City Slickers (1991) User Reviews (125)

First-rate comedy with some serious themes running just beneath the surface.

[barnabyrudge · 8/10 · 19 May 2004]

City Slickers entertained me enormously when I was a teenager because it has some good, solid laughs. Nowadays, as I approach my thirtieth birthday with frightening momentum, it still entertains me but it touches me too. That's probably what makes it such a great film: the skillful intertwining of humour, emotion and action.

New Yorker Mitch (Billy Crystal) has reached crisis point in his mundane life. Bored by his job in the lower reaches of radio broadcasting and frustrated by the alarming rate at which years seem to be passing him by, he senses that his life has been a failure. His two friends, Phil (Daniel Stern) and Ed (Bruno Kirby) buy him a two week vacation for his birthday. No ordinary vacation, mind... a fortnight driving cattle across the Wild West, just like in the good old days. And it is while on this extraordinary vacation that the three buddies learn how to make the most of their mixed-up lives.

The performances are uniformly excellent, especially Crystal who is in sharper form than ever before (or since, come to think of it) and Jack Palance as the leathery trail boss whose simple philosophies are surprisingly insightful. The scripting is outstanding, giving all the stars a chance to do some good character development, while providing terrific laugh-out-loud moments too. The film works on other levels too: the music is stirring, the photography spectacular and the editting very sharp (especially in a superb scene in which Crystal tries on an assortment of ill-fitting cowboy hats, only to opt in the end for his trusty old baseball cap). City Slickers is great entertainment, and one of the truly timeless comedy masterpieces from its decade.

"Stand By Me" meets "Groundhog Day"

[ScottyB · 8/10 · 24 January 1999]

Excellent. Funny, romantic, coming-of-middle-aged, must see.

I had some difficulty trying to categorize this movie. It is extremely funny most of the time, but has an underlying emotional element throughout the film which can send you to a reminiscent mood at times. The beauty of this film is that it explores an uncommon theme among movie makers - the bond between male friends which is just as strong as the female version, but not discussed as often.

Billy Crystal plays a typical bloke in that uneasy period between being "one of the lads" and being "old" i.e. coming up to his 40th birthday. We are drawn in to the lives of all the three main characters with the ups and downs of having lived it all, settled down, and remembered what our youth was like. To get an escape by going away with your old friends once a year to relive your youth - sorry ladies, but all us guys do it now and then - provides an excellent theme for this movie made better by the fact that most viewers will relate themselves to at least one character in the cast, from the lively funster who always has the bright ideas to the quiet lad who secretly looks forward to finding out what his mates have lined up for him this year. The fairer sex are not in any way left out of this character identification with characters from the middle-aged housewife through the feisty-but-dull teenager and back to to good ol' Old Dear - all smiles, reliable no matter what life throws at you.

Without giving too much of the story away, it's difficult to say any more, other than I voted this movie 8 out of 10 and if you do decide to watch it, feel free to complain to me if you don't enjoy it - I don't expect any complaints for this recommendation :-)

great comedy

[kairingler · 8/10 · 3 June 2014]

Billy Crystal does a great job in this, and I'm really not a big fan either,, I'm more of a Jack Palance fan, by the way he was great as the trail boss.. I don't know what I would do if I had the money and two weeks off, cattle drive,, maybe not so much , but the movie provides an interesting premise for us guys in their late 30's early 40's . 3 men with jobs in the city , work their butt's off for a year and save up their vacation time to go on a cattle drive,, and in two weeks,, try to find themselves as men,, as each one of them has something different that he wants to accomplish. but the main thing is that they all have fun doing it,, along the way the meet "Curly" ,, Jack Palance as the trail boss,, I don't know why he wasn't in the whole movie,, but that's another subject all together,, my favorite character however without a doubt was little "Norman" the cow,, excellent funny movie,, love the river chase scene, this is one of those movies that I can watch once or twice every year and not get tired of it .

Hilarious and Well-Meaning Comedy.

[tfrizzell · 8 June 2002]

"City Slickers" is one of those curiosities that is just good pure entertainment that works in spite of itself. Billy Crystal is going through a mid-life crisis. It is time to get away. So he goes on a trail ride with friends Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby. What follows is a funny film that is full of outlandish delight. Oscar-winner Jack Palance dominates in a very short role as the man hired to look after Crystal, his friends and a group of interesting characters. Charming little film. 4 stars out of 5.

