[42] In its second weekend, the film dropped to number five, grossing an additional $7.3 million. In "A Million Ways to Die in the West," director, co-writer, and star Seth MacFarlane tries and fails to be the Bob Hope and/or Mel Brooks of his generation with a flabbily made western spoof. "[56] Michael O'Sullivan at The Washington Post was mixed, deeming the film a "broad, wildly hit-or-miss satire," remarking that he found few of the jokes in the film funny. If we disregard the jokes for the moment - difficult as that may be - we find ourselves coming back to the issue with the characters. Director Seth MacFarlane Writers Seth MacFarlane Alec Sulkin Wellesley Wild Stars Seth MacFarlane Charlize Theron Liam Neeson (Just as well, perhaps, as the screenplay is about to run out of ways to poke fun at the fact that Alberts buddy Edward is a virgin in a chaste relationship with Ruth, the towns busiest whore.) wide, Release Date (Streaming): Lewis and Anna arrive in Old Stump under the guise of two siblings intending to build a farm, but Lewis is arrested after shooting the pastor's son in a saloon fight. "[60] Scott Foundas of Variety found the film "overlong and uninspired," criticizing the film's "lazy writing," and MacFarlane's "surprisingly bland" comic performance. Terrible. Terms and Policies The actor previously had a funny, silent small role in Ted, and when MacFarlane ran into a scene that required a bit of levity, he found the perfect way to bring Reynolds back. MacFarlane's take on the Western is considerably tamer than that of earlier smart-aleck postmodernists. Trust me, you'd have a better time sitting out in a puddle playing in the mud than you'd have in this dirt- poor excuse for a movie. I am not a prude and have done my share of telling and enjoying off color jokes but someone ought to explain that a joke like a story deserves thought and intelligence. Unfortunately, A Million Ways to Die in the West is a poorly made film that's more concerned with setting up gags than telling a fun story. He loses his love Louise (Amanda Seyfried) to Foy (Neil Patrick Harris). IE 11 is not supported. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. [26][27] Filming locations included various areas in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico,[28] also including the Santa Fe Studio in Santa Fe. It was noticeably forced and obscenely crude, which is nothing new for Seth, but it was crude in a very childish way. Alec Sulkin, His writing is mediocre, always low-balling it when a person in his position should be taking risks. but then again slap stick comedy seems to be the up and coming thing in today's generation why i don't know didn't find it funny at all were they reading the words of a board. I hope I will forget it fast. I wish I could ask for refund. Brent McKnight The Last Thing I See. Surface . Anna returns to Albert's farm to warn him about Clinch, but he chastises her for lying to him. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. Perhaps thats because shes secretly betrothed to the meanest cuss in these parts, a bandit called Clinch (Liam Neeson), who has sent her here to hide out while he dodges the law for a spell. Much of it had something to do with farting or diarrhea, not an adult topic in my opinion. Gratuitous vulgarity, nothing really funny about it unless your a depraved pre-teen boy. On the day of the duel, Foy arrives late and gets diarrhea from the laxative he had unknowingly drunk. MacFarlane plays a character who spends the entire movie showing how enlightened he is by complaining about how terrible life in the West is - but he could only know this if he had experienced life AFTER that period, and therefore had something to compare it with. published 3 June 2014 Seth MacFarlane's new comedy A Million Ways To Die In The West doesn't really feature much of a conclusion for the characters played by Neil Patrick Harris and Amanda. How this film ever got made is beyond me. This was a 12 year old boy's bathroom idea of adult humor obsessive scatological humor, rude sex jokes with absolutely no subtlety at all, swearing just for its shock value, blood and gore with no purpose, racist jokes, gay jokes, sexist jokes. Coming Soon. Underneath all the buffoonery and fart jokes, there was a believable relationship between Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder, who were part of a story with genuine tension, stakes and even pathos. This is one of the worst movies we have seen in years. And trust me, that one star was given grudgingly.If nothing else, this picture clearly shows how far down the ladder of creativity movie making has fallen. The film features an ensemble cast including MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Neil Patrick Harris, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman, and Liam Neeson. Play the A Million Ways to Die in the West 8-bit Video Game. It was painful to watch. Even though I knew