If it ultimately descends into macho nonsense, then that's all part of the fun.
Comment
07/31/08
The Longest Yard (1974)
81
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:31
Fresh:25
Rotten:6
Average Rating:6.9/10
Consensus: Equal parts tough and funny, and led by a perfectly cast Burt Reynolds, The Longest Yard has an interesting political subtext and an excellent climax -- even if it takes too long to get there.
Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: In Robert Aldrich's crowd-pleasing classic, Burt Reynolds stars as convict Paul Crewe, a former football player doing time in a prison controlled by two authoritarian sports fanatics, warden Hazen... [More]
Starring: Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, Dino Washington, Ray Nitschke
Director: Robert Aldrich, Tracy Keenan Wynn
Reviews for The Longest Yard
Top CriticVery exciting, very witty, and elevated above its action-movie status by Aldrich's deliberate references to Nixon in Albert's characterisation of the warden.
02/09/06
Top CriticThe lengthy football game is one of the most enjoyable sporting events ever put on film.
01/08/02
Top CriticThat The Longest Yard is considered something of a classic is baffling...
05/28/05
Pardon me if I wasn't blown away by all its simplistic machinations and lighthearted appeal to one's baser instincts.
10/11/07
The film drags until it reaches the climactic football game, and the contest itself doesn’t justify the two-hour run.
06/02/05
Though The Yard is a terrible picture, I'll admit to having unwillingly enjoyed some of the football practice and parts of the final game -- even though it's much too long.
05/09/05
Top Critic...gives us a glance of Reynolds when he still had potential, before he totally gave himself over to grin and giggle junk.
07/31/02
It captures a genuine feeling of competition, even if the premise is more than a little preposterous.
04/11/01
Part prison film, part football film, this violent but outstanding comedy-drama by gifted action director Robert Aldrich explores the brutality inherent in both the American penal system and football.
03/21/07
Top CriticI hate football, but was still captivated by this film. Martha Stewart would say that this is, "a good thing."
11/22/02
A guilty-pleasure excursion with Reynolds in top form. Lots of fun.
08/15/02
his movie does for football and good sportsmanship what Paul Newman's Slapshot did for hockey.
12/08/02
No review available.
10/31/02
No review available.
02/20/04
The original has just the right mix of toughness and humor. Burt Reynolds was born to play incarcerated quarterback Paul Crewe.
02/18/06
One of Reynold's best roles and an agreeable comedy.
11/29/02
No review available.
07/07/05
One of Robert Aldrich's biggest hits, The Longest Yard (1974) combines his ferocious worldview with a new kind of rambunctious audience appeal...
05/30/05
No review available.
08/08/03
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