Any Which Way You Can (1980) User Reviews

Okay, One Of Clint's Mokey Movies, But Still Pretty Funny

[gottogorunning · 7/10 · 13 August 2005]

If any animal deserved its own trailer, chauffeured limousine and personal trainer, it would be Clyde.

"Any Which Way You Can" proves once and for all the similarities of ape to man (and in some cases, the ape's superiority).

Basically, this movie is a great improvement over the stillborn humor of "Every Which Way But Loose". Clint wisely plays straight man to Clyde, who provides the funniest moments, when not befriending William Smith ("Big Bill" Smith from the old biker movies. Go look it up.), then engaging in a bare-knuckle fight with him later on.

Everyone fares better in this movie, in fact. Sondra Locke is far more graceful, Geoffrey Lewis gets more laughs, even Ruth Gordon is seen as the next Bo Derek (bless her heart).

And if the Black Widows aren't more menacing this time around, well... that's kind of hard to do when you're wearing fake wigs and have penciled-in facial hair.

I've seen this movie so many times myself, that I have nearly the entire screenplay committed to memory. What more indelible impression could a filmmaker want to make than that?

The Further Adventures Of Clint And Clyde

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 8 March 2010]

Clint Eastwood fans will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe hes only venture into screen'comedy are Every Which Way But Locse and its successor film. This isn't the kind of stuff that Cary Grant would have been doing, but the two films do keep with Clint's macho screen image and allow him to slug a few people with some laughs in between.

Nearly all the characters from Any Which Way But Loose are back in this film Any Which Way You Can. Clint is once again Philo Beddoe who works part time hauling away wrecked cars, but makes his real money in the illegal bare knuckle prize fight racket. Clint lives in southern California, probably in a place not unlike Carmel, California where he was mayor. He lives with his mother Ruth Gordon, his partner in auto collision work Geoffrey Lewis and his pet orangutan, Clyde.

The last film ended with Clint not winning Sondra Locke, the country singer he lost his heart to. But Sondra's back now and when Clint wants to back out of a bare knuckle fight with reigning eastern champion William Smith because he's tired of the racket, the gangsters backing the fight kidnap her to force him to go through with it.

As in the last film, Clyde the orangutan gets the lion's share of the laughs. The sex life of the orangutan gets even more screen time, Clint and Geoff Lewis don't just find a zoo with a female orangutan in it for Clyde to mate with, they actually get him an adjoining motel room with Clyde and his lady love in one room and Clint and Sondra in another.

William Smith has the most interesting part in the film, usually he's a thoroughgoing bad guy in his films, but in Any Which Way You Can he's got a sense of honor and fair play, much to the distress of Harry Guardino and the rest of the gangsters backing the fight.

Any Which Way You Can has the same sense of rollicking lowbrow comedy that the first film has, maybe more so. As Clint Eastwood moves into his eighties maybe he'll try comedy again. He'd be one great grumpy old man as he proved in Gran Torino.

Clint does comedy again!

[grahamsj3 · 7/10 · 28 April 2003]

This sequel to "Every Which Way but Loose" is as good as the first. Clyde the orangutan is back. Clint Eastwood is a retired bare knuckle fighter with a huge reputation. When a national "title" fight is offered, he hesitates, wanted to quit fighting. But he's forced to go through with the fight (of course - this is EASTWOOD for crying out loud!). There are many humorous scenes and I like this one as well as the first. Good one!

Guilty Pleasure

[subcityii · 12 November 2001]

This movie is one my guilty pleasures. I enjoy it a lot, but I know deep down that I shouldn't. I guess the reason I like it is because it has a unique gallery of characters. You've got bare knuckle fighters, a bald biker gang, underworld crime figures, a befuddled couple on their second honeymoon, corrupt state troopers and not one, not two, but three perverted motel managers. On top of all them, the best character in the movie is an orangutan named Clyde! I also like the exciting fight scenes, particularly the climatic fight, well staged in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It is the rare sequel that is far superior to the original. For many, that is not saying much but it is enough for me.

