Rating: 
Summary: This was a succesful and enjoyable change of pace for Clint.
Review: Mr. Eastwood attempted a change of pace with this film and was rewarded with one of his most succesful movies. Eastwood plays Philo Bedoe, a truck driver and bareknuckle brawler that encounters bikers, corrupt cops, and plenty of beer while searching for a lost love(Sondra Locke) with his best friend Orville (Geoffrey Lewis), Orville's Girlfriend (Beverly D'Angelo) and an Orangutan. Meanwhile, Orville's mother(Ruth Gordon) is searching for a driver's license. This movie is an entertaining change of pace, with exciting fight scenes and just plain funny gags. Eastwood was able to play more comic roles after the success of this film. Not his best, but a fun, leave-your-brain-at-the-door comedy
Rating: 
Summary: Clint and his monkey...
Review: Okay, okay, before I start getting e-mails up the waz detailing the differences between monkeys and apes, I know Clyde (the main character in the film owns an orange, male ape) wasn't a monkey, but `Clint and his orangutan' just didn't have the same zing...Every Which Way But Loose (1978), directed by James Fargo, who, back in the mid to late 70's seemed to have a promising career, working with Eastwood earlier in 1976's The Enforcer, but after the predictable and hokey 1982 Chuck Norris martial arts actioneer Forced Vengeance, he soon found himself relegated to the domain of the small screen, directing episodes of such 80's television shows as The A-Team, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, and Hunter. Starring in the film is Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven), one time Eastwood co-habitator (that means they shacked up together, but never got hitched) Sondra Locke (The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Gauntlet), Geoffrey Lewis (Salem's Lot, Bronco Billy), and one of the more curmudgeonly actresses I've ever seen in Ruth Gordon (Rosemary's Baby, Harold and Maude). Also appearing is Beverly D'Angelo (National Lampoon's Vacation), Bill McKinney (The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Gauntlet), and John Quade (Bad Company, High Plains Drifter) as Cholla, leader of the Black Widows, what has to be the most inept biker gang ever committed to celluloid...
Eastwood is Philo Beddoe, a truck driver who earns a little extra income as a bare-knuckled fighter in what appear to be unsanctioned street fights, with his friend Orville Boggs (Lewis), a tow truck driver as his sort of manager (well, not really manager, but Orville researches the opponents and makes the bets). Philo, along with his pet orangutan Clyde, and Orville live with Ma Boggs, a cantankerous old biddy who's constantly complaining about how Clyde defecates all over the place, and constantly steals her Oreos. Anyway, life seems to be going alright, that is until Philo falls for a country singer named Lynn Halsey-Taylor (Locke). After making the bumpity bump between the sheets and accepting a good deal of money from Philo (there is a name for women like that, but she did give Philo a rather convincing sob story), Lynn mysteriously up and leaves without so much as a how do you do, headed back to Denver...which prompts Philo to pick up and take after her, with Orville and Clyde in tow. Along the way they make a few enemies in a couple of cops who carry a grudge way to far (just let it go boys, you'll live longer) and also in a particularly lame biker group calling themselves the Black Widows, led by their portly leader Cholla (John Quade), both groups in pursuit of Philo for what we in the business like to call payback (which also happens to be the name of a really good Mel Gibson film based on a Donald Westlake book). Philo does finally find Lynn, the cops and the bikers find Philo, and Philo finds himself with the opportunity to face off against the legendary street fighter Tank Murdock, supposedly the best there is...
