Any Which Way You Can

Any Which Way You Can. 1980 Warner Bros. Pictures.
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, Ruth Gordon, William Smith, Jim Stafford
Director: Buddy Van Horn
Available from Amazon as a single DVD, or part of a Triple Feature with Every Which Way But Loose and Honkytonk Man.

Philo Beddoe (Eastwood) is still engaging in bare-knuckle fights, but decides to call it quits after the realization that he's starting to enjoy the pain. He and Orville (Lewis) decide it's time to end his career.

On the East Coast, Jack Wilson (Smith) is a rapidly rising fighter who mixes martial arts with boxing, and he is considered dangerous enough that his handlers cannot find any opponents for him. One night at a cockfight, one of Wilson's handlers suggests matching him up with Philo, who would most likely accept the challenge to what could be the biggest draw in the history of bare-knuckle fighting. To ensure that Philo does accept, they kidnap his old love interest Lynn Halsey-Taylor (Locke). Wilson hears of the plot and helps Philo and Orville rescue Lynn, and decides that they really don't need to fight to prove the better man. They still have a long battle, mostly out of personal pride, and to answer the question about who would actually win. Philo wins, despite suffering a broken arm. Wilson helps him to the hospital, and they later have a beer with their friends at a bar.

The Black Widows also return, still seeking revenge on Philo for destroying their bikes in the previous film. Again, Philo bests the gang after they have a run-in with a well placed asphalt machine on a road construction site. Despite all this, the Black Widows acknowledge Philo as the better fighter, and place their bets on him. When the mobsters who arranged the fight try to kill Philo once he gained the upper hand against Wilson, the Black Widows attack and beat them up, protecting their investment. After the fight ends, Philo and the Black Widows make peace.

Oh yes, we can't forget. Clyde the orangutan also returns for this sequel.

Recommended. I didn't think this one was either a superior or inferior sequel to the original movie.