We're even?

[lost-in-limbo · 6/10 · 7 June 2008]

A charming, and endearingly goofy follow up to the successfully hearty comedy 'Every Which Way But Loose (1978)', which starred Clint Eastwood as cool-hand, bar-brawling Philo Beddoe along with his alcohol slurping orangutan companion Clyde. Slap-stick galore with the easy-going style of the original picking up the pace and having a variety of cartoon-like characters represented by a more than capably fruitful cast (some who are Eastwood regulars). They're here for a good time and it shows. Geoffrey Lewis, Sondra Locke, Ruth Gordon, William Smith, Harry Guardino, Bill McKinney and Barry Corbin give pleasingly amusing performances. However it's the returning John Quade who's a hilarious hoot as the leader of the haplessly crony bikers 'Black Widows'. Eastwood naturally comes across cool and collected in another winning performance. The drama here feels a little more spontaneous, busy and crazy with much more bare-knuckle, sweaty fist fights (which are well-executed) and a real infantile comical imprint. Streaming through is a heart-warming music score with an appealing country swing and open photography sharply frames some beautiful locations and accordingly gets amongst the action. Is it better than the first… I don't think so, but I never grow old of these fun, light-headed features.

As good as the first movie...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 4 March 2022]

This 1980 sequel to the 1978 movie "Every Which Way but Loose" was actually every bit as entertaining and enjoyable as the predecessor. And that makes "Any Which Way You Can" deviate from the usual curse of sequels; you know, with the sequel being a horrible movie in the wake of the predecessor.

Writer Stanford Sherman managed to put together a wholesome storyline that encompassed the previous story and further expanded upon it. And it was done in a very enjoyable and entertaining manner, so I was certainly genuinely entertained by what director Buddy Van Horn had to offer with "Any Which Way You Can".

It was great to see the original cast return to reprise their roles from the movie 2 years earlier. And needless to say that the likes of Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis and others put on great performances in bringing the sequel to life on the screen.

There is a good amount of storytelling and action in "Any Which Way You Can", so there is something for just about anyone. But the movie also has comedy, love elements and a good narrative to it.

If you enjoyed the 1978 movie, then you most certainly will also enjoy the 1980 sequel "Any Which Way You Can". It should be noted, though, that "Any Which Way You Can" is a bit more on the comedy side of the spectrum in comparison to the 1978 predecessor. I enjoyed the amped-up comedy here, but it might not just suit everyone watching the movie.

My rating of "Any Which Way You Can" lands on a six out of ten stars.

Where is Clyde's Spinoff Series...Clyde and the Furious!!!

[damianphelps · 7/10 · 15 January 2021]

If you have seen the first one (Every Which Way...) you know exactly what you are going to get here. The 2 movies are not so much plot driven but character driven...that is...you enjoy watching their interactions with each other and their situations...what the situations are or the plot doesn't really matter.

Its a relaxed movie with some good laughs and some gentle user friendly action.

Any Clint Eastwood fan will enjoy :)

Many Adjectives Describe This

[ccthemovieman-1 · 7/10 · 27 November 2006]

Crude, sophomoric, irreverent, silly, stupid, overly macho, etc., etc. - yet, an endearing and very enjoyable film for a lot of people. I wouldn't put myself in that category any more, calling it "endearing," but when I was a lot younger and more less discerning, I laughed a lot at this. I enjoyed this as much, if not more, than the original film, "Every Which Way But Loose."

Now, it's a bit too seedy and I don't care for all the abuses of the Lord's name in vain, especially in comedy. However, this is an entertaining film. No one falls asleep watching the antics of the orangutan or Clint Eastwood and his fighting opponent or the irascible Ruth Gordon. The villain in here - Eastwoood's boxing opponent "Jack Wilson" (William Smith) was a good guy and the bare- knuckle was something to see!

It's low brow stuff, but a lot of that kind of humor was big in the '70s and early '80s.