that he could not be killed, being the corner stone of the movie, I was secretly wishing for his character to die a horrible death some of the supporting characters were suffering. You really shouldnt drink and horse, Edward tells a soused Albert as he heads out on horseback a bizarre turn of phrase that presumably sounded funnier to somebody than the more sense-making drink and ride. The leave-it-all-in approach leads to a nearly two-hour running time that looks all the more indulgent given how much invention Blazing Saddles packed into an hour-and-a-half. Doug Naylor, who co-created the original series, recalled being in a room of writers from The Simpsons and Cheers, and being berated for wanting to work on character construction rather than coming up with gags. What a waste of time. And Law And Order. [10] Near the end of the movie, the refrain of "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora is used as a fictional "Muslim Death Chant."[33]. There is a post-credits sequence involving the gunman at the fair from the final scene. But for good reason. During a barn dance the night before the duel, Anna gives Foy a Mickey. NJ native who calls LA home and lives in a Dreamatorium. A Million Ways to Die in the West, review - Seth MacFarlane's first novel The highest-paid TV writer in history has written a weird western that had Harry Ritchie ploughing through brothel. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. While fleeing, he is captured by a tribe of Apache Indians, who threaten to burn him alive. When Albert gets high on peyote with the Indians, that's when the movie totally goes off the rails. Edward: Hey, dude, you really shouldn't drink and horse. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and This wasn't it. This is the same game at which Foy had earlier defeated Albert and Anna had then defeated Foy. Terrible film, so easy to make me laugh with good jokes, i am a very positive person who always see the full part of the glass, but this movie is just too bad, awful. On January 30, 2013, it was announced that Charlize Theron had joined the film. Filming began on May 6, 2013, in various locations in New Mexico including Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and it concluded on August 9 that year. [23] On May 10, it was announced that the film would be co-financed by Media Rights Capital and Fuzzy Door Productions, along with Bluegrass Films and distributed by Universal Studios. Seth MacFarlanes new comedy A Million Ways To Die In The West doesnt really feature much of a conclusion for the characters played by Neil Patrick Harris and Amanda Seyfried. I might see this appealing to pubescent boys trying to impress each other but the lack of anything other than bathroom humor for shock value should be embarrassing for the producers. May 30, 2014 But no matter how many jokes he can produce, or how long he chooses to play these jokes out for, they cannot solve the underlying problems: the story and the characters. Lets just get a laugh here where it would normally play as a straight moment.". [54] Rafer Guzman of Newsday found the film amusing, calling it "another example of MacFarlane's ability to mix poop jokes with romance, foul language with sweet sentiment, offensive humor with boyish charm. However, I could barely sit through the entirety of AMWTDITW without nearly nodding off or wanting to leave the theater completely. Not so romantic? So embarrassed. A Million Ways to Die in the West originated as an inside joke between MacFarlane and co-writers Sulkin and Wild,[14] while they were watching Hang 'Em High (1968). Even a 1 star rating will not do, for all the other actors who appeared in it, why did you even consider THIS script? Company Credits The thing that made me chuckle the most was the "runaway slave" shooting gallery because it WAS funny and audacious to put in a movie. Foy publicly humiliates Albert, who impulsively challenges Foy to a duel in a week's time to win back Louise. [15] The joke evolved into "riffing on the idea of how dull, depressing, and dangerous it must have been to live in the Wild West. Albert loses, but Anna steps in and defeats Foy. Thanks to the appearances of Sam Jones, Ryan Reynolds and Ted Danson in Ted, not to mention the hundreds of celebrity voices who have done guest spots on Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show, we fully expected that Seth MacFarlanes A Million Ways To Die In The West would feature some interesting cameos, and we were not disappointed. Seth MacFarlane as writer, director, producer and so-called actor of this unfunny, boring mess has proved with this one undertaking that he is a quadruple waste of time. His character, Albert, lives in the West where everything and everyone is deadly. And while a lot of the comedy is funny, the jokes are often taken too far or spoiled by some random bit of nonsense. The only thing worse than a bad sequel to Mel Brooks's BLAZING