It's certainly crudely made, however, with Eddie Albert overplaying by even the broadest standards, and Aldrich cutting to him for reaction shots that have all the visual interest of stones hitting one on the head.

| Sep 25, 2023

One of the best and brightest films on Burt's resume.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | May 31, 2023

Part of the problem is its length. At just over two hours, the final act drags like an actual football game playing out in real time.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 29, 2022

The Longest Yard" somehow became an iconic sports comedy without being particularly funny or containing any compelling football.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 10, 2020

Part burlesque, part social commentary, it's a full out entertainment movie, saved from quick money facileness by the extraordinary "bad boy" comedy performance by Burt Reynolds and the quirky, offbeat direction of Robert Aldrich.

| Dec 11, 2019

An outstanding action drama, combining the brutish excitement of football competition with the brutalities of contemporary prison life.

| Aug 4, 2008

What saves it, aside from good performances by Burt Reynolds and a thundering herd of supporting grotesques, is, of all things, a tough, tiny nut of valid social criticism.

| Aug 4, 2008

If it ultimately descends into macho nonsense, then that's all part of the fun.

| Jul 31, 2008

Pardon me if I wasn't blown away by all its simplistic machinations and lighthearted appeal to one's baser instincts.

| Original Score: C+ | Oct 11, 2007

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.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Mar 21, 2007

The original has just the right mix of toughness and humor. Burt Reynolds was born to play incarcerated quarterback Paul Crewe.

| Original Score: B+ | Feb 18, 2006

Very exciting, very witty, and elevated above its action-movie status by Aldrich's deliberate references to Nixon in Albert's characterisation of the warden.

| Feb 9, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 7, 2005

The football sequences are excellent, which makes sense given that half of the actors were college or pro ballers themselves.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 5, 2005

Aldrich...created Paul Crewe just as much as Reynolds did.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 3, 2005

The film drags until it reaches the climactic football game, and the contest itself doesn't justify the two-hour run.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Jun 2, 2005

One of Robert Aldrich's biggest hits, The Longest Yard (1974) combines his ferocious worldview with a new kind of rambunctious audience appeal...

| May 30, 2005

That The Longest Yard is considered something of a classic is baffling...

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 28, 2005

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.

| Original Score: 1.5/5 | May 9, 2005

Aldrich's film is most alive during the team recruitment scenes.

| Original Score: B+ | May 4, 2005