Lucybespro
It is a performances centric movie
Sarita Rafferty
There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
Jenni Devyn
Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.
Eightiesjunkie
"The Beverly Hillbillies" was a very well known and popular sixties TV show, that many people grew up with, and still enjoy to this very day. The show was about a very rural, and country family, who strike oil on there land, become immensely wealthy, and move out to the big city in California. Basically, it was "a fish out of water" story. However, the problem with this TV to movie adaptation is this: "What works in a TV show, won't work in a movie." You can't have a movie run on just one premise! A film's plot requires much more than that. The plot of the film is this: a sleazy con-man finds out about The Clampett's massive fortune, and he and his girlfriend devise a plan to steal all of their money, and The Clampetts and their friends must stop them. I really don't need to say anything else, because that's all that goes on in this movie. The plot is nothing new, and as a matter of fact, this movie, "The Addams Family", and "Addams Family Values" have the exact same plot! many of the jokes are flat, and unfunny. Not to mention, the film is as predictable as can be. It's a shame how the movie turned out. Especially considering how extremely talented the cast is! Jim Varney, Diedrich Bader, Erika Eleniak, Dabney Coleman, Lea Thompson, and Rob Schneider, all give very good performances. The film fails, because of its weak script, and rehashed plot. Despite all its flaws however, I will give the film a few positive accolades: The cameo with Buddy Ebsen (Who was the original Jed Clampett by the way.) was very funny. But most of all, the film did not make a mockery of what the original series was, nor did the film parody the original show. Which many TV- to-film remakes do. I'm very thankful that the writer/writers and director chose not to go with either of those options, and I tip my hat to them for that! So, here's what it all comes down to: "Is The Beverly Hillbillies a bad film?" No. "Is it a great film?" No. It had a lot of potential to be a great film, but it suffered from very poor writing. The best thing that I can say about this film, is that out of all the recent TV-to-film remakes, this one is the least bad. None of the TV-to-film remakes have ever come close to capturing the spirit or magic of the original series, and this film failed as well, but I must give credit to this film for actually trying.
bug76
While others seemed quite surprised at Varney's dramatic performance as Jed as being excellent(most associate him with lovable Ernest P. Worrell), I was not surprised. I love the Ernest character and the entire Ernest genre. With Varney being able to pull off a multitude of characters and voices(over 61), I wasn't shocked at his performance as the serious Jed Clampett. It was refreshing to see him play the straight role while the comedy was happening around him. I've always wanted to see Varney in dramatic roles as well and knew he had it in him to do so. Varney was the perfect choice for Jed and no one could've done better. Ebsen should be proud. I must admit, I was so used to seeing Varney as Ernest that I WAS shocked when I saw 'Jed' come down the stairs in a black hat, white shirt and black pants. The first thing I thought was, "Weeeee, Doggie. Sexy." I couldn't help myself. I'm from Alabama, and I know that the accents were somewhat forced on some parts like Elly Mae's but Varney's was dead on. Since he was born in Kentucky and lived in Tennessee, how could it not? With Tomlin, Parton and Coleman, it felt like a 9-5 reunion. Bader playing the moronic Jethro cracked me up especially when he 'figured' out how to bowl. Leachman as Granny was perfect. Being such a small little thing, she has a big personality. I remember watching her as the witch in 'Hansel and Gretal' and just loving the performance. Another hilarious scene was how the Clampett's gave everyone on the interstate the bird because they honestly thought that was how people said hello in 'Californy'. One of my favorite parts was when two hooligans come up beside them after being cut off by Jethro, and pull a gun. Jed stands up, points a huge rifle at them and says, "That's real nice, son. This here's what I carry." The two guys speed away. I grew up watching some of the reruns of the original 'Beverly Hillbillies'. And the movie is a nice parody of the original, but keeping true to the story and characters. Jim sang a version of 'Hot Rod Lincoln' and it was just excellent. Not only did he had a wonderful singing voice, he was also very articulate. I recommend this movie. If you're a Varney fan then I highly recommend you get this and enjoy!!
Ricochet84
While this movie is not NEARLY as good as the classic TV series, I thought it was very well made. And I thought the cast (with the exception of Jethro and Miss Jane Hatheway) did a mighty fine job of recreating the characters. Jedediah (Jed) Clampett 7/10 I of course liked Buddy Ebsen better, but Jim Varney does a good job of playing this billionaire hillbilly.Daisy (Granny) Moses 9/10 Before I watched this movie, I thought to myself "Nobody can replace Irene Ryan". I was right. Sort of. Cloris Leachman did a very, VERY good job. If not for Ryan before her, she would have been perfect. But, as perfect as she was, Irene Ryan was not just a perfect Granny, she WAS Granny Clampett.Jethro Bodine 3/10 Max Baer Junior was better. Way better. The replacement was too corny, and stupid. (Baer was corny and stupid too, but in a funnier way. Not in this new...Jim Carrey way.)Elly May Clampett 12/10 ;) Believe it or not, I actually liked the replacement better. Donna Douglas exaggerated the role a little too much for me. And the new Elly had a more rugged look to her. Whereas Douglas looked too much like a beauty pageant contestant, and not someone who had spent their life "rassling" with the "critters".Pearl Bodine 8/10 She was in it very little, but she did a good job. Again, it would have been a great job if not for the original.(names fail me. lol)Milburn Drysdale 6/10 Not bad, but the replacement was a little old.Miss Jane Hatheway 2/10 Yikes! I did not like her at ALL! She tried to hard to act like Nancy Kulp, refusing to recognize the fact that it is IMPOSSIBLE to act like Nancy Kulp! She exaggerated the role WAYYYY to much! (so did Kulp, but with her it came out funny, and it fit her character. With the replacement, it came out...exaggerated!)Storyline 6/10 The plot is similar to the plots of the original episodes: Jed wants to get "hitched" so he can have a wife that will raise the rambunctious tomboy Elly to be "proper", Elly likes to "rassle", swim in the cement pond with her critters, and climb trees, Jethro tries to be a "Hollywood bachelor", Drysdale, aided by his *faithful* secretary, struggle to keep the Clampett account safe in the Commerce bank, and con-men of all sorts try every means possible to swindle money out of the Clampetts, all the while being unknowingly foiled by the Clueless, Trusting Clampetts. The only drawback is that the misadventures tend to be more on the PG side rather than the Family-Friendly TV series of the 60's/70's. (okay, a LOT more)All-in-all, I give it seven stars out of ten stars, and I recommend it as a must-see for any Beverly Hillbillies fanatic! I mean, fan.
PWNYCNY
What a wonderful, silly, entertaining movie! Diedrich Bader is especially hilarious as Jethro/Jethrine, but everyone in this movie is funny. The Clampetts are great. They are the kind of people that one should have as friends. Not only are they nice, they will treat you as a friend. Jim Varney was perfect as Jed and we cannot forget mentioning Dabney Coleman whose performance as usual added to the humor. This is an unpretentious, humorous, entertaining movie and the kind of movie that is not only watchable but provokes nonstop laughter. This special movie compares favorably with the sitcom. Both are humorous without being nasty and both show that nice people can actually finish first. If you enjoy nonstop laughs then this movie is for you.
