"Goin' South" is an unusual picture, as it's a comedy western. Now such a film isn't unheard of...with prior films like "Cat Balou", "Blazing Saddles" and "Dirty Dingus Magee"...but it is a genre in which there just aren't that many movies.
Plus, "Goin' South" is a comedy but compared to these others, it's a heck of a lot more normal! It's unusual for a few other reasons...it stars AND is directed by Jack Nicholson, many of the co-stars are late 70s TV comedy actors (with Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd and John Belushi) and it's the screen debut for Mary Steenburgen. It's also unusual for a Niicholson because it was a box office failure.
The film begins in 1866 with Henry Moon (Nicholson) riding like mad towards the Mexican border. He's a horse thief and a posse is chasing him. Unfortunately for Moon, they catch him and soon he's sentenced to hang. But just before he is to die, he gets a reprieve. Apparently this town has a strange law...that if a woman wants to, she can marry any man sentenced to hang provided he's not a murderer. And, at the very last moment, Julia (Steenburgen) volunteers to marry him. But it's certainly NOT done for romantic reasons...she just needs a hand to help her with her mine. What's next? See the film.
Nicholson and Steenburgen are quite good in this movie. As for the comic relief, although John Belushi is in the film, he doesn't say or do much. According to IMDB, this could be because he and Nicholson did NOT get along at all...and so much of Belushi's part was removed. Christopher Lloyd makes a lot of goofy faces...and is more prominent in the movie and Danny Devito is there...but says and does very little.
So is it worth seeing? Yes. While it's not a rollicking comedy, it is cute and clever and plot-driven...and also features a bit of romance, albeit rather odd romance! However, be forewarned...the consummation of this marriage is a bit problematic when seen today, as it would probably be seen as a bit 'rapey'.
The film begins in 1866 with Henry Moon (Nicholson) riding like mad towards the Mexican border. He's a horse thief and a posse is chasing him. Unfortunately for Moon, they catch him and soon he's sentenced to hang. But just before he is to die, he gets a reprieve. Apparently this town has a strange law...that if a woman wants to, she can marry any man sentenced to hang provided he's not a murderer. And, at the very last moment, Julia (Steenburgen) volunteers to marry him. But it's certainly NOT done for romantic reasons...she just needs a hand to help her with her mine. What's next? See the film.
Nicholson and Steenburgen are quite good in this movie. As for the comic relief, although John Belushi is in the film, he doesn't say or do much. According to IMDB, this could be because he and Nicholson did NOT get along at all...and so much of Belushi's part was removed. Christopher Lloyd makes a lot of goofy faces...and is more prominent in the movie and Danny Devito is there...but says and does very little.
So is it worth seeing? Yes. While it's not a rollicking comedy, it is cute and clever and plot-driven...and also features a bit of romance, albeit rather odd romance! However, be forewarned...the consummation of this marriage is a bit problematic when seen today, as it would probably be seen as a bit 'rapey'.