Hit the road with ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ - again

Above: Burt Reynolds and Sally Field star in the 1977 movie "Smokey and the Bandit." (Photo/Universal Pictures)

At one time, Burt Reynolds was the biggest movie star in the world. In fact, between 1978 and 1982, Reynolds was the No. 1 box-office star.

That run actually started the year before, when Reynolds – then ranked No. 4 behind Sylvester Stallone, Barbra Streisand and Clint Eastwood – starred in the “Smokey and the Bandit.”

Because movie producers are looking for new ways to sell their old material, “Smokey and the Bandit” is being re-released to celebrate its 45th anniversary.

The film will play at the Regal Cinemas locations, at Northtown Mall and Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone Stadium, on Sunday (at 4 pm.) and on Wednesday (at 7 p.m.).

Directed by former stuntman Hal Needham, and starring Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed and Jackie Gleason, the movie was the second-highest-grossing film of 1977. You may have heard of the film that topped the list: “Star Wars.”

Here’s the plot of “Smokey and the Bandit”: Reynolds plays Bandit, a rogue trucker who is challenged to deliver 400 cases of Coors beer from Texas to Georgia – in just 28 hours. Partnered with fellow trucker Snowman (Reed), and a runaway would-be bride named Carrie (Field), Bandit drives a Pontiac Trans Am just ahead of Carrie’s would-be groom (Mike Henry) and his sheriff father (Gleason).

Not every critic was thrilled. Ron Pennington of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, “While the joke wears thin very quickly, there are a number of amusing sequences, which are combined with some exciting road action to provide a mildly entertaining – and totally mindless – film.”

Yet Gary Arnold of the venerable Washington Post wrote, “Smokey and the Bandit is an unexpected good time, a playful, wisecracking and curiously revealing example of All-American escapist entertainment.”

Is it even worth pointing out that escapism, especially in these trying times, is a good thing?