Not Clint's finest

[antide-42376 · 5/10 · 18 September 2022]

A sequel to the massive hit 'Every Which Way But Loose' this is basically a rehash which isn't as good. At least this movie doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't and doesn't take itself too seriously at all. Clint is of course a legend but no-one can pretend that this is among his best work, far from it in fact. For all that though it can be fun at times and there are maybe a couple of laugh out loud moments.

One thing always bothered me about this movie though even when I saw it at cinema many years ago. William Smith would have kicked Clint's butt any day of the week, especially when Clint broke his arm during the fight. Oh well, it's only a movie I suppose!

A bit funnier than the first, but has a much weaker story

[EvanHamilton · 6/10 · 14 August 2012]

First off, do not see this movie unless you have already seen "Every Which Way but Loose", as this film is a sequel to that.

Now, the first film was known to have a pretty shallow story. This one has the same problem - in fact, the story seems even weaker than the first. The plot doesn't go anywhere; it sits there and watches as the film's comedy takes the wheel.

The film is definitely intended to bring up laughter, but I'm not sure if it's sole purpose of production was to be a comedy. The laughs are good, but too rare to make the movie's lack of a story acceptable. The humor is very similar to that of the first film, only, like this film's story, never jumps to the point of surpassing anything we've already seen.

However, despite these flaws, the film was overall enjoyable. There's not much you'd miss if you skip this one, but if you enjoyed "Every Which Way but Loose", you're probably going to like "Any Which Way You Can" - just probably not as much as you enjoyed the first. Like the first film, the ape "Clyde" is the source of all true amusement, with "Ma" charging up a scene or two of good laughter in this one. Clint Eastwood's performance may feel a bit weaker or equal to his in "Every Which Way but Loose", but it definitely adds to the experience.

Overall, a good film to see if you really enjoyed the first. The two films are very similar, so much so that if you stumbled upon one on television, it may take you awhile to figure out which one you're watching. Many of the scenes take place in the same places: "Clint's house, the bar, etc.", and there are only a few slight additions to the cast. Really nothing too "new" in this film, but a surely entertaining viewing if you enjoyed "Every Which Way but Loose".

I give the film a 6/10. I gave "Every Which Way but Loose" a 7/10, and this one lost a point as although it was a bit funnier than the first, the story wasn't as thought-out as the firsts at all, and I seemed to loose my interest a bit more easily on this one. Nonetheless, incredibly similar to the first film in all sorts of ways, so if the first one left you wanting more, definitely check this one out!

East Coast Meets West Coast

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 1 May 2020]

This film essentially takes up where the last one left off with "Philo Beddoe" (Clint Eastwood) engaging in an illegal fight for money somewhere in the San Fernando Valley. After beating his opponent Philo then goes about earning a living as a tow truck driver with his brother "Orville" (Geoffrey Lewis) and his pet orangutan "Clyde" (Manis). Not long afterward a member from the mafia approaches Philo to offer him $25,000 to fight a brawler from the East Coast named "Jack Wilson" (William Smith). Although he had planned on retiring he decides to accept the fight with a date to be determined later. It's during this time that he meets the woman who jilted him 2 years earlier named "Lynn-Halsey Taylor" (Sandra Locke) who wants to make amends. While trying to grapple with this he also learns that the motorcycle gang known as the Black Widows are seeking revenge on an altercation they had with him in the previous movie. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this comedy started out pretty well and had some really good scenes here and there-especially those featuring the Black Widows. Unfortunately, it also featured a number of equally bad scenes which were caused the picture to seem somewhat uneven overall. That being said, while I don't consider this film to be as good as its predecessor it was still worth the time spent to watch it and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.

More of a plot this time.

[Aaron1375 · 8/10 · 31 March 2003]

This one has more of a plot than the first one, but I still like the first one a bit more. This time the Clint Eastwood character gets reunited with Sandra Locke. Why he takes her back and so quickly is anyone's guess. A mafia type group wants to set up a fight between Eastwood's character and this real tough guy. He accepts, but later declines when they learn that the guy he is going to fight once killed a guy. The mafia people don't like the fact he backs out and tries other ways to persuade him to fight. The biker gang returns as do many of the main characters. In the end, the fight takes to place, but man is it long. To long in fact, the ending fight just drags a bit too much. All in all though it is a pretty funny movie, but there is just something about the first I still like more.