One sweet ride

[Mr-Fusion · 7/10 · 16 September 2022]

Billy Crystal shines in a classic midlife-crisis story that turns into something petty remarkable. While I can't say that I'd ever suffered the same depression when I hit the big four-oh, I can say that I was happy to go on this journey with these characters; seeing Jack Palance's grizzled Marlboro Man steal all of his scenes; the chemistry between Stern, Kirby and Crystal; the sweeping vistas; hell, even falling to pieces over a week-old calf (who knew?)

The movie works just fine as a comedy (never less than amusing) but also has moments of poignancy that really sneak up on you. Plenty of adolescent hijinks, well-earned self-discovery and good vibes all around. I'd recommend this in a heartbeat.

Feel good film, with Crystal in the form of his life

[ragingbull_2005 · 6/10 · 28 June 2020]

City Slickers was, from all accounts, a cultural phenomenon 30 years back. It earned 200 million world wide, in 1991, on a budget of 20 million dollars and cemented Billy Crystal's standing as one of the leading comic talents of the time, a reputation that was further solidified the next year when "When Harry Met Sally" came to town. It also happens to be one of the best "feel good films" that you can treat yourself to, in these saturnine times.

It is, prima facie, a buddy movie. It is also a coming of "mid -life crisis" age film. It is peppered with essential wisdom about life & its associated responsibilities. It also pioneered the concept of going on tough trails to feel invigorated about life, a life which was getting crushed with the ennui of daily grind, poor choices and messy relationships.

Jack Palance earned a richly deserved Best Supporting Actor Academy Award as the tough cowboy who introduces the city slickers to many of the truths. He is matched by Crystal (also the producer of this), who has the best lines and who is almost as funny here as he was in When Harry...

The only bit that I found slightly disconcerting was the director's attempt to tie everything off quite deftly, at the end. It felt forced and a bit artificial.

It is a delightful watch and is sure to leave you in splits because of its witty lines. Recommended.

Classic, just classic

[Quinoa1984 · 7/10 · 22 July 2001]

City Slickers is one of Billy Crystal's best comedies, if not possibly his best. He plays a businessman who is going through mid-life crisis, as is his friends played by Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby. So, they decide to go on a cattle drive to try and get things together in they're heads. What shows is hilarious and interesting as well. A consistently and uproariously funny comedy that will be funny for others to watch in future years. The cow birth scene is most memorable scenes, but really memorable lines are scattered throughout. A

Comedy,Adventure,friendship and the wild west all combine to make one pretty good movie!

[triple8 · 9/10 · 27 April 2004]

City Slickers-was when I first saw the previews many years ago, nothing I thought I'd be interested in. Then I saw it. I was very much mistaken, I got into this right away with enthusiasm-this isn't just a good movie, I'd call it very good or even great. I didn't expect the depth and the beauty of the storyline that I got. One of the best movies Billie Crystal has ever made.

City Slickers had moments of comedy that were actually funny. Really really funny. In addition, the emotional element that went along with the comedy just made it a that much more satisfying movie going experience. This is a movie that stands out by combining fantastic humor with a touching and relatable story about three friends and the search to find who they really are as people. And that this all takes place in such stunning surroundings just completes the movie experience.

The dialogue was real and relateable and what was done so well, was how all encompassing the movie was-comedy,western,drama-everything was combined here and the results flowed perfectly smooth and were great. This script was superb.

Identity is an issue that all people struggle with at any age-the way these people spoke to each other were probebly very close in nature to conversations going on right now. The cinemotography was magnificent and the characters were believable to the point where you either feel like you know them or you'd like to. I think that's enough reasons to dig the movie! In short-City Slickers is a surprisingly excellent movie that garners a 9 out of 10 for me and can be enjoyed by all.

Entertaining, but not laugh out loud funny

[blott2319-1 · 6/10 · 22 January 2021]

It's kind of weird returning to City Slickers now that I'm actually older than the characters in the film. I can appreciate some of the stress that comes with getting older, and I guess I understand the desire to seek out adventure before it's too late in life. It does seem like the message of this movie is fairly vague, bordering on being a complete cop-out that dodges any true moral, and therefore it lacks some of the emotional punch I was expecting. I enjoy all the camaraderie between the main characters, and seeing how they grow closer through this adventure. I'm not sure I fully believe that they could become as good at herding cattle as they seem to get in a matter of days in this film, but it certainly gives a triumphant tone to the end of the story. Unfortunately, that tone lasts less time than I expected, and never feels fully satisfying.

