City Slickers

[mcnooj82]

Devin's comment about Daniel Stern for the Whip It trailer made me think of this movie again and pop it in. I hadn't seen it for years!

My first exposure to City Slickers was through its sequel. I saw it at a friend's birthday party and was pleasantly entertained. This must've been back in elementary school or early junior high.

It was only a few years later I watched the first movie when I got to rent it on home video. And even back then, I knew there was something different about the first movie from the highly 'sequelized' sequel before I even knew how to articulate it.

It may simply be a lot of nostalgia for something I watched when I was a kid, but rewatching the film today, I realized that I pretty much love City Slickers. And that mostly has everything to do with the fact that I love the chemistry between Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, and Bruno Kirby. Great rapport, nice balance, and a nice arc for each of them through the film. And of course, Jack Palance's short but very sweet role as Curly.

Like Billy Crystal, you could say the film is lame ("HellooooOOOoo?" Ugh...) and dated (difficulty programing VCRs!? Shame!). But I guess that's part of its charm. And I can't help but feel the warm fuzzies when I hear Marc Shaiman's score play its main theme as the boys go, "Yeeeehaaaaw!"

But I think simply watching it now that I'm a little older makes the film resonate a lot more on an emotional level as opposed to simply being some funny movie where city guys try to be cowboys. Am I crazy that I think this cheesy, sentimental comedy from the early 90s could be one of those unassumingly perfect films?

Of course, this is also the movie where Jake Gyllenhal shows us that he really loves seeing his parents make out.

And a bit of Helen Slater also goes a long way.

[James Kimbell]

You're not crazy.

[User_32]

How can anyone dislike a film that finally won Jack Palance his Oscar!

(and who then proceeded to do one-armed pushups!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGxL5AFzzMY

[Trejo]

Originally Posted by mcnooj82

Like Billy Crystal, you could say the film is lame ("HellooooOOOoo?" Ugh...) and dated (difficulty programing VCRs!? Shame!). But I guess that's part of its charm. And I can't help but feel the warm fuzzies when I hear Marc Shaiman's score play its main theme as the boys go, "Yeeeehaaaaw!"

But I think simply watching it now that I'm a little older makes the film resonate a lot more on an emotional level as opposed to simply being some funny movie where city guys try to be cowboys. Am I crazy that I think this cheesy, sentimental comedy from the early 90s could be one of those unassumingly perfect films?

Totally agree and I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with an unassuming love for this film. Every time I flip past it on TBS or whatever I am compelled to stop and watch the rest of it. Every. Time.

It's certainly not hysterical or particularly observant or a touchstone of any genre, but something about how light and charming the whole thing is just works for me.

Hi Curly. Killed anyone today?
The day ain't over yet...

[Ryan S~]

Thanks for the point over here, nooj.

I have such a tough time with City Slickers because I loved it when I was in my twenties. The great rapport between friends on an adventure, a strong antagonist (if you can call Curly that) and really solid character work all appealed to me. I still get goosebumps at the Yee-haw scene.

Having said that, I tried to watch it recently and it came across as very flat. It wasn't nearly as funny as I remember and the ending seemed really rushed. I freely admit that this may have been my mood that day and I should give it another chance. After all, the chemistry between the three leads is stellar and then ending, while rushed was still earned.

[mcnooj82]

My thread lives!

Yea, I can see the film playing really flat in contrast to such positive memories of it. As I mentioned, I saw it as a little kid when I didn't get everything out of it. It resonated more for me now that I saw it in my twenties. I can't say that I found the film all that funny this time around. It was the character work that really got me.

[Ryan S~]

Originally Posted by mcnooj82

My thread lives!

Yea, I can see the film playing really flat in contrast to such positive memories of it. As I mentioned, I saw it as a little kid when I didn't get everything out of it. It resonated more for me now that I saw it in my twenties. I can't say that I found the film all that funny this time around. It was the character work that really got me.

I can certainly see that. The opening sequence is such a great introduction to the characters and their relationships that the arcs felt natural and organic versus the usual comedy cliches.