City Slickers (1991)

Directed by Ron Underwood. Starring Billy Crystal, Bruno Kirby, Daniel Stern, Helen Slater, David Paymer, Josh Mostel, Jack Palance, Patricia Wettig, Bill Henderson, Phil Lewis, Tracey Walter, Noble Willingham, Kyle Secor, Dean Hallo. [PG-13]

A trio of New Yorker friends (Crystal, Kirby, Stern) heading into mid-life crises decide to take a “vacation” by going on a two-week cattle drive in the US Southwest, where they learn how to be cowhands, sort through their various issues, and get in touch with themselves. Mixes together the expected elements of fish-out-of-water slapstick and pop-psychology truths while moseying through all the cowboy clichés of lassos, stampedes, storms, calf births, etc. Nothing special, but agreeable enough, with a scattering of amusing moments—primarily from Crystal, playing the standard wry wiseacre Crystal character, and Oscar winner Palance, playing the tough and leathery trail boss. A cute calf called Norman steals the show. A young Jake Gyllenhaal plays Crystal’s son in his first film appearance; Jeffrey Tambor and Yeardley Smith have bit parts.

61/100