Right turn, Clyde.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 1 April 2022]

Philo Beddoe (Clint Eastwood) and his orangutan friend Clyde return for more silly but agreeable hijinks in this successful sequel to "Every Which Way But Loose". Philo still makes what money he can from bare-knuckle fights, and gambler James Beekman (Harry Guardino) gets the bright idea to pit Philo against the equally tough Jack Wilson (the almighty movie tough guy William Smith). Philo initially agrees to the deal, then decides against the fight, which only motivates the villains to kidnap Philos' girl Lynn (Sondra Locke), with whom he's reconnected. Everything comes to a head with scores of people determined to watch the fight and hopefully make a ton of money from their bets on the outcome.

The fantastic, vivid fight scene between Clint and Smith is definitely a highlight; it's one of those old-school donnybrooks that certainly must be a favorite for people who love a good movie fight. Overall, the movie is "good" no-brainer fun, although it does go on an awfully long time (just short of two hours), with not all of the comedy detours paying off to any great degree. That said, there are true chuckles to be had. Although it hardly needs to be said, the simian actors Buddha and Manis (taking turns playing Clyde) steal the show. Clydes' courtship of a female orangutan whom Philo temporarily "borrows" from the zoo is the most priceless moment. It's also hysterical whenever Clyde is told to junk a car.

One of the things that this viewer liked best was the nuanced relationship between Philo and the rather amiable Wilson. Neither man is really THAT interested in winning the fight, and keep wanting to keep things "even" between them. Wilson is one of the best roles that the late, great Smith ever played. And there's a rich, constant assortment of familiar faces (some of them repertory players in Clint movies of the 70s and early 80s) in supporting roles and bits. Geoffrey Lewis, as could be expected, is particularly fine as Philos' buddy Orville. Ruth Gordon has some very amusing moments as Philos' irascible Ma. Even Locke does a good job; she's appealing in the love interest role, and does some singing of her own.

Clint and Ray Charles do a very pleasant duet on "Beers to You", which kicks off "Any Which Way You Can" in fine fashion.

Even if a FAR cry from the more prestigious films of Clints' career, there's no denying the goofball charm of this movie.

Seven out of 10.

They couldn't and they shouldn't.

[mark.waltz · 2/10 · 10 January 2020]

The laziness of the writers for this film is obvious with the opening credits which are the exact same ones that were there for "Every Which Way But Loose", only with names deleted or added. Gone is one of the best things from "Every Which Way", the delicious Beverly D'Angelo with her Echo not even mentioned, having seemingly ridden off into the sunset with Orville (Geoffrey Lewis) at the end of the film. Sure, she had gone onto great success with the movie version of "Hair" and "Coal Miner's Daughter", but without even a mention of Echo, this film already starts off with a sour clunk. The laziness continues with the quick forgiveness of Sondra Locke by Clint Eastwood.

Are we supposed to think that this sociopath character, Lynn Halsey Taylor, would just sit next to the man she viciously used and say "Are you still mad at me?" Then, that even after he politely asks her to leave, it is obvious that in order to re-instate her into the plot yet to come that Clint will forgive her. We're supposed to feel sorry for her because she seems to be destitute, in some sort of women's shelter, and has learned from her continuous mistakes of using and dumping men. I did not easily forget that as the film went on and she becomes sort of fragile flower who needs Clint's protecting when he makes the mistake of becoming involved with mafia ringers who want to get Clint into a professional fight. So while we lost Echo, we ended up with Clint's ego which is bigger than the fattest of the Black Widows who are back and wigged out literally here.

