This is the new film by Seth MacFarlane, director, actor and screenwriter of “Ted” which had a huge success at the American Box-Office thanks to its trashy humor in the form of a Teddy Bear. He comes back with the same concept but situated in the Wild West. Resembling a “Western Spaghetti” movie, “A Million Ways To Die in the West” don’t use the codes of the genre but rather plays on shitty and anachronistic humor. Indeed, the main character makes jokes about discoveries made after the end of the 19th century. This is a film that could have happened in our time (a guy got dumped by his girlfriend that now goes out with a jerk, he comes across another girl but it’s complicated …) and which humor either consists in stupid gags based on farts or on very “chatty” jokes. Considering the directing, there is nothing interesting there and the film lacks of rhythm. When the jokes are predictable and not funny (as always, the best ones are in the trailer) and the screenplay is based on intrigues that we’ve seen again and again on screen, you are no longer interested in watching the movie. “Ted” was better because the cute Teddy bear with a super trashy attitude made the film a least a bit unusual.
There is nothing new here, it is all warmed over. Seth MacFarlane has the audacity to believe that he will recreate the same success with this useless film. Nevertheless, it benefits a great cast with Charlize Theron, Neil Patrick Harris, Giovanni Ribisi and Liam Neeson. About that, Seth MacFarlane is the one who is the worst: overdoing it and reciting his text mechanically while he is totally free in his interpretation as director of the film.
To sum up, a film that was tempting to watch but which announces the opening of the bad blockbuster movies summer season.
