058. Best Friends

058. (11 Feb) Best Friends (1982, Norman Jewison) 20



A romantic comedy devoid of romance and comedy. Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn's natural charisma rises to the surface, but they're saddled with the most unlikable characters. It's downright depressing as Hawn refuses to commit to Reynolds, reluctantly marries him, and then they have zany, unhappy adventures together meeting their in-laws. As their relationship gets increasingly hostile and abusive, it's incredibly unpleasant to watch. No surprise, but the Oscar-nominated tune "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" is every bit as bad as the film.

053. Citizen Ruth

053. (06 Feb) Citizen Ruth (1996, Alexander Payne) 76



Considering how middlebrow his work is now, it's hard to recall Alexander Payne once made exceptional edgy comedies. Citizen Ruth is the ballsiest of them all, going full force at both pro-life and pro-choice radicals. It's sharp-toothed comedy at its finest thanks to the always wonderful Laura Dern. She finds humor in places where there shouldn't be any, crafting a character who's too self-centered and oblivious to realize her own awfulness. Most of the supporting cast is super, namely Mary Kay Place and Swoosie Kurtz. Burt Reynolds' appearance as an evangelical pro-lifer with a child assistant who massages him shirtless is a rare misstep; it's a broad joke in a film that's otherwise above that.

026. Semi-Tough

026. (22 Jan) Semi-Tough (1977, Michael Ritchie) 42



Semi-Tough is at its best in its first hour, playing as a genial buddy comedy with Burt Reynolds experiencing a midlife crisis about his love life and masculinity. Then this makes the odd decision an hour in to spoof self-help programs as Jill Clayburgh questions if she loves fiance Kris Kristofferson or Reynolds. It's still an oddly amiable film through all this, but it's wildly unfocused, coasting on its stars' likability.

025. White Lightning

025. (22 Jan) White Lightning (1973, Joseph Sargent) 38



Burt Reynolds's star power is on full display in White Lightning, but this backwoods crime drama doesn't offer much otherwise. The car chases and stunts are as good a you'd expect. The story is just severely undercooked, wasting talents like Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Diane Ladd in favor of meaningless action sequence after action sequence.