Review of A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014) by Marc D — 26 May 2015

The Wild West Will Never Be The Same...

Writer/director Seth MacFarlane stars in this western tale of a cowardly sheep farmer who struggles to win back the love of his ex-girlfriend. Due to unexpected circumstances, his plans quickly change once he falls in love with the mysterious new woman in town, who turns out to be the runaway wife of a vicious gun-slinging outlaw. Forced to deal with this new dangerous turn of events, our protagonist must look deep within himself to find the courage he never had to be the hero he never was.

In this contemporary take on the classic western genre, Seth MacFarlane manages to cleverly satirize the old west by poking fun at all the harsh realities of this time period. A Million Ways to Die in the West may have been a little too smart for its own good, though. Considering its poor critical reception, I think a lot of people failed to understand or appreciate the true brilliance this movie conveys through its humor. Or maybe they just couldn't see past the farts?

Despite his use of toilet humor, none of Seth's jokes ever feel forced or out of place, which is why more of the gags are hits rather than misses. This is primarily due to his clearly educated writing talents, ensuring that his jokes are never one-dimensional and that the line between the serious tones and silly slapstick remain balanced throughout. This can't be said without mentioning his ingenious use of the most priceless cameos possible. I won't spoil them for you, but let's just say I'm very confident true movie buffs will appreciate their flair and surely crack a smile!

While some of the scenes are pretty gruesome, his realistic approach to violence helps convey a brutal honesty towards its true nature. This was a smart touch as it clearly helps elevate the sense of danger while ensuring we understand its grim reality rather than simply glorifying it. This approach is also elevated from his use of practical effects and highly detailed set pieces that accurately recreate the look and feel of the dangerous and depressing old wild west.

Final consensus: in the vein of his hit TV series Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane fires non-stop jokes that are playfully delivered with strong wit and near-perfect comedic timing. Self-aware of its own edgy stupidity, A Million Ways to Die in the West is a brilliant homage to its time period and a hilarious slapstick blast!