Mr. Chip's Movie Review #2

Stroker Ace has Burt playing a wisecracking NASCAR driver. Partnered with the great tenor,Mr. Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C) who plays Lug,Stroker's ace mechanic. Enter Loni Anderson and Ned Beatty. Anderson plays the prim and proper Executive assistant to Beatty (Clyde Torkle) a self made chicken mogul and "slick as spit on a door knob" advertising man. Basically Stroker sells his soul to Torkle to capitalize on his already larger than life persona. But he never expects to be walking around in a chicken suit. Crowing like a chicken. Doing all kinds of embarrassing things for Clyde. And not even being able to be fired. In between trying to get out of his contract with Torkle. Stroker is in hot pursuit of Loni on and off the track. The movie is really funny. Also look for REAL BONAFIDE NASCAR Drivers in this movie I won't give away their names. And remember the television series "The Hardy Boys" the teen detectives. One of the actual Hardy Boys plays a villain type who is in major competition with Stroker and of course you guessed it! He's after Loni Anderson too. Listen up for that great voice of Jim Nabors. And enjoy the great action of NASCAR. The movie also took me back to the first time I visited the DARLINGTON raceway. With that buzzing of the race cars. And the gi-normous crowd. I was doing a security detail for the Air Force helping Darlington's local law enforcement i.e. the city,county and Highway patrol. Watching Burt Reynold's movie sort of put me back in Darlington in a surrealistic manner. Please watch Stroker Ace and look for the parts that will make you laugh and if you frown a little remember it's pretend and it's just a movie.

Hooper stars Burt as a stuntman now in his prime or a little past it. Hooper is viewed by his peers as a stuntman who is basically washed -up and ready to retire. But Hooper's not calling it quits and he's not going to be forced to retire without a fight. I make it seem more serious than what it is. But it like Stroker Ace is extremely funny. We aging baby boomer's can really sympathize with Burt in this movie. If age wasn't the only problem Hooper has to fight. Enter Jan Michael -Vincent. In 1978 Vincent was very young,very smart and in the words of today. Hooper was the old school and Jan Michael-Vincent definitely the NEW School. What is even worse for Hooper is that his fellow stuntman, the cast and crew of his movie within the movie keep referring to Vincent as the next Hooper. But after a hard day of high falling and gags. Burt falls into the arms of his girlfriend. Enter the beautiful movie star Sally Fields (The Flying Nun). I loved the her show now in syndication and she is great in HOOPER. And what better Dad for her than Brian Keith (Family Affair). Who plays Jocko. Who adds even more pressure to Hooper's life by insisting that Hooper marry his daughter and become an honest man. When he's not biting one of his lady cast on the maximus glutius. I don't want to give too much away so I will end this review by introducing Robert Klein (the Director). I felt like he wanted them (Hooper and Jan Michael-Vincent) to do a gag so far off radar that they were going to go "SPLAT" and he just wanted it on film. But of course this is a funny movie and for the great stuntmen in the industry I salute them. And no one dies in this movie. Please get the DVD or VHS. Maybe you'll catch it on TV.

Sharky's Machine stars Burt in his best role in my opinion. Burt is Sharky. A demoted Atlanta narcotics cop. He gets busted and thrown downstairs to a vice unit because he gets a civilian shot. That is a screw-up that his section will not tolerate. And so close to retirement Sharky must finish up his tenure chasing prostitutes,pimps and pushers. Enter again Brian Keith along with Bernie Casey. Who are a few of the stellar stars who make up Sharky's "vice" machine. And they take no prisoners. Keeping them busy is a killer. Who has a penchant for "icing" high-rollers with lots of BLING BLING. Sorry I will only give you a taste. Watch the movie please to see the killer and all the big movie star bad guys in Sharky's machine. If you like stunts this is your movie. In my previous reviews both movie have stunts but Sharky's is the creme-Dela-creme of the stunts. And it doesn't hurt to have the late great supreme legendary stuntman, Mr. Dar Robinson. Lots of shooting, car chases and action in this movie. I won't give away the ending but look for Dar Robinson again in a fantastic gag that concludes the movie. Mr. Chip's gives this movie 5 STARS. And you will too. ( The three movies though very funny range between PG and R )