Cynthia Rothrock plays Bertha Jo, Daisy Duke's best friend and the champion of the Hazzard County ToughMan(Person) contest.

The DoH Reunion is a mixed bag to say the least, but if you watch it with a open mind you can have a lot of fun. It's like watching a 2hour episode of the TV show but a little more campy. The cast knows this isn't going to be an Emmy award winning drama, so they have fun with it. Even the announcer gets in on the act by stating 'This plot is downright Shakespearian'.

The plot could be a little hard to swallow so try to cut it some slack. Here's the deal. Mama Max(Stella Stevens) is planning to build an Amusement park in Hazzard Swamp (don't laugh), but she needs part of Uncle Jesse's land to access the Park. Uncle Jesse(Denver Pyle) won't sell, or rent, because even though the Amusement Park would bring tons of jobs and money to Hazzard County, it would destroy the Swamp(don't laugh). But Mama Max really only want the swamp because it has some kind of rare ore(Gallium Arsenite...you know, the stuff they need to make SuperComputers ..at least that's what the movie said) in it. The Duke Boys, Bo(John Schnieder)and Luke(Tom Wopat), decide to challenge Mama Max to a MoonShine Race to decide who gets to use the land. (don't laugh). On top of all of that, Daisy Duke(Catherine Bach), gets kidnapped and gets the kidnappers help her plan her wedding(okay, now you can laugh) Believe it or not, I've left out 3 or 4 storylines. Don't worry if you get lost, someone will spell out the storyline again in the movie every 20 minutes or so.

What does Cynthia Rothrock's character Bertha Jo have to do with all of this? Well, nothing actually. It's fairly obvious that Bertha Jo was originally supposed to have been a throwaway character. But luckily, the producers must have realized that they had Cynthia Rothrock aka 'Big Time Action Star' aka 'World Champion Martial Artist'. And so, Bertha Jo has what is pretty much an entirely seperate storyline. It has something to do with her not wanting to beat up her Boyfriend in the Toughman(Person) contest. Which is pretty much an excuse for her to kick butt in the ring.

As far as the fight scenes go, it's not nearly as good as CR's other stuff. They are all really just CR throwing a kick, and a cut to a guy flying backwards...literally. The only fight scene that has any real potential is the final fight between CR and some other guy they brought in pretty much just to fight CR(I'm not kidding). But even that one is lacking.

But keep in mind this is the Duke of Hazzard Reunion Movie and not a CR action film. So I really can't hold the lame fight scenes against it. Cynthia Rothrock does a good acting job, easily outshining most of the stars. In fact it's like most of the main players haven't acted since the show went off the air 12 years ago. I'm not going to state any names but the only members of the old cast that seemed to be trying were Daisy(Catherine Bach) and Enos(Sonny Shroeder). But the only reason Enos made an impression on me is that he seemed like he wasn't playing with a full deck. What else could you say about a guy who was on the LAPD Swat team, wrote Daisy a letter every week(but never mailed them), carries those letters around in a sack, asks a girl he hasn't seen in 12 years to marry him the 2nd day he comes back, and proposes in a swamp? See what I mean?

Of course, DOH:R has all of the usual character twists, Bo is a Nascar driver, Luke is a Fireman, Cooter the mechanic is a Congressman, Daisy is working on her PHD, etc. etc. Needless, to say, none of this stuff matters because about 30minutes into the film, everyone has reverted back to their old selves. The coolest part is watching Senator Cooter(eheh) slowly regressing to his old sleevess, dirty mechanic look, scene by scene.

So, while The Dukes of Hazzard Reunion isn't the best movie CR has been in, it's still fun to watch. And thankfully, Cynthia Rothrock doesn't even try to put on a Southern accent!

Best Fight Scene:

Whenever Cynthia is on screen she's kicking someone in the head.

Last update : 09-06-2006 08:37

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