Smokey and the Bandit II the Bandit to sober up, since Big Enos has raised the stakes to $400,000. Frog abandons her second attempt at marrying Buford T. Justice's son Junior. She is initially persuaded more by the money than her love for Bandit. She buys him a 1980 Pontiac Trans Am named "Son of Trigger," powered by the Pontiac 301 Turbo, by trading in Junior's car. A race ensues as the trio once again tries to outrun and outwit Justice and Junior. They make it to Miami with little trouble, even fooling a Florida Highway Patrol speedtrap along the way. Their cargo is in
Burt Reynolds by Merrick, who fired and then rehired director Don Siegel during filming. Reynolds had two huge hits with car films directed by Needham, "Smokey and the Bandit II" (1980) and "The Cannonball Run" (1981). He starred in David Steinberg's film "Paternity" (1981) and directed himself in a tough action film, "Sharky's Machine" (1981). Reynolds wanted to try a musical again and so agreed to do "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982). It was a hit, as was "Best Friends" (1982) with Goldie Hawn. In 1982, Reynolds was voted the most popular star in the US for the fifth year