There's Gold In Them There Hills! "City Slickers 2: The Legend of Curly's Gold"

City Slickers 2 (1994)

Rated PG-13

Starring Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Jon Lovitz, Jack Palance, Patricia Wettig

Directed by Paul Weiland

The Story:

Mitch (Crystal) is paranoid.  He keeps seeing Curly (Palance) ever since he discovered a map hidden in the old cowboy's hat.  Teaming with Phil (Stern) and saddled with his older brother, Glen (Lovitz), the trio head out west to discover the treasure that Curly's ancestors buried.  However, some things buried in the desert are meant to stay buried!

A few years after the now-classic City Slickers was released, the inevitable sequel followed.

While not nearly as beloved as the first, I for one, am a big fan.

The dynamic changed a bit. 

Gone, with no explanation is Ed (Bruno Kirby), but Phil and Mitch are still there.

Now we are introduced to Glen, Mitch's deadbeat brother and played to the hilt by Lovitz.

I have often found movies improved by the Lovitz Factor, and this one is no exception.

Bringing back Jack Palance was a stroke of genius, and he actually gets a bit more screen time this go round.

Again, it's a different feel than the first one, but that's totally fine because it stands on its own merits as a good movie, not just a sequel to a great movie.


Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  While not quite as great as City Slickers, it's pretty darn close. :)

How The West Was Fun... "City Slickers"

City Slickers (1991)

Rated PG-13

Starring Billy Crystal, Jack Palance, Daniel Stern, Bruno Kirby, Patricia Wettig

Directed by Ron Underwood

The Story:

Mitch (Crystal) is turning 40.  His best friends Ed (Kirby) and Phil (Stern) have plans to take him on a cattle drive to celebrate the big occasion.  Fearing that her husband could face a mid-life crisis, his wife (Wettig) urges him to go.  So they head off to drive a herd of cattle across country and along the way the boys are going to learn a thing or two under the tutelage of trail boss Curly (Palance).

Closing in on the 25th anniversary of this film, and aside from a joke about VCRs, it's really aged well.

This captured the era when Billy Crystal was on fire at the box office as the improbable leading man who could do it all.

The jokes are fast and funny throughout, relying on dialogue and situational comedy to make the audience connect with the characters and howl with laughter.

Naturally, this movie is most remembered for Palance's Academy Award winning turn as Curly, the cow hand with a heart of steel who was actually much nicer than he appeared.

Okay, no he wasn't.

That he didn't kill Mitch was probably due to the fact that he simply ran out of time before he could.

:)

Give it a spin, especially if you've never seen it.

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

If it's been nearly 25 years since you last saw it, dust it off and give it a whirl.

I think you'll find it still holds up really well.

And maybe you'll finally figure out what that "One Thing" that Curly is talking about, really is.

Final Grade: Solid A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I can watch this one anytime.  Absolutely love it.