Good ol' boy comedy-drama about the corporate buyout of an Iowa brewery and its effects on the employees and townspeople certainly had the opportunity to comedically explore greed and position in big business. Unfortunately, this movie-version of the hit song by Johnny PayCheck isn't at all the trenchant satire the opening moments hint it might be; instead, director Gus Trikonis (of all people) settles for redneck clichés and easy stabs at pathos (such as the veteran bottler who is transferred--one might say promoted--to distribution, but asks to return because he can't read). Robert Hays is the small-town boy who made good, returning to his roots to overhaul the brewery and act as hatchet-man; Tim Thomerson (way over-the-top) and David Keith are his boyhood pals who earn their living at the plant, while Barbara Hershey floats in and out of the movie as a former squeeze (she ends up making love with Hays after a mud fight, still caked in dirt). Some of the dialogue in Barry Schneider's exceedingly-thin screenplay has a little kick, but Trikonis in general is not good with actors: he keeps everybody shouting, even when the machines are turned off. *1/2 from ****

Johnny Paycheck's super fed-up with being exploited by the Man proletarian honky-tonk rant, written by ex-convict David Allan Coe, was turned into one of the true unsung classic films of the early 80s. It's a rowdy, boisterous, high-spirited seriocomic slice-of-blue-collar-life redneck romp about refusing to kowtow to any big company nonsense and taking charge of your own destiny. Eager beaver hotshot corporate executive Robert Hays returns to his podunk burg home town to get the sagging local brewery back on its feet again. He changes the operation with mixed results: the company suits are happy, but the workers are discontent. Will Hays do the right thing and tell the top brass to shove it? Man, does baby cover all the necessary bases: a top-notch country-and-western soundtrack, a monster truck race, romance, cussin', authentically funky locations (e.g., smoky taverns and low-rent bowling alleys), a wild barroom football game, working class angst and frustration, and, best of all, a rousing stick it to the head honchos workers revolt conclusion. The uniformly excellent cast includes Barbara Hershey as Hays' feisty ex-girlfriend, David Keith and Tim Thomerson as scruffy good ol' boys, Art Carney as the plant manager, Martin Mull as an obsequious company man boot-licker, Eddie Albert as an a**hole CEO, Len Lesser as a jerk foreman, country singer Charlie Rich as a rival corporate head, Royal Dano as an elderly factory worker, and James Karen as Carney's right-hand man. Directed with tremendous flair by Gus Trikonis (his previous hick flicks include "Nashville Girl" and "Moonshine County Express") and affectionately written by Barry Schneider, this unjustly overlooked darling is just ripe for rediscovery.

I was surprised to see the low ratings from the few people that had written reviews of this movie. I remember Siskel and Ebert giving this film a glowing review when it came out. They were absolutely right, it was perfectly cast, and it captured a moment in time perfectly. The cast was stellar, especially Eddie Albert. I think since the title of the movie comes from a goofy song, people expect somekind of lighthearted romp. The movie is funny, but not in a cheap, obvious way. It's a very thoughtful film, sort of a dramady.If you're looking for something to watch where you can just turn you brain off and laugh at fart jokes, leave this one on the shelf and rent Dumb and Dumber. But if you want to see a witty and intelligent comedic film, then check this one out.

This movie is much ado about nothing. But, then, what could you expect out of Dubuque, Iowa, where nothing ever happened except the filming of F.I.S.T.? The early 1980s was a big beer-drinking time, though, with everyone partying and being an urban cowboy. This movie is basically a chance to see an early version of Bob Chandler's Bigfoot (before he was such a monster) and hear some country music. It's kind of a lighthearted, fun, partying romp. In fact, the writer very well could have written this movie in a state of intoxication. There's a scene where Robert Hays's character is supposed to throw a beer can into a trash can. Duh! Iowa beverage cans had a 5 cent deposit on them. This must have been written by someone from out of state!