It is obvious that while Clint is jogging that fellow jogger William Smith wants something out of him when he eyes him suspiciously then simply joins him on the run which takes him near a steep ravine which suddenly gives way, possibly sending Smith to his death over the edge. Clint saves his life, then Smith jumps in to help Clint during a fight, and before you know it, Clint is involved in criminal activities that culminate with Locke being kidnapped. The action goes from the San Fernando Valley to Bakersfield where everybody from Ma (Ruth Gordon) to the Black Widows to the mob gets in on the action, and an elderly couple (real life married Logan and Anne Ramsey) become sexually intrigued by the noises that Clyde and the stolen orangutan are making whoopie along with Clint and Sondra. The visual of an old pervert peaking into their window as Gordon comes along then seeing Bo Derek in "10" (with Gordon's face superimposed) is the nadir of tactlessness.

As for the continued Coyote and Road Runner adventures of Philo's rivalry with the Black Widow, it was funny in the first film because even with it being over the top and unrealistic, there was an innocence to it that was character based. They strive far too hard for laughs here, with the only incident even semi-funny concerning their run through a tarring machine that results in Philo taking their hardened bodies by crane to the hospital where all of their body hair (including eyebrows) must be removed to get rid of the tar stuck to their shapeless bodies. The one good thing about the last scene which ties things up between Philo and the gang is that we know (or hoped back then) that there would not be a third entry, "Each and Every Way You Shouldn't", or whatever magical title some Warner Brothers hack had in mind for what fortunately did not come to fruition.

As for the climactic fight between Eastwood and Smith, it starts off innocently enough with the two in an abandoned warehouse and soon attracts the attention of a group of children followed by a nervous police officer who calls a trucker then leading to the entire Northern California population (including a literal group of jetsetters making their way in a small plane down the abandoned street) to witness what has been rumored to be in the making. It is absurdly set up and goes to show what happens when scripts are rushed out without thought. It probably got a ton of applause in the theater when the film was first shown but 40 years later, just comes off as absolutely narcissistic and ludicrous. I couldn't take another two hours of Philo, Orville, Ma and Clyde, even if in the first film they were all endearing, because to quote a Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand song from around the same time, "Enough is Enough is Enough!"

Better than the first one

[lucifer · 17 April 2001]

It may not be saying much, but Any Which Way You Can is much better than Every Which Way But Loose.

The biker gang are funnier this time around, Clyde gets far more screen time (which is a good thing), and the big fight near the end is a fairly brutal cracker.

A no-brainer, certainly, but who can resist seeing Barry Corbin driving his plane along the roads, in order to get to the fight?

Quite funny but getting dated

[sjmckenna-27831 · 7/10 · 26 December 2021]

I enjoyed this film and have watched it a few times now. Best time to watch it is on a cold and rainy evening when there is nothing else to do. Eastwood is who he is and plays his character well. The rest of the cast, apart from Locke, keep the action moving along nicely. I have read in some of the reviews that the orang-utans were treated badly by their trainer. Anyone who has worked with animals would know that you don't get performances like that put in if they are afraid or mistreated. It is said a lie can be half way around the world before truth is out of bed and has its boots on. With the internet a lie can be all around the world twice before truth wakes up.

Any Which Way is a "Right Turn, Clyde!"

[dunmore_ego · 7/10 · 1 June 2008]

"Right turn, Clyde!" – and the orangutan's fist shoots out the passenger window, impacting anyone dumb enough to have their face there. It's just one of many running gags in this inexplicable, fuzzy film.

Any Which Way You Can (sequel to Every Which Way But Loose) opens with an illegal street fight, pitting bareknuckle street machine Philo Beddoe (Clint Eastwood) – now a local legend – against a Marine-beating bent cop, cheered on by a rowdy mix of truckers, crooked cops and busty chickie babes.

While Philo ogles some jiggling boob, the cop catches him unawares. Before he rises from the sand, Philo gives his opponent a menacing look – that tilted head with one eye slightly squinting… All I know in this world is: you don't wanna be on the receiving end of the Clint Glare. Ever. In short measure, the cop goes down. Meanwhile, Philo's orangutan, Clyde, has crapped in one of the squad cars… Any Which Way You Can, written by Stanford Sherman and directed by stuntman extraordinaire, Buddy Van Horn, is one of those rare movies that takes everything good about its predecessor and mashes it up in a big bowl of wrong that tastes just right.

