Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.0 |
| Video |  | 4.0 |
| Audio | | 4.0 |
| Extras | | 3.0 |
| Overall |  | 3.5 |
Gator Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 16, 2014
A sequel to 1973’s “White Lightning,” 1976’s “Gator” arrives with full confidence that the audience is ready to accept the franchise’s brand of violence and southern-tinged comedy. However, “White Lightning” was raw and hungry to please viewers, presenting a nimble version of Reynolds, still in the infancy of his massive fame. “Gator” arrives in the midst of the actor’s heyday, and while it isn’t a lazy performance, the Reynolds (who also directs) featured here is a bit too comfortable, failing to reignite the flame of machismo that served the character so well before. Aggressive in fits, but in desperate need of a tighter edit, “Gator” fails to build on the achievements of its predecessor.
Free from prison and suddenly in charge of his daughter, Gator is older and wiser in the sequel, with Reynolds dialing down the impish behavior that made the character so compelling in the previous picture. “Gator” follows this lead, trying to make something out of a tepid plot when all anyone really wants to see is stuntman Hal Needham wreck cars and boats in big chase sequences. To this extent, “Gator” is successful, presenting harrowing action scenes that showcase a few near-misses, adding genuine thrills to the effort. At nearly two hours in length, there’s not enough of the rough stuff to keep blood pumping throughout the film, but Reynolds at least makes an attempt to rile up the work, possibly understanding that the screenplay is devoid of interesting conflict.
Gator Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (2.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation carries a different vibe than "White Lightning." The viewing experience here is crisper and brighter, though the BD retains a cinematic feel, capturing fine detail on faces and decorated interiors, even through inherent cinematographic softness. Colors are appealing, offering a nice read of reds and period-appropriate shades of browns, and skintones keep their natural look. Blacks offer agreeable delineation. Aside from some mild speckling, no overt damage is detected.
Gator Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix handles surges in screen chaos with adequate comfort, finding encounters with helicopters and cars blunt but manageable. Dialogue exchanges are clean and crisp, exploring accents and tempers with care. Scoring is fresh and supportive, while soundtrack cuts offer satisfactory instrumentation.
Gator Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- "Back to the Bayou: Part 2" (10:22, HD) returns to Burt Reynolds, who chats up his directorial debut. Sharing his love for Georgia and the cast, the star is quite enamored with "Gator," also offering some interesting anecdotes concerning Laruen Hutton's desire to flash the crew any chance she could get. Reynolds is joined briefly by actors Dudley Remus and Patrick Moody.
- And a Theatrical Trailer (1:09, HD) is included, though it suffers from transfer issues.
Gator Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Jerry Reed makes for a passable villain, and the conclusion of the picture is refreshingly bittersweet, daring to leave the audience on a down note. However, "Gator" doesn't match the fury of "White Lightning," missing edge and timing. Moments of comedy fail, darkness isn't all that threatening, but when "Gator" sets off on a chase, that's where the real pleasures of the series come alive.
