
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 4, 1994                    TAG: 9406030100 
SECTION: DAILY BREAK                     PAGE: B9    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER 
DATELINE: 940604                                 LENGTH: Medium

HARRELSON STEALS THE SHOW IN ``THE COWBOY WAY''

{LEAD} WHETHER OR NOT you like ``The Cowboy Way'' will depend almost entirely on whether or not you like Woody Harrelson's brand of gung-ho, go-get-'em humor. As Pepper Lewis, a good ol' boy who is fond of boozing and women, Woody steals everything there is to steal in this comedy about two New Mexico cowboys who go to New York City and prove that the country way is the best.

Keifer Sutherland is the other cowpoke, but he's the ``sensible'' one. This allows Woody to turn this energetic, fast-paced movie into a personal vehicle. And he is genuinely funny.

{REST} As for the plot, it's hardly new. Fish out of water are familiar beings in such comedies. Good ol' boys who show the city slickers a thing or two are an overly familiar staple for screenwriters.

There was Clint Eastwood as an Arizona lawman who tracks a killer through the big city in Don Siegel's 1968 thriller ``Coogan's Bluff.'' In ``Midnight Cowboy,'' one of the great films of all time, a phony cowboy tries to take on the city with tragic results.

There is no tragedy about ``The Cowboy Way.'' It's standard and tried material.

The two cowpokes are looking for a missing pal and end up trying to rescue his Cuban daughter, who is about to be sold into slavery by the handsome villain, played by Dylan McDermott. Just about everything about the plot is predictable, particularly the grand finale chase - a dash on horseback across the Manhattan Bridge with our two heroes chasing a subway train.

Ernie Hudson (``Ghostbusters,'' ``The Crow'' and ``No Escape'') is the sidekick New York cop who joins forces with the Western guys. Cara Buono is the resident hostage, who exists only to be captured and threatened by the bad guys.

Directed by Gregg Champion (the son of famed director and dancer Gower Champion of the team Marge and Gower Champion) keeps things moving briskly.

What gives the movie its moments of slick surprise are Harrelson's comic bits. After ``White Men Can't Jump'' and the silly-but-smash-hit ``Indecent Proposal,'' the former ``Cheers'' bartender is firmly entrenched as a full-fledged movie star.

As Pepper, he makes a scene in a fancy restaurant. He is offered a job as a Calvin Klein underwear model. He mugs and does his down-home-country act in a most likable and natural way.

Yes, ``Cowboy Way'' is sexist and, yes, it's pretty corny most of the time, but the sheer energy and drive of it makes it a pleasure.

by CNB