In honor of Martin Luther King Day, I am reviewing this strange science-fiction-western mashup, Cowboys and Aliens.  Although the idea was fairly unique, the execution of it unfortunately wasn’t.

Cast

Daniel Craig stars as Jake Lonergan, the outlaw and the anti-hero.  He’s immediately familiar to those as the new James Bond in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Harrison Ford stars as Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde who is out for Jake Lonergan and his stolen gold.  Olivia Wilde stars as Ella Swenson.  She played Thirteen in House, M.D. television series and Quorra in TRON: Legacy, among other credits.  Doc is played by Sam Rockwell.  Adam Beach plays Nat Colorado, the Indian translator of Dolarhyde’s posse.  Percy Dolarhyde, the Colonel’s wayward son, is played by Paul Dano.  Keith Carradine stars as Sheriff John Taggart.

Plot

Arizona.  1873.  A lone stranger, Jake Lonergan, who has no memory arrives in the town of Absolution to attempt to find out who he is but instead finds trouble with Colonel Dolarhyde.  Strapped with a bracelet of unknown origin, he saves the town after an attack by the alien spaceships. Through recollections gradually of the events and the amassing of hands, Dolarhyde, Lonergan, Doc, the Indians and others eventually find and attack the mothership.

Review

Granted, this movie had star power, but the actual substance of the film was lacking.  The Western plot was weak, and the alien invasion  was unusually quiet.  At some moments throughout the film, it seemed as if the movie had an identity crisis or bipolar disorder.  It couldn’t decide whether to be a science-fiction movie or a western.  Ultimately, it became a derivative pulp western with a dash of science fiction.  Maintaining interest, despite all the action and special effects, was difficult as I almost fell asleep through sheer boredom.  All in all, Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde deserved better than these roles and this movie.

Verdict (Out of 10)

This movie deserves rightfully a 6 out of 10.  If you don’t have anything to watch, then watch this movie, but otherwise, avoid it if you can.

Related articles

• COWBOYS & ALIENS Blu-ray Review (collider.com)
• Blu-ray Review: Cowboys & Aliens (blogcritics.org)
• Cowboys and Aliens (mrmovietimes.com)