In dire need of a steady income to finance his gold prospecting ambitions, a drifter takes on the dangerous occupation of sheriff in a crime-ridden town simply for the pay, but gradually finds himself won over by the challenges of the job in this western comedy starring James Garner. The film has some truly zany comedic elements, such as a jail cell with no iron bars where Garner keeps a prisoner at bay through psychological intimidation alone. There is also much to like in the film's tale of a reluctant hero overcoming initially shady motives to prove his actual worth. The humour is extremely hit and miss though with lots of loud, slapstick comedy in the mix as brawling, pratfalls in dirty mud and characters whacking each other on the head are played for laughs. Joan Hackett is also introduced a little too obviously as a romantic interest for any sparks between the pair to fly. That said, she has some great moments as she finds herself stuck in places as bizarre as a tree to avoid embarrassing encounters with Garner. The best thing that the film has going for it is Garner's charisma though with memorable bits such as sticking his finger down the barrel of a gun pointed at his face and bravely standing up to the much-feared, ruthless son of a local landowner (Bruce Dern in a wonderfully unbalanced turn) after he kills a man in a cold blood. The film's title was apparently inspired by a series of bumper stickers popular at the time, and it speaks volumes that the words "Support Your Local" are synonymous with this film rather than those stickers nowadays.
Review of Support Your Local Sheriff!
