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The Dukes of Hazzard

Starring: JOhnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott
Director: Jay Chandrasekhar
Genre: Action
Year: 2005
Rating: 2 / 5

Lamenting Hollywood’s obsession with remakes and television show adaptations would be pointless and repetitive, but that does not mean we should all remain quiet. For years, movie studios have scoured old television tapes for something – anything! – that could be turned into a hit movie. The latest television series to be so “glorified” is The Dukes of Hazzard, the 1979-1985 program featuring a bunch of good ol’ boys battling injustice. Spruced up with a 21st century look and feel, the Dukes of Hazzard film definitely looks like an improvement, but the reality is much different. While the film makes for a relatively harmless diversion, nothing in it represents a step up from its predecessor. In other words, unless you have an unhealthy obsession with the thought of Jessica Simpson in a bikini, stick with the original.

The film’s basic setting does not differ from the beloved television show. Bo (Seann William Scott) and Luke Duke (Johnny Knoxville) are a pair of fun-loving cousins helping their Uncle Jesse (Willie Nelson) run his moonshine business. Cruising along rural Georgia roads in the General Lee, the Duke boys are continually bumping into Boss Hogg (Burt Reynolds), the very image of corruption in Hazzard County. With trusty henchman Rosco P. Coltrane by his side, Boss Hogg undertakes any number of get-rich-quick schemes, all of which are foiled by the Duke boys. His latest plan, however, involves a threat to all of Hazzard County. Needless to say, Bo & Luke have their work cut out for them if they intend to stop Boss Hogg.

It should be noted that, for a program as goofy as the original Dukes of Hazzard, there was a certain playfulness that always seemed to be present. John Schneider and Tom Wopat, giving it their “aw, shucks!” best effort, are Bo & Luke Duke, meaning that Scott & Knoxville come off as chief imitators. Both of these two certainly have their fans, but, in this critic’s eyes, Scott will forever be Stifler and Knoxville will forever be the man who brought us Jackass. They play the Duke boys are a much sleazier crew, with the script alternating between chasing girls and scenes affording them the opportunity to mug for the cameras. Neither brings anything substantive to the film, leaving me wondering if more inspired casting might have been able to save the film.

If Seann William Scott & Johnny Knoxville are a step down in the lead roles, most of the supporting roles are no better. Jessica Simpson does look smashing in her bikini, which she wears liberally, but she serves even less purpose than Catherine Bach did in the original show. Willie Nelson (!!!) makes for an interesting casting choice, but he spends the entire film cracking jokes or getting high. Burt Reynolds never really gets to ham it up as I assumed he would, leaving us instead with a relatively neutered Boss Hogg. The film does move along rather briskly, and the plot concept should be familiar to any fan of the television show, but the movie ultimately comes up short. It seems that a little bit of magic has left Hazzard County.

Cast:

Certification: Rated PG-13 for language.
Running Time: 106 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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