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Any Which Way You Can
1980 115 min United States of America PG 12+
★5.6
Action, Adventure, Comedy
Director: Buddy Van Horn
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Philo takes part in a bare knuckle fight – as he does – to make more money than he can earn from his car repair business. He decides to retire, but when the Mafia come along and arrange another fight, he's pushed into it. A motorcycle gang and an orangutan called Clyde all add to the 'fun'.
Budget:
$15M
US Gross:
$70.69M
Worldwide:
$70.69M
Starring
Clint Eastwood
Actor
Sondra Locke
Actor
Geoffrey Lewis
Actor
Awards
2 wins & 2 nominations total
Key opinion
Any Which Way You Can is a lighthearted sequel that relies heavily on the established formula of its predecessor, blending physical comedy with bare-knuckle brawls. While some viewers appreciate its playful satire and the return of the charismatic lead, others criticize it as a repetitive and poorly constructed retread that lacks the heart of the original.
| Originality | The film functions as a direct continuation of the first entry, mirroring its tone, plot structure, and reliance on the recurring orangutan gimmick. | |
| Direction | The climactic bare-knuckle fight is executed with effective, prolonged staging that serves as a highlight for the action sequences. | |
| Humor | The comedy is polarized; some viewers find the slapstick and parody of genre tropes genuinely funny, while others find the humor forced and nonsensical. | |
| Acting | Opinions on the lead performance are divided, with some praising Clint Eastwood's comfortable comedic persona and others finding the overall acting performances forgettable or inconsistent. | |
| Theme | The film's quality is a subject of dispute; supporters view it as an endearing piece of light entertainment, whereas detractors condemn it for betraying the character development established in the first film. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is contested, with some finding the runtime perfectly suited for its light tone, while others feel the film drags and fails to maintain engagement. |