Genre: Comedy | Western
Directed by: Seth MacFarlane
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson
Written by: Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin
Synopsis: Seth MacFarlane directs, produces, co-writes and plays the role of the cowardly sheep farmer Albert in A Million Ways to Die in the West. After Albert backs out of a gunfight, his fickle girlfriend leaves him for another man. When a mysterious and beautiful woman rides into town, she helps him find his courage and they begin to fall in love. But when her husband, a notorious outlaw, arrives seeking revenge, the farmer must put his newfound courage to the test. Starring alongside MacFarlane are Oscar (R) winner Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman and Neil Patrick Harris. MacFarlane reunites many of the filmmakers behind Universal and MRC’s hit film Ted including Scott Stuber (Bluegrass Films) and Jason Clark who produce, and Wellesley Wild and Alec Sulkin who co-wrote the script. (c)Universal
I really wanted to like A Million Ways to Die in the West. I was rooting for Seth MacFarlane to succeed in a live action staring role and was relieved this wasn’t a remake, sequel, reboot, or adaptation. Seth likes to make the most unoriginal original comedies. It was technically original though it borrowed many elements from Western movies and TV shows. The humor was profane and crossed a line at times, which is to be expected from MacFarlane. Yet the offensive material doesn’t garner the intended reaction from audiences it was expected to do. It came across as forced and contrived. It did make me laugh some of the time. Most of the intended audience (teenage boys) would be barred from the MPAA from seeing it without their legal guardian.
Seth MacFarlane’s attempt at live action comedy unfortunately falls flat in A Million Ways to Die in the West. Those seeking laughs might not find as many as they were expecting.
Another issue I had was the running time. At almost two hours, A Million Ways to Die in the West over stays its welcome. This comedy needed to be edited at least if not have scenes completely removed. MacFarlene knows how to over extend a gag (see TV’s Family Guy). It should’ve been shorter and more concise with humor. Ted had rapid fire jokes and for A Million Ways To Die in the West to justify the running time, it needed more jokes or a purpose for keeping engaged audiences in theaters. In this arid comedic landscape, A Million Ways to Die in the West needs an oasis of sharp humor and side splitting laughs. Audiences get a few drops but need much more. I wanted more humor and big laughs but what I watched might have been summer’s biggest disappointment.
I rate A Million Ways to Die in the West a 5 out of 10.