One of the reasons this movie works is the palpable camaraderie on set – even between Clint and his "enemies." They've all worked with him before, in a cavalcade of past Clint classics: John Quade (in High Plains Drifter) along with his Black Widow gang of Clint regulars, Dan Vadis (Bronco Billy), William O'Connell (Josey Wales), Bill McKinney (The Gauntlet); underworld bookie Beekman is Harry Guardino (last seen chewing out Dirty Harry); there's the team from Every Which Way, Ruth Gordon once again steaming the screen as trash-talking Ma, Geoffrey Lewis as ever-faithful Orville, Sondra Locke still skeletal and untalented as Philo's girl, Lynn Halsey-Taylor; (the luminous Beverly D'Angelo was sorely missed in this sequel), and then there was Clyde the orang utan, always in the background, yet somehow in the furry foreground whenever a punch or a fart was needed to punctuate the action.

Philo is still trying to make ends meet in Anytown San Fernando Valley by rebuilding engines and bareknuckle boxing. A $10,000 underworld match comes his way, against a man-mountain renowned for maiming and killing his opponents, Jack Wilson (William Smith). Philo and Wilson meet unofficially in a – what else? – barroom brawl, eventually befriending each other enough to cancel their bout and anger all the underworld figures who organized the betting stakes. They end up fighting unofficially, the fight growing in intensity and public attention until the whole betting populace of the small town is cheering them on, all bets on.

With both competitors pushing 50, we wonder how this plot could even be plausible, yet through a blend of laconic humor and outlandishness, Any Which Way makes it believable, with a wham-bam-thank-you-ham third act that makes you want to do 50 pushups and sit-ups a day, just to look half as good as these veteran, iron-thewed warriors when you're their age.

There's nothing deep here; crack a beer, strip down to your wife-beater and just enjoy it. Every which way you look at it, Any Which Way is a Right Turn, Clyde.

a funny movie

[beet_a · 7/10 · 26 June 2000]

I just love this movie. I love the music in the film because i am a fan of country music. Clyde is as funny as ever. Every time he came on and done something stupid I was in fits of laughter. The motorcycle gang were just as funny when they went through the tarpit and then they started hardening up because of the tar. The other part of the film where Clint's girlfriend is kidnapped by this mob boss is pretty good. And the bare knuckle fight scenes are well choregraphed as well.

It can't best the original but there's still irreverent fun to be had.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 6/10 · 12 February 2018]

All the major cast members return in 'Any Which Way You Can (1980)', aside from perhaps the first picture's most crucial star. Manis the orangutan is here replaced by another (not named in the feature's credits) who just isn't quite as good. This shortcoming ricochets across the entire piece with most beats being revisited but never reaching the heights of the original. There's still irreverent fun to be had, though, and the inherent charm of a monkey sidekick still remains so, despite the fact that it retreads much of the same ground and actually retracts some of the character work done previously, this is still an entertaining flick that provides a few laughs along the way. 6/10

You would watch it on TV, but not tell anyone

[mm-39 · 5/10 · 27 April 2002]

5.1 is right for this movie, interesting enough too watch on tv, but you would forget about this movie in a day. Lost in the 70's type of film, out of style. The biker gang gag fails in this one. Why would the guy go back with that horrid women from the first film. Well I liked the heavy Clint had to fight in this one.

More of the same in pleasant sequel to Every Which Way But Loose.

[hitchcockthelegend · 7/10 · 17 November 2019]

Any Which Way You can is directed by Buddy Van Horn and written by Stanford Sherman and Jeremy Joe Kronsberg. It stars Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, William Smith and C.J. the Orangutan.

Philo decides to retire from bare knuckle fighting, but when the Mafia come along and arrange another fight, he is spurred on to take another big money fight. The Black Widows motorcycle gang are still after his blood, Clyde the orangutan is still creating mischief, and Lynn Halsey-Taylor is trying to make up for breaking Philo's heart.

