Review of City Slickers (1991) by Stuart K — 10 Mar 2013

Directed by Ron Underwood (Tremors (1990), Mighty Joe Young (1998) and The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)), this is a very funny and poignant comedic western which shows all the usual fish-out-of-water cliches, but it's a really good story of coming to terms with middle age, and finding yourself again.

It's also the finest film of Billy Crystal, who comes up with some brilliant wisecracks throughout the film. Mitch Robbins (Crystal) has just turned 39, and he's dreading turning 40, however his two friends Phil Berquist (Daniel Stern) and Ed Furillo (Bruno Kirby) have always invited him on adventure holidays, and they've got a good one for his birthday this year, a cattle drive in New Mexico, the ranch is owned by Clay Stone (Noble Willingham), who literally shows them the ropes.

They set off on the trip to Colorado with trail boss Curly Washburn (Jack Palance), who is tough as nails and is one of the last of a dying breed of cowboys. Mitch is terrified of him, but while rounding up some stray cattle, they get a chance to bond, and Curly teaches him about life.

It's a very good film, made with good humour, as well as sincerity and heart, which a lot of comedies lack these days, Crystal gets all the best lines, but Palance steals the film for which he rightfully won an Oscar for, and it's well made too, with good epic vistas to look at.