There's no doubt that City Slickers is an entertaining movie, and it works because the 3 best friends all have charm and good chemistry with one another. I like the diverse characters we see from Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, and Bruno Kirby. I'm not sure all the humor in the film works, though. There are several moments where I chuckled, but it fell short of laugh-out-loud funny. Of course, I have seen the film before and knew most of the jokes were coming, so perhaps the humor just lacks the kind of punch needed for repeated laughs. The strangest attempt at humor is just Billy Crystal's repeated nasal "Hello." I'm not even sure why that's supposed to be funny, but he goes there again and again. On the whole, City Slickers is still a decent comedy-adventure film that explores the causes and effects of a man's mid-life crisis. It's not an all-time classic, but certainly worth watching.

Crystal isn't to everybody's tastes, but this inspiring film is his finest

[TheNorthernMonkee · 8/10 · 25 April 2005]

SPOILERS Every generation's men have one thing in common. Whatever the age range is, every man who has ever reached a certain age on this planet has gone through a mid-life crisis. Whether they have it when younger, or around the early forties, we all go through a period when we question what we've done with our lives and feel trapped. In 1991's often daft, and regularly inspiring, "City Slickers" our three heroes all learn to appreciate life as they drive a herd of cattle to Colorado.

Mitch Robbins (Billy Crystal) feels old. Waking on his birthday, he finds himself feeling trapped and miserable. His friends Ed and Phil (Bruno Kirby and Daniel Stern) also have problems in their lives. For Mitch's present, he and his two friends go on a cattle herding holiday to experience a childhood dream. When there, Mitch meets the stone faced Curly (Jack Palance) who helps him to find himself again.

From the animated beginning standing out as a tribute to the Pink Panther series, "City Slickers" has more magical moments than you can count on your hands. Whether a hilarious line that you want to write down to remember, or a visually stunning scene to the film's excellent main score, you think of "City Slickers" and it's possible to think of a moment to treasure.

The acting as well is top notch. Yes, it's true that Billy Crystal is one of these actors / comedians that you love or hate, but along with "When Harry Met Sally", this is one of his finest hours. Ultimately though, it's not Crystal that should be remembered. Bruno Kirby as Ed Furillo is a revelation, demonstrating a skill for humour and sentimentality at the same time. Again though, Kirby, despite giving such a good performance, is overshadowed by the stunning performance by worthy Oscar winner Jack Palance. Winning the award for best supporting actor (38 years after his nomination for "Shane"), Palance is impossible to criticise as the mysterious Curly.

Key to the success of "City Slickers" is that simple fact that it truly is an inspiring film. It's possible to create a long list of films which can be described as 'inspirational', but there's just something extra about this film which really hits the spot. Scenes where the three friends ride their horses to the amazing score, they just hit the spot and you find yourself wishing, even if just for a second, that you could be there. It's magical.

Some people don't like Billy Crystal as an actor. That's fair enough, that's their choice. Crystal is one of those who you do enjoy watching, or you want to hit him. In "City Slickers" though, he pulls out one of his finest performances. Helped by the flaw free Jack Palance and the brilliant Bruno Kirby, Crystal leads the way in this often funny, often inspiring and always enjoyable film. If you ever needed a film to smile and feel alive to, this is it.

Best Western Comedy of All-Time

[PartTimeCritic · 7/10 · 5 March 2023]

City Slickers (B+): I consider this one of the ten essential Westerns you should watch.. Near the beginning of the film, on his 39th birthday Billy Crystal tells his station manager, "Have you ever had that feeling that this is the best I'm ever gonna do, this is the best I'm ever gonna feel... and it ain't that great?" He's in midlife crisis mode. His friends, played by Bruno Kirby and Daniel Stern, are also broken men in different ways. Together they decide to go on a two week vacation to the New Mexico where they can be cowboys and drive a herd - they think it will help them "find their smile" and figure things out. Figuring out the secret of life, dealing with death, these are pretty deep things to deal with for a comedy right? The film is surprisingly able to juggle these hefty themes along with a lot of great comedy. The men arrive at the ranch, meet their tripmates, and trail bosses - the head of which is manly man Curly. Jack Palance's Curly is an iconic performance as the grizzled cowboy boss who loves the life and doesn't suffer fools; he has great chemistry with Crystal. In fact, the whole cast really has great chemistry - especially the three leads. City Slickers is one of those movies that is able to wring a lot of comedy out of a genre picture while simultaneously embracing many of the things that make Westerns great. In other words, it doesn't need to cut the genre down to get most of its laughs. This isn't the East coast looking down its nose at flyover country - everyone is fair game here. By the time our three leads are guiding a herd across a river to the swelling of the outstanding film score - it's hard not feel the awe and wonder that would be normal in a movie like Red River. City Slickers isn't perfect, I'm find the "find what matters most in your life and center yourself around it" secular philosophy to be a dud, but it surprisingly hits powerfully in many other areas - the biggest being genuine and hearty laughs. It's my favorite "Western" comedy.