SADDLES is You guessed correctly This movie. Seth MacFarlane stars in and directs the Western comedy. Makes Ted look like a masterpiece, its jokes are mostly miss and the vulgarity is boring and good actors including McFarlane waste their talents. [34][35] The film was later released nationwide on May 30, 2014. Didn't laugh once the whole movie. What were they thinking? And they must have because here is plainly the result. Its central premise and its cast both have undoubted potential, but every good idea it has is quickly ground down into third-rate physical or scatalogical jokes which are poorly directed, have no staying power, and are offensive for all the wrong reasons. The marketplace doesnt seem to be crying out for Westerns, after all be they earnest revivals, satires, or genre hybrids involving extra-terrestrials and the undeniably of-his-moment MacFarlane is, as the script indirectly admits, a strange fit for the genre. I went to see this movie in high hopes after the huge success of Seth's earlier film "Ted" which I saw three times in theaters and enjoyed each time. Albert also receives a bounty for killing Clinch and uses the money to buy more sheep. There is no better example of this than the all-too lengthy scene involving Neil Patrick Harris getting the runs during the gunfight. Seth is far better suited for voice acting than live action. Clinch, having regained consciousness, tracks down Anna to the farm, but Albert helps her escape, then escapes himself. WARNING: The rest of this article contains minor spoilers for A Million Ways To Die In The West. A Million Ways to Die in the West works best in its early scenes, when MacFarlane is devoting his energy to mocking Western cliches. This version also has even more footage in deleted scenes, and an alternate beginning and ending. [24] On May 11, 2013, it was announced that Neil Patrick Harris had joined the film. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. What may surprise you, however, is that one of the funniest in the film was neither in the script nor Seth MacFarlanes idea. He orders his right-hand man, Lewis, to escort his wife Anna to Old Stump while he continues his banditry. With that funny accent of his,'" the actor recalled. When a sheep herder who hates the West saves a young lady during a bar fight they strike up a friendship that helps him gain some self-confidence. "It's quite romantic," Neeson said of his character's name during a visit to TODAY Monday. In a rare display of nerve, Albert challenges Foy to a duel; as Anna offers him the gunslinger lessons that will inevitably lead to love, the films supporting cast all but vanishes from the film. Seth MacFarlane, A Million Ways to Die in the West is a 2014 novelization by Seth MacFarlane based on the film of the same name, written by MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin, and Wellesley Wild . He's playing at being a cowboy, making up the plot as he sees fit, rather than creating believable cowboy characters who just happen to talk like 1970s Jewish comedians. The romance plot could hardly be more familiar, but at least it plays out against a landscape so dramatic one almost suspects the filmmakers composited a few extra sandstone formations into Monument Valley. This guy has an ego the size of Montana and this dung heap of a film shows beyond doubt it's not justified. ", MacFarlane was somewhat blindsided by the news ("Shit, you already offered him? As the story goes, the Scottish star was in the neighborhood during the production of MacFarlanes movie, starring in Gavin OConnors Jane Got A Gun. Producers: Jason Clark, Seth MacFarlane, Scott Stuber For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. It was so painful to watch that I found myself watching most scenes between my fingers like I was at a scary horror flick. Editor: Jeff Freeman | Taken abstractly, there is no way in hell that Anna would end up with Albert, and shaping him as the lesser of two evils over Clinch is not only stupid, it's downright misogynistic. "So when Seth called me to ask if I'd do (the movie), I said, 'I'll do it on condition that I do it in a very broad Irish accent.' [16] Other westerns that inspired MacFarlane and the crew during writing included Oklahoma! and the Cinematographer: Michael Barrett It is equally possible to enjoy it for the supporting cast, who work overtime to do their best in spite of the material. Development [ edit] On January 27, 2014, MacFarlane announced that he wrote a companion novel based on the film's script, which was released on March 4, 2014. I kept thinking you are no Mel Brooks and you are no Gene Wilder. Overall, the cast was great and I love cameos from stars you wouldn't expect to see, but this movie could have been A LOT better. [31] The theme song "A Million Ways to Die" is performed by Alan Jackson. Still, there's always Ted 2 to look forward to. I detest Family Guy, I categorically refuse to see