1971's COLD TURKEY is a pretty funny look at what happens when a major tobacco company's head of advertising (Bob Newhart in hilarious, manic form) proposes to give any town in America $25 million if they can all stop smoking for 30 days. Eagle Rock, Iowa is JUST the town to do it. Led by Reverend Clayton Brooks (Dick Van Dyke playing against type and damn good at it), Eagle Rock's band of hard smoking citizens all sign up for the challenge. Director & Writer Normal Lear (All in the Family creator and TV genius) whips up a dark, funny mix of characters and cuts them loose, led by Jean Stapleton (Edith Bunker) as Mrs. Wappler, who trades cigs for food, Barnard Hughes as Dr. Proctor, who has never operated without a cig and comedy legends Bob & Ray, who play virtually every 70's TV anchor in some of the funniest parts of the movie. Judith Lowry plays old lady Odie, who must be the nastiest 90 year old woman every put on film. She steals almost every scene she's in and must also hold the record for the number of times "Bulls@*t" has been said by one character on film. Pretty fun to see how dark we liked our comedies 43 years ago! COLD TURKEY is a fun flick from the past and puffs it's way to a B.
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