The Dukes Of Hazzard – Reunion (1997) + Hazzard
In Hollywood (2000): Original Cast Telefilms (Warner DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: D Telefilms: C-
Before
reviving TV shows into usually very bad feature films became common practice,
reunion specials or even TV movies were big ratings events for the networks,
even if the show originally appeared on a competing network. Those days are gone for the most part, but
later than expected and before the awful recent feature film and its home video-only
prequel, Warner Bros. greenlit two Dukes
Of Hazzard TV movies with the original casts.
Though
original “Boss Hogg” Sorrell Booke was gone, the studio secured Tom Wopat, John
Schneider, Catherine Bach, James Best, Ben Jones and Rick Hurst for both, while
Denver Pyle was available fore the first.
Reunion (1997) has the gang
trying to stop q corporation from turning part of their home into an amusement
park, while Hazzard In Hollywood
(2000) is about succumbing to temptation with singers (including a young Toby
Keith) as they get involved with the music industry and Russian Gangsters (?)
in a more polished, but phonier romp.
Neither
is really that good, but still better than the revivals, which is not saying
much. Bach is no longer wearing her
classic shorts, but leather (in the hot weather down there?) riding around on a
motorcycle. Honor Blackman she is
not. This is for fans and completists
only. Otherwise, these have limited
energy and those who might like the original show should not set high hopes if
they have never seen these before.
The 1.33
X 1 image is soft, even fuzzy, on both transfers, despite being shot on film. These were likely finished on analog video
and it shows. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
on both are also flat for their age, with no real surrounds despite what the
back of the case says. There are no
extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