Ted and as a whole I'm not a fan of Seth MacFarlane. have made him as successful as the creators of The Simpsons, earning him millions of fans and an equal number of critics, both professional and public. [30] The film shoot was difficult, as the cast and crew navigated rough weather: "everything from hailstorms to blistering heat to arctic winds and torrential rainstorms. After they have served their purpose in the story, they leave and are never seen from again. [29] Principal photography ended on August 9, 2013. Truly pathetic. "The more serious I was, the funnier I was," the actor explained. It turns out that Neeson's Clinch is the one and only serious character. It's just Bandaid over the cancer." [17] Tippett Studio was hired to work on the film's visual effects. Casting was done between December 2012 and March 2013. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Albert, who has decided that Louise is not worth fighting for, forfeits anyway. It's Me, Margaret. There's nothing inherently wrong with jokes about poo, vomiting, farting or sexual intercourse, but you have to package them in a certain way to stop the comedy becoming about shock value for shock value's sake. I so wish it had been better! As a cowardly farmer begins to fall for the mysterious new woman in town, he must put his newly found courage to the test when her husband, a notorious gun-slinger, announces his arrival. [32] A portion of the Back to the Future theme by Alan Silvestri is used during Christopher Lloyd's cameo. [3], The film grossed $16.8 million in its opening weekend, finishing in third place at the box office behind fellow newcomer Maleficent and the previous weekend's opener X-Men: Days of Future Past. Starring: Seth MacFarlane,Charlize Theron,Liam Neeson. On May 16, 2014, the film had its world premiere at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles. The soundtrack was released by Back Lot Music on May 27, 2014. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 7, 2014, and earned more than $15 million in home media sales. Wellesley Wild, Release Date (Theaters): Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! The initial idea has some comedic promise - someone can't attend a gunfight because he can't stop going to the toilet. He was already in hair and makeup for his movie, so we just threw him in. It was released as a single on April 29, 2014. 2014 | Maturity rating: 16+ | 1h 55m | Comedies. Screenwriters: Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin, Wellesley Wild It's made worse by the fact the person claims they're not a Seth McFarlane fan and then immediately gushing about his hilarious history. how can anyone be so bad? Release Dates There were only a very few scenes that may be considered funny. The jokes were tired, predictable and drawn out. The sooner Macfarlane makes Ted 2 and redeems himself the better. Seth MacFarlane might've picked a safer place to make his lead-acting debut than A Million Ways to Die in the West, his directorial follow-up to 2012's surprisingly successful Ted.The . [3] This was below expectations of $26 million. [16] The film was first announced on December 3, 2012, marking MacFarlane's second foray into live-action directing, after 2012's Ted. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". [19] On February 11, it was announced Amanda Seyfried had joined the film. | (1955), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), and El Dorado (1966). People Really Don't Know How Opinions Work, Poorly Acted, Poorly Written, Not Very Funny. In closing, save your money for a movie you may actually enjoy. He fits in so well, in fact, that the director says he doesnt expect many people will actually catch it. what a terrible performance! Watching this movie was a waste of my time. [18] Theron later revealed that she "begged" for her role, as she wanted the opportunity to work in comedy. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. A Million Ways to Die in the West: Official Clip - Great Scott! Unrated, 2014 R Comedy Western. One assumes Anna knows how much money Ted will make in 130 or so years and wants to get in on the ground floor. The Apaches spare him when he reveals that he can speak their language. On March 18, it was announced that Sarah Silverman was cast to play a prostitute in the film. What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Extended Cut. I'm dumbfounded at the positive reviews that it has received. Production designer: Stephen J. Lineweaver Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff And More Reach Out As Christopher McQuarrie Gets Mission: Impossible 7 In The Can 3 Years (And Millions Of Extra Dollars) Later, Steve Harvey Calls Out T.J. 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"His main character, the little fat father in 'Family Guy,' they were making fun 'Imagine Liam Neeson being in a Western. Haha! Watch A Million Ways to Die in the West trailers and video, including teasers, extended looks, exclusive clips, footage, sneak peeks, interviews, and more on Moviefone. