If you will recall, last year I posted about the impending release of the new Dukes of Hazard movie. Due to the relentless march of time, they movie is almost here and, from the movie trailer I can see that my prediction of “the most sucktacular movie of all time” seems to be safe. Every scene in the trailer that includes Jessica Simpson’s Daisy is full of raunchy double-entendre that I’m quite sure Simpson herself did not really understand. And there are several clips in which “Stifler” and Knoxville, playing the Duke boys, seem to have left the set of the Dukes of Hazard and stumbled onto the set of American Pie 4.

Now, I have to confess something here. It’s not easy for me to admit, being a hard core geek, but when I was a young niblet, I was a huge Dukes fan. As I gained wisdom with age, I learned that “red neck” is not a desirable title and shed almost all vestiges of the lifestyle… almost. I’m still a NASCAR fan and have a favorite driver, even though I can’t help but make fun of the ridiculous southern accent that is the language of NASCAR.

I do still have some respect for the original TV series and I take it seriously when one of the original cast members cuts loose on the Hollywood version. Ben Jones played the lovable Cooter on the TV series (and was later elected to Congress… wow). He now runs a Dukes of Hazard museum and is the most outspoken of the original cast. He posted a news item on his web site concerning the new movie and I think it needs to be shared. You can read the entire post here.

The folks who love our show have kept it alive and well, despite the lack of respect it has been shown by “Hollywood” … The “Dukes” movie is a sleazy insult to all of us who have cared about the “Dukes of Hazzard” … Ours is a classic family show with positive values, great action, wonderful slapstick comedy, mighty fine country music, and a very gifted cast who had great chemistry … I haven’t seen the film, but I have read the script, I’ve talked to a lot of people who worked on the set, and I’ve seen the raunchy t.v. commercial. Frankly, I think the whole project shows an arrogant disrespect for our show, for our cast, for America’s families, and for the sensibilities of the heartland of our country. Unless they clean it up before the August 5th release date I would strongly recommend that true blue Dukes fans hold their noses and pass this one up. And whatever you do, don’t take any youngsters to see it. As plain as I can put it, the only thing this movie shares with our show is the title.

So there you have it. Cooter says, “No!” and I am inclined to agree.