A few weeks ago, during the celebration of Blazing Saddles 40th anniversary, writer-director, and certified comedic genius, Mel Brooks, said that a film like Blazing Saddles, with its over the top racist humor, objectification/sexualization of women, and culturally insensitive jokes, could never be made today.
Seth MacFarlane has come close.
A Million Ways to Die in The West is MacFarlane’s follow up to 2012’s surprise hit, Ted. It stars MacFarlane as cowardly — and slightly neurotic — sheep rancher Albert Stark, whose insight to the trials and tribulations of life in the old west are where most of the comedy comes from. While we don’t actually see all million ways to die, the point is taken early in a hilarious monologue between Albert and his best friends, good guy Edward (Giovanni Ribisi) and town whore Ruth (Sarah Silverman). Who knew the town fair could be so deadly?
The plot focuses around Albert losing his girlfriend, Louise (Amanda Seyfried) to the town Moustachier, Foy (Neil Patrick Harris), and then trying to win her back. Helping him is Anna (Charlize Theron), who is part of a band of outlaws led by a vicious man named Clinch (Liam Neeson), who also happens to be her husband. Anna helps turn Albert into a gunslinger for a showdown for Louise’s hand, and of course, she and Albert fall in love in the process.
The humor is derived by the screenwriter’s — Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild, both veteran Family Guy writers and creators of the now-cancelled Fox “comedy” Dads — decision to play modern sensibilities against the old west setting. This is where MacFarlane tries to emulate the great Mel Brooks, who used his early films as social commentary and to poke fun of all folks.
A Million Ways to Die in The West tackles jokes aimed towards blacks, Asians, Native Americans, homosexuals, the mentally challenged and so many more. And they do so unapologetically. Not unlike a typical episode of the long running Family Guy. And seeing as the animated sitcom has its many detractors, so will this film. Taken for what it is, A Million Ways is insanely hilarious; if only we are cultured enough to laugh at what is deemed offensive by most people. And make no mistake, this film can be offensive.
While the jokes come fast and furious, the biggest problem of the film lies in Seth McFarlane as the lead. His baby face and stupid grin made taking Albert seriously — or even rooting for him — very hard to do. Theron commands attention when she’s on-screen, as her character is the best written. Liam Neeson is a throwaway, serving only to give a subplot to build up Anna. Early trailers made it seem that his Clinch was the main antagonist and really he’s not. That falls to Neil Patrick Harris, who hides under a ridiculous curled moustache and steals every scene that he’s in. There are also several cameos including some from award-winning actors, and one big joke that recent commercials have spoiled, sadly.
The score by Joel McNeely is a callback to those sweeping John Ford epics of yesteryear and the cinematography by Michael Barrett really shows off the New Mexico desert, which stands in for the fictional town of Old Stump, Arizona. And of course, no western film can go without showing sweeping shots of Monument Valley with its beautiful rock mesas and dry, red clay gulches.
The comedy western has always been a tough draw, and I can only think of three other films in the genre to ever do it well: the aforementioned Blazing Saddles; the Lorne Michael’s produced SNL reunion classic, Three Amigos; and Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s first film, Cannibal: The Musical. A Million Ways to Die in The West can be added to that list, and while it may die a quick death in theaters, like everything else on this list not directed by Mel Brooks, it will becomes a cult classic very soon. The jokes are both smart and stupid and juvenile and adult and they all come so fast that if one misses, the next one is right there. And sometimes, it’s nice to be able to laugh at history and it’s blatant racism, and societal flaws, and not feel ashamed. It’s okay to laugh at it all. In comedy, we see where the problems are and can better work to change them as Mel Brooks taught 40 years ago. Seth MacFarlane is still reminding us.
A Million Ways to Die in The West is rated R and opens in theaters nationwide on May 30th.
