Synopsis
Legendary stunt man Sonny Hooper remains one of the top men in his field, but due to too many stressful impacts to the spine and the need to pop painkillers several times a day, he knows he should get out of the industry before he ends up permanently disabled.
Your Movie Library
Cast
- Burt ReynoldsSonny Hooper
- Jan-Michael VincentDelmore "Ski" Shidski
- Sally FieldGwen Doyle
- Brian KeithJocko Doyle
- John MarleyMax Berns
- Robert KleinRobert Deal
- James BestCully
- Adam WestAdam
- Alfie WiseTony
- Terry BradshawSherman
Recommendations
- 90
The Hollywood Reporter
Hooper has all the action that fans of this genre could ask for, plus a whole lot more. - 80
The New York Times
This time, Mr. Reynolds has made a movie to please fans of all persuasions, and to please them a great deal. - 80
Variety
Individually, the performances in this story of three generations of Hollywood stuntmen are a delight. And Hal Needham’s direction and stunt staging are wonderfully crafted. - 80
Washington Post
His witty, endearing performance in the title role of Hal Needham's terrific new pick-me-up, Hooper, a rousing and sweet-tempered sentimental comedy about the professional vicissitudes and fellowship of movie stuntmen, should finally secure Reynolds a preeminent position in the affections of contemporary moviegoers. - 70
Chicago Reader
A casually assembled Burt Reynolds vehicle, sloppy and loose in an amiable way. - 70
Time Out
The rich vein of 'innocent' anarchy running through Burt Reynolds comedy showcases around this time is mined again to good effect as his Smokey and the Bandit persona transmutes seamlessly into the ace Hollywood stuntman of the title, and director Needham (an ex-stuntman himself) slips effortlessly into a lightweight satire of the movie biz and an almost Hawksian action-comedy of male-group professionalism. - 70
Newsweek
Hooper doesn't dig very deep into its Hollywood subject, but it's a good example of decent, no-frills filmmaking that lets a surprising amount of feeling seep through the cracks of its all-action formula. [21 Aug 1978, p.67] - 63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
The stunts in Hooper resemble a collection of greatest hits. It's nice to have all those great songs together but the emotional impact of the first time you heard the single on the radio is gone. [25 July 1978]