Much like the first film this is all very silly but ultimately great fun. Crux of the narrative is Philo being dragged back into the bare knuckle fight game to fight the street fighting king Jack Wilson (Smith excellent). All this and matters of the heart are trying to be repaired. Clyde the orangutan is once again a ball of mischief fun making, while the crowning glory that is the big fight is superbly staged and prolonged for grand effect.

There's a wonderfully fruity section that sees parallel seductions going on - including Clyde and a lady orangutan - and there's actually some adult writing in how the fighters are shown to be compassionate men, as opposed to just being brainless thugs making a few bucks. It was another big hit at the box office, once again proving that sometimes theatre goers just want to leave the brain at the door and have a fun time of things. 7/10

In a way a good movie

[Fanatic_movie_goer · 5/10 · 19 October 2018]

Any which way you can is fairly good. I was more interested in Clyde than I was to Philo Beddoe. The movie had a plot but it wasn't well but out. There are so many sub-plots in the movie that I don't know what to say. If you like Clint's movies you have to watch this, at least once.

Clint Eastwood Superstar.

[Captain_Couth · 8/10 · 8 September 2005]

Any Which Way You Can (1980) was a sequel to the surprise hit EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE. Clint Eastwood returns as Philo Beddoe, the bare knuckle brawler who we last saw at a cross roads in his life. Suffering from a severe case of mid-life crisis, Philo is back on the mend. Fighting a few fights on the side trying to repair his reputation. Geoffery Lewis is back as Orville (sans Beverly D'Angelo) and so is Ma (Ruth Gordon). One day, Philo befriends a big dude (William Smith) who helps him out when he was cut in a jam. Not to long after, a couple of men from a local Crime Syndicate ask Philo to fight their prize champion. Will they make him an offer that he possibly can't refuse?

A fun sequel that's superior to the first film. A lot of key players return: Clyde, those lovable losers The Black Widows and Philo's former love interest returns with a different attitude and look on life (Sondra Locke). I prefer this movie much more than the previous outing. One of the few cases where the sequel is superior to the original.

Highly recommended.

The continued story of a man and his monkey.

[CaressofSteel75 · 6/10 · 28 November 2014]

It's hard to offer up too much of a defense for this movie, but I'm going to try. It's not high art, but it's still more fun than a lot of what's going on these days.

Of course, this is the sequel to Clint Eastwood's big hit, Every Which Way But Loose, and it's just the continued story of a bare knuckle prize fighter and his orangutan, Clyde.

The first one was actually pretty good as lightweight entertainment, but there's hardly enough meat there for a really good sequel. However, with that being said, if you enjoyed Every Which Way But Loose, you'll probably enjoy this one as well. It looks and feels mostly the same as the first one. Big Bill Smith is on board as a professional fighter brought in by the mob to take on Phyllo Beddoe. He's usually great to watch, and this movie is no exception.

There's some good fisticuffs, and the Black Widows are back as well. I've seen better sequels, but then again, I've seen a lot worse as well.

same old, same old

[tomimt · 3/10 · 31 July 2005]

After doing some hard boiled action movies Eastwood decided he was in need of a new image. So, from some reason unknown to mankind, he made couple of very badly aged action comedies in which he starred with an orangutan.

So, in Any Which Way You Can, a sequel to In Any Which Way But Loose, Eastwood returns as Philo, a fist fighting truck driver. All the familiar characters from previous film return, along with the idiotic motorcycle Nazis, who are sworn enemies of Philo.

Well, okay, this movie could have become a cult classic, but for that is far too badly made: script is poor, jokes miss more often than they hit, and the action scenes are just poorly made. Now only reason to watch this movie is that damned orangutan, and even that wont last for long.

As I did find this movie funny when I was a wee little kid (under ten) I might suspect that age group from 8 to 13 is most suitable for this flick. For adults I can see only the most hardcore Eastwood fans digging this one.