A musical comedy loosely based on real life events, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas revolves around a small town bordello run by Mona Stagley (Dolly Parton) that gets busted by Melvin, a showy TV reporter played by Dom DeLuise. The long-running bordello is part of the community heritage and protected by the city officials and its law enforcement led by the sheriff (Burt Reynolds)

My expectations for the movie were extra low, but I have to hand it to The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas for surpassing them. The dance and music numbers are refreshingly original, many shots and cuts are well thought out and inventive and there’s just a good amount of good mood and thought work put into most aspects in the production.

My biggest beef with the movie is that I’m always having a hard time trying to stomach Reynolds with his facial hair, chest rug and cocky smile. There’s a lot of half-naked Burt here, but luckily also much more to warrant sitting through the film.

80s-o-meter: 72%

Total: 65%