The man around whom this movie had been constructed, Seth McFarlane, does not make his character neither lovable nor pitiful. Comedy Western As a cowardly farmer begins to fall for the mysterious new woman in town, he must put his newly found courage to the test when her husband, a notorious gun-slinger, announces his arrival. Editor: Jeff Freeman Thanks to the appearances of Sam Jones, Ryan Reynolds and Ted Danson in Ted, not to mention the hundreds of celebrity voices who have done guest spots on Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show, we fully expected that Seth MacFarlanes A Million Ways To Die In The West would feature some interesting cameos, and we were not disappointed. In a rare display of nerve, Albert challenges Foy to a duel; as Anna offers him the gunslinger lessons that will inevitably lead to love, the films supporting cast all but vanishes from the film. A Million Ways to Die in the West: Official Clip - He Drank the Whole Bowl! I don't know how long this took to film but everyone in it could have made better use of their time had they stood around and chucked rocks down a sink hole. Development for A Million Ways to Die in the West began while MacFarlane and co-writers Sulkin and Wild were watching western movies during the development of Ted. This wasnt always the case with the film, however, as its been revealed that the Western comedy has an ending that wasnt shown in theaters. Seth MacFarlanes new comedy A Million Ways To Die In The West doesnt really feature much of a conclusion for the characters played by Neil Patrick Harris and Amanda Seyfried. In his newest work, Seth MacFarlane made a desperate attempt to create a melting pot of whatever he could find related to Wild West and wrap it up in a humor that pushed the bar of what can be considered as toilet, racist and purely disgusting humor. I typically don't write reviews on this website, but this movie was so terrible (in my humble opinion), I decided this was the time to start sharing. It's made worse by the fact the person claims they're not a Seth McFarlane fan and then immediately gushing about his hilarious history. A Million Ways to Die in the West | Apple TV [19] On February 11, it was announced Amanda Seyfried had joined the film. | A Million Ways to Die in the West $3.99 $14.99 Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping. The central dynamic is simply a lazy and boring regurgitation of the Judd Apatow formula - namely a romance in which a schlubby, incompetent, shallow and cretinous guy ends up with the beautiful, smart, resourceful woman for no good reason. The decision to make Albert a sheepherder was inspired by Montana (1950) and his average, non-confrontational demeanor by 3:10 to Yuma (1957). He's not good enough as a romantic lead to anchor a picture. The romance plot could hardly be more familiar, but at least it plays out against a landscape so dramatic one almost suspects the filmmakers composited a few extra sandstone formations into Monument Valley. "So when Seth called me to ask if I'd do (the movie), I said, 'I'll do it on condition that I do it in a very broad Irish accent.' "[53] "While the whole thing feels weirdly miscalculated to me, A Million Ways to Die in the West tweaks the formula just enough, delivers a few laughs and keeps the guest stars coming," wrote Salon columnist Andrew O'Hehir. He loses his love Louise (Amanda Seyfried) to Foy (Neil Patrick Harris). A decade-plus CinemaBlend veteran who is endlessly enthusiastic about the career hes dreamt of since seventh grade. [58], Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune criticized MacFarlane's acting and direction as: "A failure of craft. [25] On May 29, 2013, MacFarlane announced that Bill Maher had joined the cast. The pile of garbage this unfunny crock of bullpucky truly is. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Seth MacFarlane as writer, director, producer and so-called actor of this unfunny, boring mess has proved with this one undertaking that he is a quadruple waste of time. Watch A Million Ways To Die In The West: Anna Tries To Teach Albert How To Shoot, Watch A Million Ways To Die In The West: Foy Mocks Albert On Their Way To The Shooting Gallery, Watch A Million Ways To Die In The West: Anna Meets Albert At The Dance. A Million Ways to Die in the West Seth MacFarlane 3.45 2,009 ratings318 reviews Want to read Kindle $4.99 Rate this book "A Million Ways to Die in the West" pays homage to the traditional Western with a modern comic spin, following a cowardly farmer who seeks the help of a gunslinger's wife to win back the woman who left him. For some, he is a witty, ingenious writer and performer with a gift for puncturing egos; for others, he is nasty, derivative, mean-spirited and crass, whose work lacks the narrative coherency of his betters. The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics, with criticism for its length, screenplay, humor and MacFarlane's performance and directing. