Saturday, October 4, 2014

Blu-ray Review - A Million Ways To Die In The West



A Million Ways To Die In The West
UNRATED
Director: Seth MacFarlane
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Liam Neeson, Neil Patrick Harris, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Retail: $34.98
ASIN: B00KM9MP9I
Running Time: 116 minutes (Theatrical Version) - 135 minutes (Unrated Version)
Rated: R
Buy Links: Blu-ray, DVD

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD on October 7, 2014 is the comedy-western A Million Ways To Die In The West. The film is co-written and directed by Seth MacFarlane, who happens to play the main character. Special Features include a Gag Reel, A Fistful of Dirt ... In Your Mouth and a Feature Commentary. Blu-ray Exclusive extras include the UNRATED Version, Alternate Opening & Ending; Deleted, Extended & Alternate Scenes; Once Upon a Time in a Different West and UNRATED Feature Commentary.

A Million Ways To Die In The West centers on Albert Stark (played by Seth MacFarlane), a sheep farmer living in the small town of Old Stump in the year 1882. He becomes known as a coward to the townsfolk when he talks his way out of a gunfight, which embarrasses his girlfriend Louise (played by Amanda Seyfried). She quickly dumps him for Foy (played by Neil Patrick Harris). Feeling like a loser, Albert shelters himself from the town that is until his best-friend Edward (played by Giovanni Ribisi) and his prostitute girlfriend Ruth (played by Sarah Silverman) try to encourage him to start dating again.

Meanwhile, Anna Barnes-Leatherwood (played by Charlize Theron) is fed up with her murderer boyfriend, Clinch Leatherwood (played by Liam Neeson) and arrives in Old Stump to lie low. She is accompanied by one of her husband's men, Lewis (played by Evan Jones). When Lewis gets arrested for murder, Anna runs into Albert and they start an unlikely friendship when Albert challenges Foy to a duel, but there is one problem - Albert doesn't know how to shoot.

Luckily for Albert, Anna knows a thing or two about gun-fighting and agrees to help him learn how to shoot that is until her husband and his gang strolls into town to retrieve her.


Though I enjoy watching Family Guy from time to time, I didn't care much for MacFarlane's Ted, despite it's critical-appraise and box-office gross. Therefore, I didn't know what to expect from his second directorial outing. Surprisingly, minus the juvenile humor, A Million Ways To Die In The West, was better than what I expected it would be, reminding me at times of the classsic Mel Brook's film, Blazing Saddles. Yes, the film is slightly two long, especially the UNRATED version, but it is actually funny for the most part. MacFarlane does a decent job of acting thanks to being surround by a great supportive cast and several cameos. Overall, A Million Ways To Die In The West is an underrated comedy. Sure, there are several crude jokes (some a little bland), but it is still entertaining.


*Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.




No comments:

Post a Comment

I adore reading reader feedback! I will, however, remove all spam and pointless comments.

Please take note that I have the right to delete comments from this site. Please only post constructive and respectful feedback.