a hillbilly sorta way. To me it was all very ho-hum.

I'm currently taking a Clint Eastwood course at UT Austin, and we recently watched this movie.

And its a bit confusing. I'm not sure what to make of this fun, wacky, and somewhat random movie. Eastwood himself seems to strive and always aims for ambiguity in his work. And it shows here.

There were a lot of dumb ass critics in the 60's and 70's that liked to bash Eastwood and used the popular buzzword of fascist and labeled him as such. So in response, Eastwood was very particular about what he did afterward and would do things that contradict (in the eyes of critics) his previous work or characters. This of course confused critics and ultimately forced them to look at his work again and see that they were being dumb ass idiots and were just going along with the popular liberal clap trap at the time.

So we have this movie, in which Eastwood is this hillbilly mechanic and competent street fighter and his adventures with his orangutan (not a monkey Afsheen, they have 12 ribs like us). And its this almost really weird PG comedy. It has these sort of random plots and events that are kind of incorporated into the story and well, not really sure how I can best put it into words, but its just fun. It shows that Eastwood can do this wacky road, comedy.

But it has some surprisingly dramatic moments as well. The audience is well aware of the Sandra Locke's characters true intentions before Eastwood's Philo. And when he does figure it out, its pretty brutal. And I really bought into that emotional confrontation and Philo's reaction. And then Eastwood throws a fight, and in some ways its bleak. But in other ways it isn't. Philo I think found a little bit about himself and learned who his true friends are, people like Clyde and Orville, and Orville's girl Echo(a young Beverly D'Angelo).

The character of Tank Murdoch I believe is meant as an allegory to Clint Eastwood and his celebrity status, his celebrity and his star persona. Philo wants to challenge Murdoch and beat him. Murdoch is a guy who everyone knows and has this huge reputation. And then Philo sees Murdoch who's really pretty sad. His friends turn on him and aren't real friends, and he realizes he doesn't want to be Tank Murdoch. And he doesn't want other people gunning for him. So at the end of the movie, it almost feels like it was Eastwood REJECTING his own star persona and choosing to stay in obscurity with his friends. Makes me wonder how Eastwood truly feels about his celebrity status.

Jeffrey "The Vile One" Harris

Sure, it's a silly movie. But for those of us who remember the disappointment of the original release, the movie ages extremely well. Watching Clint at his physical peak, fighting and drinking his way across America's southwest, the real fun is on seeing so many familiar character actors of the '70's in one movie.

The plot, while unimportant, is also inoffensive, just a means of watching Clint be Clint, while. enjoying performances by familiar country western stars of the time, Mel Tillis, Charlie Rich, and Phil Everly.

*Possible Spoilers!*

This quasi-cute, off-beat comedy would be Clint Eastwood's first departure from Spaghetti-Westerns and Dirty Harry roles.

When it comes to the likes of Every Which Way But Loose (EWWBL), Eastwood's financial backers strongly advised him to steer away from this production for the sake of preserving his well-established movie-image. The squinty-eyed Eastwood, being the rebel that he was, naturally refused to take their unsound (?) advice and went ahead and produced this so-so modern-day cowboy movie, with mixed results.

Eastwood plays rugged character Philo Beddoe, a trucker and a brawler (with a definite soft-spot), searching, like an utter fool, for (of all things) lost love.

The ever-stubborn Philo drags along his pal, Orville, and Orville's pet orangutan, Clyde (for comedy relief), as he roams somewhat aimlessly around the American West, from California to Colorado.

As is typical in a comedy flick such as this - Philo, a brazen, bare-knuckle fighter, never-ever fails to cross everyone, everywhere he goes. Naturally, Philo manages to p-i-s-s the police right off, to the extreme. And he even ends up being angrily pursued by a biker gang called The Black Widows, who chase him in a ridiculous fit of tire-screeching revenge.

EWWBL's biggest disappointment is Philo's lost love - now found, who goes by the name of Lynn Halsey-Taylor. Philo spent so much time searching for this broad and all she ended up being was nothing but a little, trailer-trash, Country'n'Western singer who warbles away to all of the "deaf-anyways" drunks in sleazy, low-life Honky-Tonks.

It's too bad that Clyde, the orangutan, didn't get more camera-time in EWWBL. He was really about the only interesting character in the entire flick that was at all worth watching.

If you're a true Clint Eastwood fan, then you're sure to enjoy this mildly amusing flick from 1978.

But I like it anyway. This one follows a kind of a street fighter played by Clint Eastwood as he tries to find this gal he had a fling with. Accompanying him is his pal and his pet orangutan. There is a plot to some extent, but this movie really just kind of goes from here to there. My favorites are the bad biker gang the Black Widows who constantly get the crap kicked out of them by whoever they fight. There are other very funny scenes as Ruth Gordon is also great in this one. This was in the time where Sandra Locke was in every Clint Eastwood movie and she is in this one too. That had to be a case of someone who got roles more because who she was dating. This one goes from place to place and fight to fight and there is no great super ending, but a nice simple one instead. All in all a nice, fun, comedy to watch.

Having watched his buddy and competitor Burt Reynolds enjoy such terrific success with all those Deep South car crash movies, particularly "Smokey and the Bandit" (the "Citizen Kane" of the genre) jazz fan Clint Eastwood went country, too, in this wretched mess of a movie.

When released at Christmas 1978, this turkey didn't appear to have any stuffing, but when it emerged as the second biggest hit of the season (after "Superman") and Eastwood's biggest ever box-office hit (a status it continues to enjoy when inflation is taken into account), it was apparent that some folks don't require things like a plot, competent acting, or even a hint of professionalism in a movie and will line up at the multiplex, plop down their money and be "entertained." It's amazing that Eastwood's reputation, not nearly as glowing in 78 as it is today, survived the onslaught of bad reviews that justifiably followed the release of this film and its 1980 sequel. Did Ruth Gorden's presence redeem it? Not in my eyes. Loose is the only way to turn this stinker.