It's taken a bit of time for Chris to get on board with the year of the Stitch-up, but this week he's fully on board with the pick, Smokey and the Bandit 3.

The production of Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) was plagued by confusion, last-minute changes, and a noticeable lack of direction—both literally and creatively. Initially conceived as Smokey IS the Bandit, the film was supposed to center entirely around Jackie Gleason playing both Sheriff Buford T. Justice and the Bandit himself. Universal even shot a version of the film under this premise, but test audiences were so baffled by the concept that the studio pulled the plug and hastily reshot large portions of the film, reinstating Jerry Reed’s Cledus "Snowman" Snow as the new Bandit. Burt Reynolds, whose charisma had anchored the first two entries, wanted no part of the third film and only appeared in a brief cameo, further cementing the sense that the magic of the original was long gone.

Behind the scenes, the budget was slashed and the enthusiasm of the cast and crew matched it. Gleason, a comedic titan, was reportedly frustrated with the rewrites and changes, and his performance suffered under the weight of a poorly conceived script. The film’s tone teetered awkwardly between slapstick and tired repetition, and critics pounced on it for lacking the heart, fun, and chemistry of its predecessors. Despite all this, Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 did manage to close out the trilogy—albeit with a screech rather than a roar—serving as a cautionary tale of how a franchise can run out of gas when it loses its original spark.

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Trailer Guy Plot Summary

In a world where bootlegging beer is out and hauling stuffed fish is in, one retired sheriff is about to hit the road... one last time. When Big Enos and Little Enos cook up a cross-country prank, Sheriff Buford T. Justice takes the bait—literally—hauling a prized fish from Florida to Texas. But there’s a twist... Cledus “Snowman” Snow steps into the Bandit’s boots to turn the tables and reclaim the legend. Now, it’s a high-octane race filled with car crashes, barroom brawls, and enough denim to clothe a small town. Smokey and the Bandit Part 3—because when the Bandit’s away, the Smokey will play.

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