The film is ‘CHIPS’ and ‘CHIPS TV fans are poised to hate it

LOS ANGELES — Hardcore “CHIPS” fans hate it and the real California Highway Patrol seems not quite sure what to make of it.

But Larry Wilcox, who rode his motorcycle to everlasting fame in the old “CHIPS” TV series, says that for now, he’ll give the benefit of the doubt to “CHIPS,” the forthcoming film based loosely — very loosely — on the show that made him and Erik Estrada two of the biggest stars of the 1970s and early ‘80s.

“I have not seen the film but the trailers looked like a soft-porn version of ‘Dumb and Dumber,’” Wilcox said recently. “However, I hear the actors are both very talented and funny, so maybe it all works.”

Fans of the original “CHIPS,” still widely seen in reruns and on DVD, are far less forgiving. They’ve been posting angry messages all over the internet since the first trailers for the R-rated action comedy emerged, calling it garbage and disrespectful to police officers everywhere.

In a lengthy “open letter” to Dax Shepard, Sue Walsh of New York accuses the film’s writer, director and co-star of mocking the original show with a ridiculous remake filled with nudity, penis jokes and raunchy bathroom humor. (She left out big-breasted women but they’re in there, too.)

“’CHIPS’ was not just a ‘70s cop show. It wasn’t Shakespeare, no, but it did and does mean a whole lot to a whole lot of people,” said Walsh, who is organizing a 40th anniversary reunion of the show this fall that most of the original cast is expected to attend.

To understand why fans are so upset, one must remember what a gentle, family-oriented show “CHIPS” was.