Smokey and the Bandit

The first of the 'Citizens Band' movies to reach Britain. Despite a thin premise for an action-comedy road chase, the film's enthusiasm makes up for its lack of ideas. Reynolds and Reed accept a bet to ship an illegal lorry-load of beer back to Georgia, getting involved with Field (a chorine running from marriage to the sheriff's dim son) along the way. The direction, by a former stuntman, concentrates on the action and happily leaves everyone to their own devices, with almost nothing to do. Field shows what natural acting is all about, and Reynolds' send-ups of himself are, despite repetition, becoming more likeable. Here his kidding around is exactly in tune with this fast-moving but essentially lazy vehicle.