Do you want to watch a western comedy that is packed with jokes about farts, sex, and manages to offend every minority? “A Million Ways to Die in the West” is the film for you!
Seth MacFarlane’s “A Million Ways to Die in the West” opened this weekend to a disappointing $17.1 million, coming in third behind Disney’s “Maleficent".
“A Million Ways to Die in the West”, which starred MacFarlane himself, brought laughs but overall was a disappointment in terms of a 'laughing out loud' comedy.
The film tells the story of a courage-less sheep farmer, Albert Stark (Seth MacFarlane), in Arizona in 1882. Albert loses his girlfriend Louise (Amanda Seyfried) to a mustache shop owner, Foy (Neil Patrick Harris) as a result of his withdrawal from a duel.
 |
| Official Movie Poster |
Soon after, he meets Anna (Charlize Theron) who helps him regain his courage to win back Louise. Albert and Anna begin to have feelings for eachother when Anna’s husband, the infamous outlaw Clinch Leatherwood (Liam Neeson) arrives in town. Clinch wants Albert dead for his relationship with his wife.
Starring as the lead role wasn't the only thing MacFarlane did. The “A Million Ways to Die in the West” star also wrote, directed, and produced the film.
MacFarlane, who is most known as the creator of “Family Guy” and “Ted”, provides plenty of crude jokes in the film and manages to offend just about every religion, race, and ethnic group.
“A Million Ways to Die in the West” wasn't received well by critics either. The film currently has a 34 percent rating on the popular review website, Rotten Tomatoes.
Los Angeles Times film reviewer, Betsy Sharkey said, "MacFarlane is a very funny dude, and there are times A Million Ways to Die is indeed funny. But too often the movie feels half-baked.”
“The deeper problem is the way the director uses political incorrectness like a blunt instrument. Mocking convention, religion, ethnicities, etc., is a long comic tradition and, well done, it can provide insight and laughs. But the pejorative way 'West' floats the references is problematic rather than provocative,” said Sharkey.
Some movie goers on the other hand seemed to enjoy the film, "Seth MacFarlane was brilliant in this movie. It was like he plucked himself from today and went back in time with the knowledge of now," said LBCC student, Carmen Fraijo.
"Seth being Seth, poop and poop noises and sheep penis' are scattered around actually helping the plot be more entertaining. Every point he makes about how bad the Old West was is scarily accurate and really let's you stop romanticizing things like 'Little House on the Prairie'."
LBCC first-year student, Christine Turner said, "I think the film definitely fit the western comedy genre. It related more towards "Blazing Saddles" than it did "Ted" to me. Seth MacFarlane lets his own personality shine through."
Personally, “West” offers you a good chuckle but nothing that you wouldn't have seen in the trailer for it. This is one of those films where the trailer had all the good parts in it. Some people loved the movie and thought the jokes were hysterical. I wouldn't pay $10 to see it again.
Bottom Line: Unless you enjoy jokes about sex, diarrhea, and farts, The raunchy pic isn't worth the $10 movie ticket. Save your money and wait until the film goes to Redbox and rent it for $1.50.
“A Million Ways to Die in The West” - Currently In Theaters
Starring: Seth MacFarlane ("Family Guy", "Ted")
Amanda Seyfried ("Mean Girls", "Dear John")
Charlize Theron ("Hancock", "The Italian Job")
Liam Neeson ("Taken", "Schindler's List")
Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother", "Doogie Howser")
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Seth MacFarlane
Running Time: 116 Minutes
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
