Burt Reynolds is quoted as saying this was "The worst script he ever read". Once he was told he could direct he said "This is the best script he ever read". White Lightning worked because it was a pretty straightforward revenge movie with tight direction. The tone on this is all over the place with baffonish comedy that would be out of place in the first film along with more serious moments. Burt plays himself in this film, more or less and is much less angry than the earlier film. There is bigger action scenes, but there were better chases and action scenes in White Lightning. I like Burt as a director, but this is his first time in the director's chair and the screenplay is not the greatest. What's positive about Gator is casting Lauren Hutton as Burt's love interest and journalist. She gives a good performance and is gorgeous. Country star and future sidekick Jerry Reed would later work with Burt as Snowman in Smokey And The Bandit, he is absolutely fantastic here before he makes his babyface turn as the bad, bad Bama McCall. This is only Jerry 's second movie role, but is one of the best onscreen villains I have ever seen. Overall, Gator is fairly entertaining, but does have it's flaws(which I previously stated).
Review of Gator