The production notes state that when this script was originally presented to Eastwood, it was done so in the hopes that he would pass it along to Burt Reynolds...but Eastwood, who was looking for way to break from the western genre that launched him into stardom, liked it so much he decided he wanted the role himself. Also, many around him at the time, especially the studio executives at Warner Brothers, tried to dissuade him from making the film as they didn't think it would fly, but, after the film's release it ended up being the top grossing film of Eastwood's career, so successful it spawned a popular sequel...I often wonder how many wonderful films got quashed by know nothing studio execs because the script didn't have the juice of someone like Eastwood behind them...anyway, this film is just a good time, and doesn't tend to take itself too seriously. Eastwood carries the movie, with his laid back machismo, but he did have a bit of competition in the ape and Ruth Gordon who tend to steal most of the scenes they're in (probably my favorite scene is when Ma's home alone, confronted by the biker gang searching for Philo, and is forced to use her shotgun which I think is similar to what someone might use to hunt elephants). Also, I know many people would probably like to credit individuals from `da hood' with starting the whole wearing your baseball cap crooked fad, but I contend it was actually Geoffrey Lewis' character Orville that made it popular. Locke did well, but I always felt she exuded an inherently creepy quality (check out the confrontation scene between her character and Philo near the end), no matter what film I saw her in (she appeared in like seven of Eastwood's films, that is until the relationship took the last train to splitsville), and here is no different. Maybe it's her excessively large eyeballs, or her borderline albino condition...and I really can't review this film without mentioning the soundtrack. Normally, I don't listen to country and western music, but I really did enjoy its' usage in here, featuring performers like Eddie Rabbitt, Mel Tillis, and Charlie Rich...also Locke performs one or two number surprisingly well...and the memorable theme used for the Black Widow gang...I found myself humming along every time they made their appearance in the film.
The wide screen (1.85:1) picture looks very good on this DVD, and the Dolby Digital 5.1 sound comes through reasonably clear. Special features include a theatrical trailer for the film, production notes, and a filmography for Eastwood. I would've liked to seen a cast commentary included, as I think everyone had a great time making the film, and probably could have shared some wonderful anecdotes, but whatever...this film was followed by the equally popular sequel Any Which Way You Can (1980).
Cookieman108
Rating: 
Summary: Good Film and it works in my Region 2 players!!!!
Review: One line to sum the film up - "This film is a classic"I have been waiting to get it for ages, and I finally bought a Multi Region player (We have 3 Region players as well). The film arrived, I watched it - and then decided to try it on the other players - and to my amazment it worked. I tried Any Which You Can in the Region 2 players as well and it worked. I got another R1 DVD and that didnt, so I guess its a one off of this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Good Film and it works in my Region 2 players!!!!
Review: One line to sum the film up - "This film is a classic" I have been waiting to get it for ages, and I finally bought a Multi Region player (We have 3 Region players as well). The film arrived, I watched it - and then decided to try it on the other players - and to my amazment it worked. I tried Any Which You Can in the Region 2 players as well and it worked. I got another R1 DVD and that didnt, so I guess its a one off of this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Good Film and it works in my Region 2 players!!!!
Review: One line to sum the film up - "This film is a classic" I have been waiting to get it for ages, and I finally bought a Multi Region player (We have 3 Region players as well). The film arrived, I watched it - and then decided to try it on the other players - and to my amazment it worked. I tried Any Which You Can in the Region 2 players as well and it worked. I got another R1 DVD and that didnt, so I guess its a one off of this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: very funny
Review: one of the great comic films of the 70's, when guys like clint and burt ruled. this is clint's "bandit." fine performances by all with the possible exception of sondra locke. her singing is extremely bad. still highly recommended. don't let some left wing peta nut ruin it for you. enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: THANK GOD IT FINALLY MADE ITS WAY TO DVD!!!
Review: This is one the best (and most profitable) of all of Clint Eastwoods movies. It has everything, comedy (Ruth Gordon alone is worth the price) action, a great soundtrack, and yes Clyde the Orangutan, But never let this be seen as just a "Guy with an Ape" movie, that would really do it an injustice, it has SO much more to offer than that. An absolutely great movie. ...
Rating:
Summary: THANK GOD IT FINALLY MADE ITS WAY TO DVD!!!
Review: This movie is a classic. Sheer genius.
Clyde was a finer actor than many of today's so called thespians. Lets get this celluloid gem on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: WHERE THE HELL IS THE DVD?
Review: This movie is a classic. Sheer genius.
Clyde was a finer actor than many of today's so called thespians. Lets get this celluloid gem on DVD.
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