HOLLYWOOD-Audiences are being treated to epic laughs in 2014. First we had “Neighbors,” but who would have expected Seth MacFarlane to push the envelope even further with his latest flick “A Million Ways To Die In The West?” I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Comedy ain’t easy to do, but when you’re naturally funny as MacFarlane is why not capitalize on the funny.
If you thought “Ted” was funny, you haven’t seen anything yet. “A Million Ways to Die in the West” first and foremost takes comedy into a genre rarely seen nowadays: the Western. Its genius right?! Think “City Slickers,” but ions on the gag factor and unexpected laughs.
MacFarlane wears many hats for this flick playing the role of writer, director, producer and star. Not an easy task for anyone to tackle. He has to be given kudos for deciding to implement Western into a comedy, why more people haven’t considered going that route I have no idea, but what MacFarlane does works.
The film takes place in the late 1800s, where technology was almost none existent for most Americans, which allows comedy to enter at the most unexpected moments. Seth portrays Albert Stark, a sheep farmer who doesn’t possess the highest level of confidence, which forces his lover, Louise (Amanda Seyfried) to abandon him after bowing out of a duel.
The new lady in town Anna (Charlize Theron), in a comic role that many wouldn’t expect, teaches Albert a few things about manning up. He soon finds himself on the verge of another duel after Anna’s estranged hubby, Clinch (Liam Neeson) arrives to town looking to cause problems. The movie works so well thanks to the clever one-liners from MacFarlane’s script and the actors who are known for dramatic roles, showcasing their comedic chops.
Scene stealing characters portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman, Alex Borstein and Christopher Lloyd only heighten the laughter of the picture. With MacFarlane taking on so many roles, one would expect the movie to falter on some front, but not hear. The script is clever, the dialogue is epic, the direction is done with care and as the title promises people do die horribly.
That’s the funny aspect; as a spectator you don’t know when it will happen, but when it does the laughs just emit from ones mouth without any hesitation. I knew heading into the theater, “A Million Ways to Die in the West” would be funny, but I had no idea how many bellyaches I would receive from watching the comedy. Its R-rating is well earned and not intended for those little ones.
