Beverly Hillbillies

Pros: Clean;"decency wins";funny; actors really get into their roles
Cons: None--except that it adds to the not-thunderingly-successful TV-screen-to-silver-screen TREND (but THIS movie is OK)

Yep, another Nick at Niter has done gone big-time! But this'un reunites Dabney Coleman and Lily Tomlin as boss and secretary (from 9 TO 5's Franklin Hart and Violet Newstead to BH's Milburn Drysdale and Miss Jane Hathaway),Buddy Ebsen with...his...

Pros: Jim Varney, the incredible opening scene, casting
Cons: Uninspired story line (not original premise) crude humor, sexual innuendo

Jim Varney is wonderful in this movie! I have to agree with "Jennifer", an earlier reviewer, that Jim Varney makes this movie work. Now Buddy Ebsen was marvelous in the role, but he never could have brought the romantic quality to Jed that ...

Pros: Captures the heart of the original series.
Cons: Director Penelope Spheeris can't stage a joke.

The movie follows the premise of the original series's opening credits (the ones that go "Come listen to my/a story about man named Jed..."). The Clampetts are more modern in this movie than in the series (they live in the 1940's whereas in the series...

Pros: No language or sex
Cons: none

All though I purchased this movie several years ago, it has continued to be a GREAT movie for my family and friends. It was such a refreshing joy to finally see a movie the whole family could enjoy that was not overrun with language and sex. Although...

Pros: Great Cast. Some chuckles. Inoffensive
Cons: Wasted talent due to a weak story and bad direction.

I love stupid movies and Beverly Hillbillies is certainly that but I didn't love it. I didn't even like it.

The story line was horrible but I think that could have been forgiven if the characters were more authentic. The original Clampetts were simple folk but weren't simpletons-except for Jethro. In the movie there is no differentiation, so they are all caricatures. The supporting cast is also lacking in dimension.

The cast is full of talented actors-Dabney Coleman, Lily Tomlin, Cloris Leachman, Jim Varney, Lea Thompson, Rob Schnider, so the fault lies in the direction and to no small extent the script.

THE PLOT
The Clampetts hit oil and head for California. A member of the bank decides to bilk the Clampetts out of their money. He sends his girl friend to swoon Jed and get him to marry her. It almost works until Granny foils the plan.

Though there is some sexual innuendo in this movie, it's minor, so it doesn't offend and would be appropriate for children to watch.