Posted: Mon., Dec. 31, 1979, 11:00pm PT

Any Which Way You Can

By Variety Staff

Warner. Director Buddy Van Horn; Producer Fritz Manes; Writer Stanford Sherman; Camera David Worth Editor Ferris Webster, Ron Spang; Music Snuff Garrett (sup.) Art William J. Creber

Clint Eastwood Sondra Locke Ruth Gordon William Smith Harry Guardino Geoffrey Lewis

Any Which Way You Can is a benign continuation of Every Which Way But Loose.

Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, Ruth Gordon and numerous supporting players all repeat their characterizations from the first outing to similar effect. Main difference is that individuals this time seem almost forgiving, loving and considerate.

Eastwood's Philo Beddoe swears off his lucrative sideline career, better to settle down with Ma Gordon, a significantly tamed Locke and orangutan chum Clyde. However, the mob makes him an offer he can't refuse to battle he-man William Smith, and the two, despite having become good pals, end up in an epic brawl.

Original ape from Loose was not available to Eastwood here, but substitute performs heroically.

(Color) Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1980. Running time: 116 MIN.