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Fails to mine a ripe genre. But Macfarlane shows us far too much, repeating the same joke over and over without progressing the scene, and then giving us the totally unnecessarily close-up of the hat full of faeces. I might see this appealing to pubescent boys trying to impress each other but the lack of anything other than bathroom humor for shock value should be embarrassing for the producers. It's so hopelessly bad. In 1882, in the town of Old Stump, Arizona, timid sheep farmer Albert Stark's girlfriend Louise breaks up with him because of his refusal to defend himself in a duel. What may surprise you, however, is that one of the funniest in the film was neither in the script nor Seth MacFarlanes idea. All A Million Ways to Die in the West Videos. [47], A Million Ways to Die in the West received mixed to negative reviews from critics. A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014) Trailers and Clips Even though I knew that he could not be killed, being the corner stone of the movie, I was secretly wishing for his character to die a horrible death some of the supporting characters were suffering. [46] The Blu-ray release contains an unrated version (135 minutes), along with the original theatrical cut (116 minutes). The great comedy westerns of old, like Blazing Saddles, soared because their stories and characters worked on their own merits without them having to constantly try and be funny. Had Macfarlane put in the hard yards, showing the growing ingenuity and self-respect of Albert, this development would have made much more sense and felt cathartic. Albert loses, but Anna steps in and defeats Foy. Here's the official synopsis: After a cowardly sheep farmer backs out of a gunfight, his fickle girlfriend leaves him for another man. Most of the biggest gags in A Million Ways - in other words, the ones that made the trailer - are lowest common denominator fare designed to get a quick shock and a shameful laugh. Clinch, having regained consciousness, tracks down Anna to the farm, but Albert helps her escape, then escapes himself. The comparison does not do A Million Ways to Die in the West much good, but it also reminds us that it's been 20 years between drinks in a genre that is anything but crowded. I quit about 10 minutes in. It's as if a bunch of dirty-minded, foul-mouth juveniles got together and decided to make a movie and put in it every goofy, dirty, idiotic, dumb idea and utterance they could think of. Just confirm how you got your ticket. MacFarlane's take on the Western is considerably tamer than that of earlier smart-aleck postmodernists. Explained the director, "We needed Liams character to kill a guy in the saloon to scare everybody and we thought, well this Ryan Reynolds thing in Ted went over so well. [32] A portion of the Back to the Future theme by Alan Silvestri is used during Christopher Lloyd's cameo. In hindsight, it was a very bad idea to allow Macfarlane to direct, produce, write and star in this film. Company Credits My husband walked out of the room. I hope I will forget it fast. It was so painful to watch that I found myself watching most scenes between my fingers like I was at a scary horror flick. The sad thing is not only was it not funny the first time they chose to do it again and again in different ways. Albert Stark is a soft man in hard times who is trying to figure out how to escape this godforsaken frontier that seems to be trying to kill him-and everyone else in it-at every turn. When a sheep herder who hates the West saves a young lady during a bar fight they strike up a friendship that helps him gain some self-confidence. It turns out that Clinch rides back into town to seek revenge when he learns that a cowardly farmer (Seth MacFarlane) is striking up a relationship with wife Anna (Charlize Theron). A Million Ways to Die in the West (novel) - Wikipedia He stopped by the Million Ways To Die In. ", "IFMCA: the International Film Music Critics Association IFMCA Winners 2014", "RAZZIES Celebrate 35 Years of Worst Achievements in Film with Inclusive Nominee List and New "Redeemer" Award", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_Million_Ways_to_Die_in_the_West&oldid=1151982839, "If Youve Only Got a Moustache" (composed by, Christopher Hagen as George Stark, Albert's abusive father, Dylan Kenin as Pastor's Son, who is killed by Lewis in the bar, This page was last edited on 27 April 2023, at 12:48. Director Seth MacFarlane Writers Seth MacFarlane Alec Sulkin Wellesley Wild Stars Seth MacFarlane Charlize Theron Liam Neeson Link to Are You There God? "[14] MacFarlane, a lifelong fan of westerns, began researching the topic, using Jeff Guinn's nonfiction novel, The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. [18] Theron later revealed that she "begged" for her role, as she wanted the opportunity to work in comedy. A Million Ways to Die in the West, review - Seth MacFarlane's first Producers: Jason Clark, Seth MacFarlane, Scott Stuber But when she leaves him for the more successful and handsome owner of a moustachery