Sonny Hooper (Burt Reynolds) is the best stuntman in the business admired by the stars. His girlfriend Gwen (Sally Field) has legendary stuntman Jocko Doyle (Brian Keith) as her father. Cully (James Best) is his loyal sidekick. Ski (Jan-Michael Vincent) is the new young upcoming hot shot. Sonny pranks him on their first meeting and they begin a friendly rivalry. Hooper injures himself in a record breaking fall and the doctor tells him that he could be paralyzed after one more bad fall. Director Roger Deal (Robert Klein) is so impressed with the stunts that he writes a bigger ending to the movie. Sonny comes up with a grand stunt across a gouge in a rocket car for him and Ski.
The biggest problem for this movie is 'Smokey and the Bandit'. It fails in comparison but honestly, that's high bar to clear. Burt is still cackling his laugh but this movie isn't gut busting funny. It's hijinx fun. It definitely has the stunts. This is a good homage to the Hollywood stuntman. The characters are lovable. It has a good simple story. It's an enjoyable ride. It's also one of the first to have a good outtakes reel for the closing credits.
The biggest problem for this movie is 'Smokey and the Bandit'. It fails in comparison but honestly, that's high bar to clear. Burt is still cackling his laugh but this movie isn't gut busting funny. It's hijinx fun. It definitely has the stunts. This is a good homage to the Hollywood stuntman. The characters are lovable. It has a good simple story. It's an enjoyable ride. It's also one of the first to have a good outtakes reel for the closing credits.