Uphill All the Way (1986)

Uphill All the Way: Directed by Frank Q. Dobbs. With Roy Clark, Mel Tillis, Burl Ives, Glen Campbell. Two unemployed good ol’ boys are mistaken for a pair of notorious bank robbers.

“This is a movie, which by any standard – whether the top rating is 4 or 5 stars, or 10 stars, or even 100 stars, rates a score of u0026quot;1.u0026quot;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBoth leads – Tillis and Clark – have had their own theaters in Branson, and both are extremely talented and engaging performers. Having lived in that area for several years, I had occasions to see both performing in their theaters, and to meet both at civic/charity events in Branson. In-person, both are also friendly, affable men – not always the case with prominent performers.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, watching them act in a full-length movie, is akin to having to watch and listen to, say, Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman deliver a full-length concert singing 10 or 15 songs each. It would be enjoyable to see Mel and Roy u0026quot;acting,u0026quot; or Robert and Dustin u0026quot;singing,u0026quot; say, in a 10-minute SNL or MAD TV skit, or some similar venue, for the pure humor – but not for an hour-and-a-half or more.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBoost this one from its deserved single star to three – one additional for each of the leads, based on their career histories, and at least an affable approach to the on-screen proceedings.”