store, Albert returns to his lonely daily life of trying to avoid death. Still, there's always Ted 2 to look forward to. Mel Brooks understood that comedy is often borne out of human misery, and used even its silliest moments to poke fun at Western stereotypes. Rumors Swirled Ash Williams Would Appear In Mortal Kombat. The same goes for the so-called climax, where Albert outwits Clinch in the final duel. The sooner Macfarlane makes Ted 2 and redeems himself the better. We can make a fresh start here. And you cut to these two Mexican guys and one is like, More assholes from across the border. The longer the film drags on (and at nearly two hours, it. Watch A Million Ways to Die in the West | Netflix the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. "[50] Another review aggregation website, Metacritic, gave a score of 44 out of 100, based on reviews from 43 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". The top review is "Don't follow the sheep on here". Director: Seth MacFarlane Lewis and Anna arrive in Old Stump under the guise of two siblings intending to build a farm, but Lewis is arrested after shooting the pastor's son in a saloon fight. "His main character, the little fat father in 'Family Guy,' they were making fun 'Imagine Liam Neeson being in a Western. In spite of all this, it would be wrong to describe A Million Ways as an abject failure. His character, Albert, lives in the West where everything and everyone is deadly. Here are your picks for the Best of the Capital Region 2023 Albert, who has decided that Louise is not worth fighting for, forfeits anyway. "And I thought, 'No, they're not going to shoot this. I'm appalled. All I can say is--if this is considered a successful or even an entertaining movie, then what is this country coming to? [42] In its second weekend, the film dropped to number five, grossing an additional $7.3 million. Inside the 'Million Ways to Die in the West' Premiere': Bluegrass, Mallets and Seth MacFarlane The Western-themed afterparty in Westwood featured music from American Primitive and attracted. Louise attempts to win back Albert, but he rejects her and instead happily enters into a relationship with Anna, who becomes his new girlfriend. Equally, he could have taken Liam Neeson's ruthless, lugubrious villain and subverted the concept, making him a complete coward or someone who is misunderstood. He can't set up a visual joke properly without resorting to head-butting and bone-crunching, and he doesn't know how, or when, to move his camera. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! One Cameo In A Million Ways To Die In The West Was Even A Surprise To What Does Bruce Campbell Think About A Crossover? "[63] Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal too found the film's length "exhausting," noting, "Some of it sputters, settling for smiles instead of laughs, and much of it flounders while the slapdash script searches [] for ever more common denominators in toilet humor. It's a tale of the good, the bad and the funny in Liam Neeson's new comedy, "A Million Ways to Die in the West." This was one of the worst movies I have seen in years. Even a 1 star rating will not do, for all the other actors who appeared in it, why did you even consider THIS script? Frequently bought together + + Total price: This item: A Million Ways to Die in the West [DVD] by Seth MacFarlane DVD $6.99 O Brother, Where Art Thou? Add Redbox. This is the same game at which Foy had earlier defeated Albert and Anna had then defeated Foy. English, Director: From now on I will trust my gut feeling because this was a debacle from start to finish. [3], The film grossed $16.8 million in its opening weekend, finishing in third place at the box office behind fellow newcomer Maleficent and the previous weekend's opener X-Men: Days of Future Past. A Million Ways to Die in the West - Roku Before he attempts to rape her, she knocks him unconscious with a rock and escapes. We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. He is simply an obnoxious, irritating and useless man who does not deserve any of the good stuff that happens to him. $42.6M, Runtime: | See production, box office & company info. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. I want to start by saying that I am easily entertained and usually am a Seth Macfarland fan but he can not act! Starring Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Neil Patrick Harris, and Liam Neeson, the film features an all-star cast. As it is, it looks and feels for all the world like the writer plucked the resolution out of his arsw, shoehorned the plot around it and then explained it to death, killing the joke in the process. Much of it had something to do with farting or diarrhea, not an adult topic in my opinion. As the story goes, the Scottish star was in the neighborhood during the production of MacFarlanes movie, starring in Gavin OConnors Jane Got A Gun. After Albert backs out of a gunfight, his fickle girlfriend leaves him for another man. Hopefully, someone will see and heed my review and save themselves some money! They attend a county fair where Louise's new boyfriend, the arrogant Foy, challenges Albert to a shooting contest. There's nothing inherently wrong with jokes about poo, vomiting, farting or sexual intercourse, but you have to package them in a certain way to stop the comedy becoming about shock value for shock value's sake. R (Language Throughout|Drug Material|Some Violence|Strong Crude & Sexual Content), Genre: wide, Release Date (Streaming): The continuing, often baffling success of Family Guy and American Dad! Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried. All music is composed by Joel McNeely, except as noted. But alas what I got an overly gross, less than childish, stupid movie that hardly had any chuckles and no real laughs to me. The American West is a horrible place in time, where anything can kill you as you try to protect your sheep from wolves and other . Terrible. This is supposed to be a comedy. A talent like Charlize Theron in a movie like this i would have to say the worst movie i have seen in a very long time no acting whatsoever nothing to take away except what sounded like a genuine laugh from Charlize when they were watching the sunset after eating pot biscuits. Though the film is hardly laugh-free, its uneven jokes appear to have breezed through a very forgiving editing process. Paul Schrader Wants to Make Another Movie. Seth Macfarlane has rapidly become of the most divisive comedians of the modern era. Set in 1882 in the American west, Albert is a lowly farmer with a nice girlfriend. Some of the best moments in the movie came as a result of a bizarre special appearance that made for a good laugh. it was a waste of time and left me stunned in disappointment! He could have done any number of things - but as usual he settles for the cheap gag and the fast buck over anything involving either thought or genuine creativity. Watch A Million Ways to Die in the West trailers and video, including teasers, extended looks, exclusive clips, footage, sneak peeks, interviews, and more on Moviefone. And on the topic of the long-running bawdy animated show created by MacFarlane, Neeson said that about 10 years ago, there was an episode that poked fun at the actor and his brogue. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Coming Soon. I'm dumbfounded at the positive reviews that it has received. A Million Ways to Die in the West | Apple TV (CA) Talking about the movies ending at a recent press conference after being asked why the film didnt include an ode to the stereotypical Mexican character in Westerns, the director detailed the deleted scene: "There was a bit at the end where Neil and Amanda, because of the shitting in the hat, he has to leave town because hes so embarrassed. Makes Ted look like a masterpiece, its jokes are mostly miss and the vulgarity is boring and good actors including McFarlane waste their talents. What were they thinking? Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Mostly, it is brimming with bad toilet humor, uninspiring acting, boring and unimaginative storytelling. He retires to the saloon, but Clinch arrives and reveals that Anna is his wife, threatening to kill more people unless his wife's lover duels him the next day. If a majority of the people dislike something but you like it, guess what, that's ok! It's Me, Margaret. Wherever you stand on Macfarlane's televisual endeavours, translating from one medium to another is notoriously difficult. The trueand universalconcerns of Lukas Moodysson's 'We Are the Best!' are living life, pushing limits, making a mark, discovering love. (1955), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), and El Dorado (1966). [51], Claudia Puig's review in USA Today was largely positive, writing, "A Western with a contemporary sensibility and dialogue that sounds markedly modern, A Million Ways to Die in the West is quintessential MacFarlane, at once silly and witty, juvenile and clever. A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014) - IMDb Mild-mannered sheep farmer Albert Stark (Seth MacFarlane) feels certain that the Western frontier is trying to kill him, then he loses his girlfriend, Louise (Amanda Seyfried), to the town's most successful businessman. This is nothing more than a vanity project which proves he is past his sell-by-date and only really good for Family Guy (TED was a so-so comedy). As expected, i ran to watch this movie - who is not dying to see a movie by Seth MacFarlane? During the brawl, Albert saves Anna from being crushed to death, and the two become close friends. Seth MacFarlane aims low in 'A Million Ways to Die in the West' You really shouldnt drink and horse, Edward tells a soused Albert as he heads out on horseback a bizarre turn of phrase that presumably sounded funnier to somebody than the more sense-making drink and ride. The leave-it-all-in approach leads to a nearly two-hour running time that looks all the more indulgent given how much invention Blazing Saddles packed into an hour-and-a-half.