A Million Ways to Die in the West [DVD] [2014]

It is a funny movie although I wouldn't recommend it for the little ones. A bit too graphic. I love the silly type movies.

Seth MacFarlane's latest live action departure from the animation he's known so well for marks another hilarious turn. I laughed out loud throughout the film - a feat rarely achieved. The jokes are fast and funny, the cinematography is gorgeous. If the film has any weaknesses, the main would be that one cannot help but compare it to the epoch of comedic westerns, "Blazing Saddles." Such a comparison is unfair to "A Million Ways to Die in the West," but it is also unavoidable. The only other minor fault might be that at a certain point, it becomes a little jarring as to how modern MacFarlane's 'Albert' truly is in his sensibilities, when compared to the period-appropriate remainder of the cast. It's akin to the long running joke MacFarlane uses on Family Guy, where Peter falls and hurts is leg, and is seen holding and grimacing for an extended period of time. At first it's funny, then one thinks it's gone on a little too long. Suddenly, one realizes that the joke is how long they're staying on it and it's funny again. Then, it hangs on just a little too long, and the circle completes again. 'Albert's' modern sensibilities were the same - funny at first, then awkwardly jarring, then funny again, and finally just a bit too much. Nevertheless, I stand by my four-star review. I found it hilarious and can't wait to watch it again.

I'm familiar with MacFarlane's work. I know he can, and often does get really raunchy. But dang, this was nuts! I haven't even dared watch the Unrated version, lol. As genre spoofs go it was pretty good. Better than the "A (Scary, Superhero, Epic, Teen) Movie" types. One could almost say it's this generation's "Blazing Saddles". It takes the western style seriously, but takes the content into the ridiculous(and rude). Not quite as good as Mel Brooks. Didn't have the underlying political tones. But it's hard to top such great writers as Brooks and Richard Pryor. When this first came out I wanted to see it at a local theater called Brewvies that is a bar with a couple of movie screens. Seemed like the kinda movie you would want to watch with a pitcher of beer and a couple of buddies. Never got the chance. However, having watched it at home now, I STILL think it's that kinda movie. Don't know about paying full price. But if you're on the fence about it and it's on sale, go ahead and pick it up.

When your watching a Seth McFarlane movie its apparent and easy to tell almost instantly, and if you've ever seen a episode of Family Guy than you know what to expect. Now Seth's first directorial effort had all the elements to make it a hit, his 2nd though does not necessarily. Something feels off about this one, its not bad, but there is something about the film taking place in an old western setting and being stuffed with current polar culture gags and jokes that doesn't translate. It may be the fact that if this were intact an episode of Family Guy or an animation picture that maybe would be different but ultimately every actor seems like they are having fun and believe in the material and the movie isn't destroyed by a couple bad bits. Certainly this isn't a bad film but its one that has been overlooked and passed up by many, perhaps, unfairly. This movie deserves a viewing.

"A Million Ways to Die in the West" shovels jokes, sight gags, riffs on old Westerns, and crude humor as fast as it can, figuring everything will be funny to someone in the audience. It's a good bet, and this Western comedy works, although the humor is all over the map, not PC, and sometimes pretty gross. This reviewer saw the movie with an audience that laughed out loud at some of the jokes and sight gags, and groaned at some of the cruder humor. Seth MacFarlane stars as sheep farmer Albert Starks, a nice guy who hates the old West and who as the movie opens gets dumped by his girlfriend Louise (Amanda Seyfried) after he chickens out of a gun fight. Louise takes up with the insufferable Foy (Neil Patrick Harris) who runs the local moustachery. The lonely Albert runs into Anna (Charlize Theron), the runaway wife of mean gunfighter Clinch Leatherwood (Liam Neeson), who takes him under her wing and trains him to fight the inevitable duels, first against Foy and then against Clinch. The opening segments of the movie feature a lot of modern breakup humor, nicely done by Albert and his best friends Edward (Giovanni Ribisi) and Ruth (an hilarious Sarah Silverman). The movie really picks up steam as it drops into a more traditional western storyline, complete with barn dances, gunfights, barroom brawls, Indians, chases on horseback, and a predictable but enjoyable romance. There are a ton of cameos and the magnificent scenery is right out of a John Ford Western. Recommended as good entertainment.

After watching and loving "Ted," perhaps my hopes were too high for Seth Macfarlane's follow-up film, "A Million Ways to Die in the West." It was funny at times, and I can't say I was ever bored while watching it, but considering how great "Ted" was, I can't help but to consider this film a disappointment. The blu-ray is a stunner, though, with reference-quality picture and sound. The extras are a home run as well, with an unrated version that's 20 minutes longer (and it's better than the theatrical version), a funny gag reel, an alternate opening and ending, deleted scenes, an entertaining commentary track (Charlize spends a lot of the time reigning in the silliness of the others, who are all over the place), and a lot more. I liked the movie more on blu-ray than I did in the theater, so make of that what you will.

Is it "low brow"? Most certainly. Does it have plenty of "gross out" moments? By the bucket loads. Is it funny? In my opinion; yes, yes it is. I remember when this flick came out this summer and people were complaining about its crudeness. I'm sorry, but did you happen to see who wrote and directed the film you were watching? A man who created things such as TED and FAMILY GUY, ring any bells? Not exactly the most "PC" viewing you can find. Yet I, like many others, have begun to truly enjoy Mr. Seth's contributions to film (while he is only two films deep anyway), whether or not they cross certain lines with people's beliefs. The movie is just fun, plain and simple. Well, R rated fun at any rate. Have fun looking for all of the star studded cameos as well.

I don't usually by blue rays but the trailers for "A Million Ways to Die in the West" caused me to really laugh out loud for the first time since viewing "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World." Although the humor may not be for everybody and there was some gratuitous violence not recommended for children, the sight gags, puns and jokes were evidenced throughout the film to keep the laughs coming. It was a good story of how folks may have lived in the West of the 1880's. This is a good film to sit down with for a couple hours on a rainy afternoon that should result in some hearty laughs. Not everybody is a Seth Green fan, but for those who are, he did not disappoint.