Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that the main characters get involved in life-threatening situations, such as being gored by a bull and almost dying in a rushing river. Heavy drinking leads to the death of two horses and the maiming of a minor character, as well as a fistfight and threats to kill a calf. Main characters make sexual jokes aimed at women, and one man cheats on his wife. That said, as midlife-crisis comedies go, this one is kinder and gentler than many that have followed it.
Families can talk about why Mitch is dissatisfied in his life. Does that happen to any of the adults in your household? How does it affect the children? Does Mitch blame his family for his unhappiness? What roles do his friends play in helping Mitch become happy again? How does he resolve his problems? It might be a good time to talk to kids about how adults handle the stresses in their lives (and remind them that it's not their fault when parents are unhappy). That could lead to a larger discussion of how everyone in the family handles stress and unhappiness.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Heather Boerner
Modern midlife-crisis comedies are dark and lecherous. Who could forget Lester's second adolescence and lascivious fantasy about his daughter's teenage friend in American Beauty? Though a good movie, it wasn't family-friendly.
So it's heartening to be reminded of CITY SLICKERS, a movie about a midlife crisis that neither blames the family for Dad's unhappiness nor resorts to exploiting teenage girls so he can reclaim his mojo. City Slickers is the rare movie that rings true for adults but doesn't alienate kids.
On his 39th birthday, Mitch (Billy Crystal) wakes up bored with his job, listless with his family, and obsessed with the pointlessness of his life. Luckily and comically, Mitch has two childhood best friends who drag him to all the clichéd male bonding rituals: sky diving, running with the bulls in Pamplona, etc. And as a special birthday treat, they surprise Mitch with a childhood fantasy come true. They're going to be cowboys for a week and drive cattle from New Mexico to Colorado.
Urged on by his wife to "find his smile," Mitch, Ed (Bruno Kirby), and Phil (Daniel Stern) embark on an adventure to prepare them for the next part of their lives. They meet crusty old cowboy Curly (Jack Palance, who won an Oscar for his role); learn to ride horses, much to their nether regions' distress; and learn some cowboy wisdom. But when Curly's gone and the other professional cowboys take off, can Mitchy the Kidd and his gang bring the herd home safely? And what will happen when they return home?
Though it may not be obvious to kids today, there was a time when Billy Crystal was the king of comedy. In the late '80s and early '90s, he hosted the Oscars several times, starred in When Harry Met Sally, and did countless HBO comedy specials. Thanks to all that, Crystal earned the right to his own film vehicle -- it speaks volumes to his eye for quality and his sensibility that he chose City Slickers for that vehicle.
One quarter Red River and three-quarters Blazing Saddles, this film is a coming-of-middle-age comedy that will speak to men who grew up on Bonanza and the families who love them.
Instead of fleeing from their fears by acquiring younger women (well, with the exception of Phil) or sports cars, the guys use the trip to share their deepest feelings -- but they're on horses in the wild, so it's okay. Robert Bly would be proud. When they return home to their mates, they aren't teenagers, but rather grown men who appreciate what they have -- a true feel-good movie.
Fans might also enjoy the film's sequel, City Slicker's 2: The Legend of Curly's Gold -- though it's not nearly as comically tight or enjoyable as this one. Older teens and adults may also be interested to see the films and shows that City Slickers is based on: the Bonanza TV series, Blazing Saddles, and Red River. For a more serious look at cowboy life, adults might enjoy Brokeback Mountain or Deadwood.
Rate It!
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual ContentMany sexual comments about women's bodies; Phil cheats on his wife and almost gets his mistress pregnant. |
 |
 |
||
ViolenceSome gun play. Phil threatens to shoot a cowboy; the cowboy threatens to shoot an animal. A character nearly dies in the river. |
 |
|
||
LanguageNumerous cuss words, though not f--k. Usually tied in with sexual references, the worst being "bang the s--t out of her." |
|
|
||
Message |
|
|
||
Social BehaviorThe message is positive: Love your family, pursue your dreams, become a man (in the best possible sense). |
 |
 |
||
Commercialism |
 |
|
||
Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoDrinking leads to death and destruction, as well as fistfights. Curly is constantly smoking. |
|
|
||
