Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, August 29, 1994 TAG: 9408300017
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: EXTRA3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A completely unscientific poll conducted at a recent matinee counted four laughs in the entire movie. And those weren't actual laughs; they were really more snort-giggles at unexpected bits of physical business. Most of the humor in this one is delivered slowly, and some of it is gratuitously mean. One recurring joke is based on the death and torture of several brothers.
The premise is less-than-hardy pioneers who have had enough. Several citizens of Prosperity, a poor Western town, are thinking about heading back East. The banker (Robert Picardo) has been robbed three times in one month; the madam (Ellen Greene) isn't getting paid; the gay bookstore owner (John C. McGinley) is going out of business; the newly arrived settler's (Richard Lewis) cattle have been stolen.
When wagon master James H. Harlow (Candy), shows up in the saloon, they decide it's time to leave.
For reasons having something to do with a land rush, a rich guy back East wants to stop them, and has hired a generic bad guy (Ed Lauter) to do the job. Rodney A. Grant shows up as an Indian who helps our protagonists and provides a few good moments. He's the one real discovery in the film. Though he was fierce in "Dances With Wolves," he demonstrates a sure touch with light comedy.
Director Peter Markle has done fairly well with other kinds of off-beat material; "The Personals" and "Hot Dog ... the Movie." This one lacks the characters and high spirits that made those two relatively successful.
The association of Candy's death with the film certainly doesn't help. Without that, though, "Wagons East!" is still a flat comedy.
Wagons East! H1/2
A TriStar release playing at the Valley View Mall 6. 100 min. Rated PG-13 for barnyard humor, strong language, comic violence.
by CNB