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story: Season 1, Link to Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Link to RT25: Celebrating 25 Years of Rotten Tomatoes, Link to Prime Video Acquires J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, While it offers a few laughs and boasts a talented cast, Seth MacFarlane's overlong, aimless, R (Language Throughout|Drug Material|Some Violence|Strong Crude & Sexual Content), Comedy, Music: Joel McNeely, Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. "A million ways to die in the west" is a movie that suffers from four major problems, all of them closely connected. [14] Various aspects of the film were inspired by western films. The problem with this film is that it didn't actually appear to understand what it wanted to be. This is by far the worst movie I've seen this year and one of the worst I've seen in the last ten years, at least. In the United States, the film has grossed $8,336,420 from DVD sales and $6,739,162 from Blu-ray sales, making a total of $15,075,582. While both filmmakers brought modern dialogue to an historic setting, Macfarlane doesn't do anything constructive with this conceit. Among People's Choice Nominees, Plus Find Out Who's Hosting! NY 10036. It's a tale of the good, the bad and the funny in Liam Neeson's new comedy, "A Million Ways to Die in the West." Regal His central performance is flat and weak, with no real character development and a cocky, chauvinistic quality which makes him unappealing. All music is composed by Joel McNeely, except as noted. He wounds Clinch with a bullet dipped in rattlesnake venom before his own gun is shot out of his hand but manages to stall until Clinch fatally succumbs to the poison. And by producing it, alongside good friends Scott Stuber and Jason Clark, there is no-one to rein him in when he starts being narratively flatulent as well as comedically so. They got my dollar this time but they will never get another one. Coming Soon. All Rights Reserved. After breaking out of jail and murdering the sheriff, Lewis observes the kiss and reports it to Clinch. [46] The Blu-ray release contains an unrated version (135 minutes), along with the original theatrical cut (116 minutes). It turns out that Clinch rides back into town to se. What Does Bruce Campbell Think About A Crossover? In spite of all this, it would be wrong to describe A Million Ways as an abject failure. The film features an ensemble cast including MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Neil Patrick Harris, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman, and Liam Neeson. Rumors Swirled Ash Williams Would Appear In Mortal Kombat. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. [47], A Million Ways to Die in the West received mixed to negative reviews from critics. Copyright Fandango. *SPOILER* The scene that tipped its hat to the back to the future series would have been a fun surprise had it not been ruined in the previews. If a majority of the people dislike something but you like it, guess what, that's ok! After leaving the dance, Albert and Anna kiss before heading home. The central dynamic is simply a lazy and boring regurgitation of the Judd Apatow formula - namely a romance in which a schlubby, incompetent, shallow and cretinous guy ends up with the beautiful, smart, resourceful woman for no good reason. maybe slip a note under his door? Gwyneth Paltrow Says She's 'Proud' Years Later Of Bringing Conscious Uncoupling Into The Mainstream, Credits It For Making Divorces 'Easier', Baby Fever Is In The Air As Bonnie Wright Is The Latest Harry Potter Star To Announce A Pregnancy, Pete Davidson And Chase Sui Wonders Were Both At The Bupkis Premiere, But Totally Avoided Taking Red Carpet Photos Together, Following Controversy Surrounding Netflix's Queen Cleopatra, Egypt's Council Of Antiquities Weighs In. And on the topic of the long-running bawdy animated show created by MacFarlane, Neeson said that about 10 years ago, there was an episode that poked fun at the actor and his brogue. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. I'm appalled. it was a waste of time and left me stunned in disappointment! WARNING: The rest of this article contains minor spoilers for A Million Ways To Die In The West. "[55], Scott Mendelson of Forbes commended MacFarlane's decision to make an unconventional western comedy, but summarized the film as "just ambitious enough for that to be genuinely disappointing. Rating: Stocking the supporting cast with top-drawer talent, he gives most of his costars little to do besides attract our attention on movie posters; that ruse might yield some results on opening weekend, but wont be able to carry the picture to the kind of profitability enjoyed by Ted. what do football players wear under their uniform, mary regency boies age,