AutCuddly Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

Myron Clemons A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

asmith1420-560-11243 I've lived in Arkansas for a while and I always enjoy watching this Movie. My cousin Susie is one of the unwedded Mother's in the movie! She was an extra! She has a pic of Burt Holding her in his arms! This movie is as southern as iced tea and dirt roads in the summertime!

headly66 After a promising start and a car chase almost nothing happens through a huge portion of the movie, they drive around, Burt talks to people for what seems like meaningless conversations, he uses his real name, everyone seems to know he's working for the feds, he openly writes notes in a small book, there is this real annoying woman he is screwing behind his buddy's back, etc, etc. Some pretty bad acting, amateur actors, bad fighting, bad lighting, bad direction and a horrible script. Another dull car chase and then the end.One of Burt's worse movies. Not a lot of effort was put into this.

Scott LeBrun Burt Reynolds plays "Gator" McKlusky, a good ol' boy convict who gets word that his younger brother Donny has died. Not only did Donny die, but he was deliberately drowned by a crooked sheriff, J.C. Connors (Ned Beatty). "Gator" decides to cooperate with the Feds in order to get himself out of jail so he can seek revenge. His official mission will be to get the goods on not just Connors, but the moonshiners with whom he does business.In general, "White Lightning" is no great shakes, but it's certainly a pleasant and watchable enough rural action flick. If it does one thing well, it's that it showcases the charms of its star in fine fashion. Burt is engaging, and the strong supporting cast is a big asset. Beatty actually underplays the role of the antagonist, never turning him into the kind of cartoon character we might otherwise see in movies of this type. Jennifer Billingsley adds substantial sex appeal as Lou, the gal who turns Gators' head. First rate character actors and actresses such as Bo Hopkins, Matt Clark, Louise Latham, Diane Ladd, R.G. Armstrong, Dabbs Greer, John Steadman, and Iris Korn all contribute heavily. Buffs should note that Ladds' daughter Laura Dern appears in a couple of shots; it was her film debut.The flavourful score by Charles Bernstein is most enjoyable, and the filmmakers get great use out of various Arkansas locations. Joseph Sargent ("Colossus: The Forbin Project", "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three") does a fine job with the first unit direction, but it's really Hal Needhams' deft handling of the action sequences that bring "White Lightning" to life at just the right times. William W. Norton wrote the screenplay, creating a convincing milieu where traditional Southerners mistrust the current young generation of hippies and protesters. There are some poignant interludes with Gator & Lou, and at a home for unwed mothers.Fine entertainment for devotees of old drive-in movies.Seven out of 10.

vchimpanzee My CW affiliate showed this movie a week after "Gator". I think they got it backwards, but maybe it was better I saw the more fun movie first. Not that this wasn't entertaining enough, but if I hadn't seen "Gator" and found out it was the sequel after seeing this, my expectations would have been lowered.Burt Reynolds has more of an acting challenge here, and he succeeds. Except for a few scenes where he is driving fast and seems to be enjoying himself, he is playing a totally different character than what his fans are probably used to. In "Gator", he has that "Smokey and the Bandit" quality, but here, he is a darker, tougher character (and yet it's supposed to be the same man in both). This is not a comedy, though it can be funny at times. Ironically, the final scenes in this movie are funny (in a dark way), while the funnier sequel ends on a dramatic note.I think pretty much everyone with a leading role does a good job. Ned Beatty is nothing like what I am used to--he's mean, but in a quiet way. Not a yelling sheriff like Jackie Gleason was, but just nasty enough in his attitude that you want him to get what's coming to him.There are a couple of good car chases, including one involving a very short train. I mean the only way the train could be shorter is if it was just a locomotive. But it still adds to the excitement.But there is just enough violence to make this movie a little hard to watch. There are some mean people in this movie. The whole point is that Gator is going after bad guys. But they're not the light-hearted bad guys you would find in a comedy.This is certainly worth seeing.