Burt Reynolds: Overrated or Underrated?

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in April of 2013.

This time out, Movie Irv dissects the appeal of the man who made both Deliverance and Stroker Ace. The man whose films are sometimes catalogued by the presence, or lack, of hair under his lip. The man who renamed himself “Turd Ferguson” on maybe the funniest episode ever of Saturday Night Live’s “Celebrity Jeopardy” (OK, so that was Norm MacDonald).

Yes. It’s time to render the overrated/underrated verdict on cinema’s greatest good ol’ boy, Burt Reynolds:

I treasure the Burt of The Longest Yard (the original) and Silent Movie (which I celebrated here). I lament the Burt who initially had some bad things to say about Boogie Nights, which afforded him one of the great “comeback” performances in contemporary movie history. And I just looked at our poll, What’s Your Favorite Burt Reynolds Film Performance?, and am properly horrified by the absence of both Gator McKlusky movies in the choices. But now, you’re up: Share your thoughts about Reynolds’ fascinating screen career.