A Million Ways To Die In The West - Review

Seth Macfarlane is a household name, bringing joy and flamboyant laughter throughout the world. His recent feature film ‘TED’ had audiences cramping in laughter in what would be seen as an almost perfect directorial debut for the TV funny man. Macfarlane’s crude and satirical comedic behavior has become a staple of this generation and has spawned into many spin-offs and replicas yet his originality still remains fluid throughout recycled jokes.

Macfarlane’s latest flick ‘A Million ways to die in the West’ has had a cult follow up after ‘Ted’s’ success and has been eagerly awaited by fan boys around the globe. With the success and following that Macfarlane had gathered over the last few years, he has decided to step even further into the spotlight and star as the leading character himself, this can almost be seen as a joke within itself as he delivers what can be only related to as a mannequin-esque type performance, lacking emotion and any type of facial expression humanly possible, pointing fun at a few leading men. The casting is exceptional and on paper you couldn’t go wrong with Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried and of course NPH (Not to mention some amazing cameos). However this film is almost as if Macfarlane has completely missed the mark… Yet, the casting still work with it and manage to turn this film from being a baron tumble weed of dryness to a flourishing tavern enjoyment.

With Macfarlane you can always presume that the film will be dosed in pop-culture references and Family guy flashbacks and tangents, and that is what draws the audience to watch. He has no qualms in pleasing the wider spectrum, instead Macfarlane just wants to deliver what his fans expect of him and damn he does it well.

This film is taking a thumping by critics around the globe, and to be honest it doesn’t deserve all the flack it is receiving. If you are heading along to see this film, have in mind that you are stepping into Macfarlane country and Seth is full at the reigns. So sit back, relax and let the man himself deliver you into a restful coma of satirical enjoyment.

I give it a solid and deserving 6.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Mase Shaw - Follow Mase on Twitter @MaseShaw