Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Drinking, stereotypes, language in '80s comedy sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
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Where to Watch
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Smokey and the Bandit II
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT II, Bandit (Burt Reynolds) is a washed-up legend, drunk and heartbroken in a Florida motel room. When Cledus (Jerry Reed) finds him, he tries to sober him up to hear a lucrative offer from Big Enos (Pat McCormick) and Little Enos (Paul Williams). Big Enos is running for governor of Texas, and after his effort to get the endorsement of the current governor fails, he overhears the governor talking about getting an elephant delivered from Miami to the Republican National Convention in Dallas. Big and Little Enos want the Bandit and Cledus to steal the elephant and deliver it so that Big Enos gets to make the delivery to the Grand Old Party conventioneers. In need of big money, Bandit accepts. Meanwhile, Carrie (Sally Field) has just arrived, escaping marriage to Junior (Mike Henry) once again. This escape has provoked the ire of the infamous Arkansas Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason), who is once again determined to stop the Bandit no matter what it takes.
Is It Any Good?
It's a ridiculous '80s car chase movie that one should take as seriously as the movie takes itself -- in other words, not at all. Smokey and the Bandit II has aged slightly better than other movies from its time, although it too has some humor that doesn't work now. Still, for parents, it's a dumb-fun movie from their childhoods, and for older kids, it helps set some context for Burt Reynolds' successful '70s and '80s movie career beyond Norm MacDonald's legendary imitation of Reynolds on SNL.
Like most sequels, it's not as good as the original, but like the original, it's best enjoyed as a slice of nostalgia for a time of CB radios, ludicrous vehicle chases, and even more ludicrous storylines. Those expecting the nuance and depth of a Bergman film should obviously look elsewhere, and for everyone else, it's the kind of movie best summed up by that old chestnut, "It is what it is."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sequels like Smokey and the Bandit II. Why do you think sequels are made, especially when they tend to be worse than the original? Are there any examples of sequels that are better than the original movie?
This movie was released in 1980. What are some of the ways in which the style and humor are dated?
How does the movie use exaggeration to find humor?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 17, 1980
- Cast : Burt Reynolds , Sally Field , Jackie Gleason
- Director : Hal Needham
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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