Most probably capitalizing on the success of Burt Reynolds' Smokey and the Bandit, Clint Eastwood's Every Which Way But Loose finds Eastwood taking a break from Dirty Harry and the Man With No Name, just plain having a good time.

Eastwood stars as Philo Beddoe, the legendary bare-knuckled fighter who also happens to be charming, funny, laid-back, and cool. Philo is leading a nice, modest life until he falls for a waif-like singer named Halsey Taylor (Sondra Locke), who makes off with some cash and heads east across the Southwest. Philo hops into his truck with his buddy Orville (Geoffrey Lewis) and, of course, his orangutan Clyde, and together they drive off toward Denver, where—coincidentally—one of the greatest brawlers, Tank Murdock, reigns. Along the way, they encounter all sorts of buffoon bikers and stupid, fat cops, all in the interest of giving Philo some punching bags. A side plot focuses on Orville's ornery Ma, whom Ruth Gordon plays to the hilt.

The scenes of bare-fisted fighting have a nice energy, mostly the result of the camera work. Much of the time, the point of view is Philo's opponent, so those fists really come flying at you. I wonder what this film would have been like in 3D.

Still, be prepared for some juvenile fun and not much more. Every Which Way But Loose doesn't pretend to be a project of much significance—just a bunch of buddies having fun. You probably will too.

Warner presents Every Which Way But Loose in a new anamorphic-widescreen transfer of the film's original 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio. The image is surprisingly sharp and detailed, offering accurate, warm colors. I noticed no edge enhancement.

The disc's remixed Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack offers a fine audio presentation. Although it's not an incredibly dynamic track, there is more use of the front soundstage and rear speakers than I expected. Incidental sound effects find their way frequently to the surround speakers. Also, Philo's wicked punches pack a mean bass wallop. Dialog is clear and accurate.

The meager supplements include a Cast & Crew section that includes a Clint Eastwood filmography, a text-based Behind the Scenes section, and the Theatrical Trailer.

Although Every Which Way But Loose doesn't represent Eastwood as his best, it's a fun ride at the movies. Warner's DVD image/sound presentation is excellent, but some significant extras would have been welcome.