Leading Ladies: August 2005

The Dukes of Hazzard

Stars: Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott, Jessica Simpson, Willie Nelson, Burt Reynolds
Director: Jay Chandrasekhar
Rating: PG-13

The remake of the '80s-favorite TV show about country cousins of the Duke family is the only wide-release flick this weekend, and, according to the female critics, you may want to seek your moviegoing pleasures in more indie pastures.

TV Guide's Maitland McDonagh says the movie is "so outrageously, unregenerately stupid that you might be tempted to think it's smart. But it's not: It's as dumb as Georgia dirt." And the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Eleanor Ringel Gillespie says, "It's every bit as bad as you thought it'd be. Only worse."

Pop star Simpson drew much of the critics' barbs, with the Austin Chronicle's Marrit Ingman saying, "If you don't cotton to Simpson's cleavage, which you'll see in just about every scene... there's just not much going on in these 106 minutes of ain't-it-cool quasi-nostalgia," while the Miami Herald's Connie Ogle says, "The less said about Simpson's performance the better. From the neck down she fulfills all the requirements, but, honestly, I think General Lee might do a better job with the dialogue," and Salon's Stephanie Zacharek says Simpson "looks a little surprised every time she's called upon to utter a line, which, fortunately, isn't very often."

And the rest of the cast doesn't fare much better. Says the Chicago Tribune's Allison Benedikt: "Commenting on performances here is like critiquing the production design of a porno ‑- it's beside the point. Briefly: Knoxville, bad choice, man. Reynolds, you make a good villain. Simpson, lovely posing. Scott, you're from Minnesota and it shows ‑- but I bet stunt driving school was fun."

Female consensus: You won't find much Southern comfort from this lame TV show do-over

next : The Great Raid