CHRISTINE MCGRATH
Review: A Million Ways to Die In the West
By Christine Petralia
Image courtesy of Universal Pictures
May 29, 2014
While I quite enjoyed A Million Ways to Die in the West (or AMWTDITW as my mother called it), I believe only a true Seth MacFarlane fan can thoroughly enjoy the humor. There are a ton of subtle jokes that you really have to listen for, as MacFarlane, who not only wrote, but directed and starred in the film, is a fast talker with very dry humor.
The plot is actually pretty simple. Albert Stark (MacFarlane) talks his way out of a gunfight, and ultimately loses his girlfriend Louise (Amanda Seyfried) to a swarmy moustachery owner Foy (Neil Patrick Harris). Meanwhile, Anna (Charlize Theron) is stuck in a loveless marriage with Clinch Leatherwood (Liam Neeson), an infamous outlaw. Clinch sends Anna off to Albert’s town to stay for a week, while he goes off to find gold and take over towns.
Anna meets Albert after he ‘saves’ her during a bar fight. The two become fast friends, as Anna helps Albert make Louise jealous. Soon, Foy challenges Albert to a duel, however, Albert can’t shoot a gun. Anna teaches him and the two fall in love, just in time for Clinch to come to town. He’s not happy his wife is ‘fooling around’ with someone else and goes after Albert. In the end. Albert uses his smarts to save his life and win the girl.
The movie definitely had its funny moments, such as the running gag that Albert’s best friend Edward (Giovanni Ribisi) girlfriend Ruth (Sarah Silverman) won’t sleep with him until marriage, but she works as a whore. And my favorite scene of all time was the Back to the Future one. I won’t give anymore away because it had me laughing for a while.
MacFarlane definitely had his fair share of rants and ramblings a la Family Guy, which is fine for the true fan. For the average movie goer though, I could see how it could be tiring and not that funny. The film also had a few cameos, which was fun. And the ‘Moustache’ song will probably be stuck in your head for a while.
I have to wonder why MacFarlane chose to star in this film, as he is usually behind the camera and microphone. Perhaps it was to make out with Theron?
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