A Million Ways to Die in the West Review

RYAN: I’ve been super excited about this movie coming out because I truly adore Seth MacFarlane.  The trailer is brilliant and I couldn’t wait to see it.  I’m a little underwhelmed by it, however, in comparison to what my expectations were and to his last film, Ted, but it’s still so much Seth’s style, sensibility and brand of humor.  There are a lot of great moments that make it fun.

CHUCK: I’ve also been anticipating this movie for a while.  It’s such a great cast all together and the cameos are fantastic.

RYAN: They’re the best cameos in a movie in over a decade!  They’re so hilarious and random and quick.

CHUCK: So unexpected.  I agree with you, though.  There was something lacking from it and it may be that it dragged at certain points, so the length may be an issue.

RYAN: One thing that’s similar between this movie and Ted (which I found more cinematic and ambitious) is that they both jump tone throughout the film, turning darker at the end and let’s face it – he’s a TV guy.  He write half our episodes and this movie felt like three or four episodes put together.

CHUCK: That’s a really good way of putting it.  I didn’t notice the tonal changes as much but it definitely sped up toward the end like they had to wrap it up.  I still really, really liked it.  It’s a big-hearted romantic story but then also really gross.

RYAN: It puts the wild in the wild west.  It’s sick and perverted in moments.  There are some oil special effects but the real star of the film is in the writing and the casting.  I loved his rapport with Charlize Theron.  She elevated his performance.  He’s good but she’s so great that she made him a better actor.

CHUCK: She’s so effortless.  And I liked that they put modern-day language in the wild, wild west but it was normal talk.

RYAN: I found that to be one of the funniest things about the film – putting contemporary language and behavior in that setting was genius.  Neil Patrick Harris is again a scene stealer.  Everything he does just makes you think he’s underrated or something.  He’s so friggin’ talented.  I’m continually impressed with him.  Sadly, though, he falls victim to my biggest complaint with the film which is all the toilet humor.  I always hate that.  It’s not funny.    What are we – in second grade?  Is farting really still funny?  Cheap.

CHUCK: Yeah it pushed the line couple times and then one time actually stepped over it.

RYAN: Disgusting.

CHUCK: You know going in that there would be things like that.

RYAN: There were a couple times I jumped out of my seat because things pop out of left field in this movie – more than even in a horror movie – like a bull running into frame out of nowhere! My heart was racing.

CHUCK: I am getting tired of trailer ruining the best parts of movies and that happened a little bit here.

RYAN: Totally agree.  I wish I hadn’t seen this trailer ahead of time, but I couldn’t resist.

CHUCK: But the movie would have been funnier if we hand’t seen it because all those funny moments… you just don’t laugh at them in the movie then.

RYAN: Loved the one musical number, which by the way, the song could get an Oscar nom… so funny.  But Sarah Silverman, getting away with only what Sarah Silverman can.

CHUCK: …with a dimple.  She and Giovanni Ribisi were so cute together.

RYAN: There are absolutely brilliant, fun, hilarious, outrageous moments, but overall it’s not a must see on the big screen.

Thanks For Viewing The A Million Ways to Die in the West Review