City Slickers (1991)

Who payed the critics

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

By the time you reach your forties, you start to have this belief that your days of fun and celebration could be winding down and fast. Yes for middle-aged men, "City Slickers" is not about lacing up your saddles dressing up cowboy duds and have an adventure out in the Wild West. It's about getting to enjoy as much about life while you can before it's too late. Even though it may have a cynical approach that middle-aged people are through with having fun according to the characters, "City Slickers" contradicts that approach by saying that happiness begins at forty and doesn't stop there. It also features an engaging performance by the underrated Jack Palance who also got his long overdue Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actor as Curly Washburn.Mitch Robbins (Billy Crystal) is hit the dreadful age of despair, 39. He fears there is more he could've done in life and fears he will never get that chance because of his advanced age. He's not alone in this as his friends Phil Berquist (Daniel Stern) and Ed Furillo (Bruno Kirby) feel the pinch as well. So the trifecta embark on a two week sabbatical to redeem themselves by saddling up their horses and ride off into the Old West from New Mexico to Colorado. They are led by an experienced cowboy named Curly (Palance) who shows them how it's done and gives them a life's lesson about the meaning of life while driving cattle to the open country.Even though the story is rich in character and performance, the plot is actually quite weak and predictable. We know that the triad will learn that that midlife isn't the be all to end all in the cycle of life. The real fun underlies within the interaction between the city folk and the country folk and though it might be a bit stereotyped from both party members, Curly's lessons about life lingers the whole way through.The juxtapose of witty comical banter and slapstick moments are carries the film in its entire 1 hr. 52 min. duration. The laughter is always there and holds up like a stampede can be caused due to the sound of a coffee grinder or the cynical gripes from Billy Crystal's Mitch. And sure the set pieces are there for a surreal goofy film that lampoons the Western genre, it all seems to be in place like it was intended to be. This may be due to the trio's realization that they had a good thing coming for them all along and that they are novice ranchers and are not cut out to hold this job. It never feels one-sided and gives equal balance between the witty banter and slapstick quality this movie has making it feel more organic and less forced.When it comes to who utilizes their acting chops at best Billy Crystal was perfectly cast as the lead role by using his cynical wit to his best capacity while succeeding in a deadpan delivery. Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby are great as the unlucky Phil and the philandering Ed respectively. The trio offer their own blend of humour as they work off their humour upon each other as they each stand out on their own. The chemistry works splendidly for each other and the jokes and the humour makes the pacing of the film flow so much easily.As the smoke clears, the mass will truly say the scene-stealing performance is Jack Palance's performance as Curly. With his menacing smile and his frontier knowledge, this has been a role he has played over the course of his 60 year career. Not to undermine him in any way some of the more funnier scenes are when he's yakking it up with Billy Crystal. It's a bit questionable if Palance deserved an Oscar win in this role due to the fact he was Oscar-worthy in other performances.("Shane" and "Sudden Fear" come to mind), nonetheless his role as Curly was fun.To say that the film was dated would be a cliche on my part, but why lie about it? The clothes, the style and the trends are permanently locked in the early 1990's. Also the humour is a lot more lighter in tone even though there is some swearing, but it's handled with precaution. The delivery has a sweeter tone (not overly sugary) but tamer than compared to most comedy themed film you get today.In a nutshell, "City Slickers" manages to successfully convey a great lesson in life and by adding a humourous take on it. That way it wouldn't go off as being preachy or self-serving. It's not the most original script and does feel 1990's stamped, but with comedic performances from Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby, along with the enjoyable performance by Jack Palance, this movie is a winner.

As old as the "Men are from Mars, Women are from Jupiter" ponderings is the difference between "guy" films and "chick flicks". Though not trying to stereotype the genders too much here, the camp of movie-goers that will watch "The Notebook" or "A Walk To Remember" have different hormones flowing through them as those that go to "Terminator Salvation" or "Rambo IV". There's just a fundamental difference that often cannot be overcome by either gender."City Slickers", however, is the rare film that, while being a complete "guy" film, also proves to be as introspective as any emotional drama. Basically, "Slickers" tells the story of a middle-aged man named Mitch (played superbly by Billy Crystal) who undergoes a mid-life crisis. He works a dead-end job, has kids that think he is an "old fart", can't keep up on his best friend's big adventures (the film opens with the trio of buds running from the bulls in Spain), and is on the verge of complete depression. However, an opportunity (two weeks herding cattle at a Dude Ranch) presents itself for Mitch to be able to re-capture his youth, and he reluctantly takes it. Over the course of the trip, Mitch (and his pals, by extension) slowly but surely (and with often hilarious results!) begins to recapture the excitement that seemed to have been missing from his life.Besides the inspiring storyline that rivals any feel-good film, "Slickers" vaults itself into the stratosphere with the quality of both its humor and acting. The jokes in this film, while not the physical comedy of, say, Jim Carrey, are still hilarious, and mirror the changes that each friend is going through. Speaking of those friends, Phil and Ed (played by Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby, respectively), they each in turn provide the perfect compliment to Mitch's old-age crisis...Ed is the go-getter who never seems to slow down, while Phil is stuck in a heartless marriage and wishes he could just start over. The camaraderie, struggles, and real-life discussions between those three guys provides the emotional backbone of the film. Plus, the auxiliary characters (including Jack Palance as the trail-hardened cowherd Curly) each add their own take on life into the picture.Towards the end of the film, Mitch proclaims that he has finally found his "one thing" in life. Though that "one thing" is never revealed, that is actually the point...everyone must go out and find it for him/her self (much like the viewer may begin to contemplate while watching). So guys, the next time your significant other wants to watch another two Kleenex-box romance, suggest this film as a change of pace (but make sure she watches the whole thing...as the meat of the message is saved for the finale). She may not laugh at all the same things you do (which will be pretty much everything!), but she may also come away with a bit better of a perspective on what it's like to be a guy.

Released in 1991 and directed by Ron Underwood, "City Slickers" is a Western dramedy taking place in modern times (1991, that is) starring Billy Crystal, Bruno Kirby and Daniel Stern as three buddies from the New York City area who are experiencing mid-life problems and decide to take a two week vacation driving cattle from New Mexico to Colorado to find their mojo. Jack Palance plays the tough leader of the cattle drive while Patricia Wettig plays one of the wives. Helen Slater and others are along for the ride.This was a hit at the time but, seeing today, it was a little overrated. Still, it's a solid dramedy mixing amusing moments with somewhat poignant insights on life. While I'm familiar with Crystal, this is the only movie I've seen him in and he plays a quality everyman. Wettig is striking and Slater is winsome, but the latter is prematurely removed from the main events.The film runs 113 minutes and was shot mostly in New Mexico, but also Colorado, New York City and Universal City, CA.GRADE: B or B- (6.5/10)

Billy Crystal does a great job in this, and I'm really not a big fan either,, I'm more of a Jack Palance fan, by the way he was great as the trail boss.. I don't know what I would do if I had the money and two weeks off, cattle drive,, maybe not so much , but the movie provides an interesting premise for us guys in their late 30's early 40's . 3 men with jobs in the city , work their butt's off for a year and save up their vacation time to go on a cattle drive,, and in two weeks,, try to find themselves as men,, as each one of them has something different that he wants to accomplish. but the main thing is that they all have fun doing it,, along the way the meet "Curly" ,, Jack Palance as the trail boss,, I don't know why he wasn't in the whole movie,, but that's another subject all together,, my favorite character however without a doubt was little "Norman" the cow,, excellent funny movie,, love the river chase scene, this is one of those movies that I can watch once or twice every year and not get tired of it .