The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning Movie Review

It seems that all bad movies deserve a direct-to-DVD sequel, so why not a sloppy prequel to the film version of The Dukes of Hazzard, purporting to tell the "beginning" of the Duke boys story?

Along this 95-minute ride we'll find out where the General Lee came from (dredged from a lake), why everybody hates Boss Hogg (because he's a money-grubbing jerk), and how Daisy got so hot (she just had to take off her glasses and give her wardrobe a trim). If these are burning questions that keep you up at night then, by all means, purchase this DVD immediately.

The rest of you, well, you aren't going to find a whole lot to enjoy here. Both Bo (Jonathan Bennett) and Luke (Randy Wayne) were clearly cast for their hair color, not their acting ability, and even poor April Scott, as Daisy, doesn't make much of an impression except for when she's in her underwear. Willie Nelson (as Uncle Jesse) is just about the sole person to return from the last film. Harland Williams acrually makes a good Rosco P. Coltrane, and Joel Moore (still known best for those eBay commercials) is probably the film's highlight as a shop-class Cooter. But Christopher McDonald as Boss Hogg? That borders on heresy!

Whether careening through a highschool in a dune buggy or moonshinin' in the fixed-up General Lee, this prequel never misses an opportunity to throw us a dirt-spewing vehicle, an anonymous topless girl, or both. That's all well and good, I guess, but I don't think anyone should have to sit through an hour and a half of what passes for plot just to see a few silly car chases.

DVD extras include a handful of featurettes and a music video.