MovieChat Forums > City Slickers (1991) Discussion > Didn't hold up well . . . and the pacing...

Didn't hold up well . . . and the pacing was terrible

posted 13 years ago by jgroub
13 replies | jump to latest

Just saw this again for the first time in 20 years, and I didn't think it was very good. For one thing, the intro to Mitch's character was far too long. I kept on thinking, "Get out West already!" They didn't need to show four different ways why he needed to make this trip. Just get him out there.

Also, the ending was overplayed. It's as if there were four different endings to the movie - once when they save Mitch, another when they arrive at the ranch, having brought the herd in, a third when he arrives home, a fourth when there's that helicopter shot of them on the bridge. Just end it already!

Finally, this ain't no kids movie, even when showed on television on TNT. Waaay too much sex talk, which I had forgotten all about in the intervening 20 years. Not that it wasn't good sex talk, ahem, but just that this is not an appropriate movie to show to your 12-year-old daughter. Whoops!

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] mike171979 13 years ago

Yes its not appropriate for a 12 year old.

If you watch the unedited version, they say *beep* about a dozen times.

I mean its a movie about middle aged men having their midlife crisises, why on earth would a 12 year old even want to watch it???????

[–] jgroub 13 years ago

Oh, saying f@ck is nothing. I don't give a sh!t if she hears that - we never, ever swear, and neither does she, so no biggie. Just watched My Cousin Vinny, and the salty language only adds to the enjoyment. Well, that, and pronouncing the word "deer" with two syllables.

But in the intervening 20 years, I had totally forgotten about all the sex talk. I just wanted her to see the whole cowboy thing. Whoops!

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] chrysalis1814 12 years ago

What the *beep* does it having sex talk and swearing have to do with whether its a good film or not stupid?! That is a complete non point and has no bearing in whether it holds up. Also twelve year olds know what sex is and swear a lot. Wake up its perfectly fine for kids and its still a funny movie!

[–] fredgarv79 12 years ago

I agree totally about the beginning, and the end, the two weakest parts for sure. there was way too much whining about being middle aged in it period and how wife beaten they all were, "gee honey, may I go out by myself somewhere with my friends"? you don't need to do that, you've go me! I don't see why you need to act out your adolescent fantasies when you should be going with me to see mother in Scranton" etc etc. it was kinda hard to believe.

if they just could have had way more curly in it, and less complaining, it would have been much better movie.

[–] frankzappayay 12 years ago

You are a stupid bastard. The relevance of the sex thing is that sometimes it's just out of place in a movie. If it's a grown up film then it's great. But City Slickers tries to be a fun for the whole family type thing, and then has a bunch of jokes about banging or whatever which is just not cool in a family film.

[–] colorado_moviebuff2012 12 years ago

..to the OP, i respectfully disagree, just watched this again since 1991 when I saw in theaters twice.

- it holds up very well, still very funny, touching and just a wonderful movie. And we still identify with every character.

...this is one of my favorite comedies.

...

[–] chrysalis1814 12 years ago

You are a stupid bastard. The relevance of the sex thing is that sometimes it's just out of place in a movie. If it's a grown up film then it's great. But City Slickers tries to be a fun for the whole family type thing, and then has a bunch of jokes about banging or whatever which is just not cool in a family film.

This isn't a FAMILY FILM....... stupid bastard.

[–] bonsai-superstar 9 years ago

Yep. Bad writing. Dated. The "dramatic" scenes at the end were incredibly boring. "Curly" was underused and killed off far too early, As you noted, the scenes with the swearing in the classroom were unfunny and inappropriate. I had always heard of this movie and, upon watching it, found it to be overrated. Too bad.

[–] nicotinequeen63 8 years ago

Although it's an early 90s movie and is a sign of the times, it still holds up well, in my opinion. And I watched with my just turned 14 year old daughter and didn't think it was particularly inappropriate, (just a tad embarrassing). And why would a 12/14 yr old want to watch this movie? Well, why not? It's a smart, funny movie and smart, funny movies aren't exactly growing on trees, you know...

[–] thisnameinuse 8 years ago

I agree. I saw this in theaters, and literally just finished watching it, and I think it's held up great. I will say I tuned in part-way through, so I missed the opening segments, but I've seen those recently within the past few years, and don't remember them being jarring. It's still a rather timeless story among the 3 main characters. And once they do begin the cattle drive, it's believable even today in that most electronics wouldn't work out there and would be useless, apart from perhaps camera functions.

The underlying themes are quite long-lived: a person stuck in a rut in their job, losing their lust for life, and having it negatively affect their marriage and home life... someone caught in a bad marriage, succumbing to temptation and causing serious upheaval in their life... and another worried about settling down and making a long-term commitment.

Not dated at all.

————
You're makin'... me... beat... up... GRASS!

[–] chickenchick89 8 years ago

I've been watching this movie since I was a kid and I always liked it. I still do. Me and my brothers watched a lot of "inappropriate" movies when we were younger with my grandma and we turned out fine. Lol
But I agree there are some boring parts in the movie that I fast forward through.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 3 years ago

What makes you think you “turned out fine”?

You obviously don’t know what pimps mean by “turned out.”

“Me and my brothers”!? You think that you turned out fine?

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 3 years ago

I recently watched it again and I loved it. One of the most enjoyable films I've seen in a long time. I don't know why anyone would think this a film for 12 year olds, though.