Kind of sneaks up on you.

[Peach-2 · 8/10 · 22 November 1998]

The first time I saw this film I thought it was a piece of wasted Hollywood fluff. Then I watched it again for some reason and liked it a little more. The third time I watched this film I became hooked. City Slickers is wonderful fun. Billy Crystal is perfect in the mid-life crisis role and Jack Palance has been waiting for this part his whole career. Ron Underwood did a great job with this one. It seemed cliched at first, then I realized it is a great original piece of comedy film-making.

Typical Crystal

[RNMorton · 7/10 · 15 October 2003]

Classic Crystal/Ganz/Mandel, which means relatively equal parts schtick, smarm, pathos, okay humor and awkwardness. Crystal, Stern and Kirby sign up for dude ranch, meet Palance (the highlight of the show) and end up with s "life experience". You could do better or worse in movie viewing. Then there's the big drop to City Slickers II, which misses Kirby, Slater and most of the other intangibles that were good about this deal.

These Guys Are Clueless

[ccthemovieman-1 · 5/10 · 21 December 2006]

Like most people, I really enjoyed this the first time I saw it. It was a "good, solid comedy with some melodramatic moments and action all mixed in effectively," I put in my notes back then. "Jack Palance steals the show," I added. "It's just a fun movie to watch."

Well, some 5-7 years later, at a look on the DVD, this film lost a lot of its appeal to me. I guess I changed; I know the film didn't. It just appeared so blatantly secular in everything, it became ridiculous. Billy Crystal - and this is typical of all his comedies - and his buddies look at the world in an extreme worldly manner.

In between the laughs in this movie are the guys (Crystal, Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby) expressing their viewpoints on life, marriage, happiness, relationships and "the secret to life,"as it's literally put in this film. Even though it's a comedy, and some of the viewpoints are said strictly for laughs, this is an angry film with these men always mad, always confused, bickering, swearing at each other, etc. That loudness mixed with the profanity just doesn't make this a funny movie any longer. The sequel is far better.

In here, all you have is a warped look at life from people who don't have a clue about what it's all about....but think they do.

you'll love it

[mattkratz · 5 September 2000]

This movie is for anyone who needs relief from a crisis, middle-aged or otherwise.

Three buddies head down the trails to relieve their midlife crises. They wind up sharing the adventures of a lifetime. I have enjoyed this movie each and every time I have seen it. The comedy is pleasant, and you will not exhale during the river rescue scene. *** out of ****

A 90's Time capsule!

[R1charD_TugNutz · 6/10 · 9 December 2022]

This movie is a great representation of what films were like in the early 90s. It's witty, fun, and entertaining enough to keep you engaged. The acting isn't to bad, action sequences have no ridiculous CGI that take you out of reality and it hits a couple of real life problems on the head like infidelity and the idea of a man hitting a midlife crisis where he doesn't feel like he's wanted or needed.

The comedic dialogue is great and makes me yearn for friendly camaraderie that the main characters have. It was also nice to see New Mexico having some screen time in the early 90s. The backdrop was pretty. All in all an entertaining film but nothing special.

Pack Your Bags And Get Ready For A Good Time

[damianphelps · 7/10 · 22 May 2023]

The story of three middle aged men who 'go out west' to find their smiles.

This film is arguably the movie that made both Billy Crystal and Daniel Stern into household names.

It is cheesy and many of the jokes are predictable but they work because of the earnest delivery that the cast provide.

The movie was also a bit of a re emergance of long time actor Jack Palance who having made countless movies had been a little lost to the pages of history prior to this coming out.

Drowning in charm and good humour City Slickers is a quality movie that will leave you in a good mood and with a smile on your face :)

City Slickers

[jboothmillard · 7/10 · 11 September 2007]

The critics call it a blockbuster that cleaned up at the box office, and that it is a winning comedy, I can agree with this opinion, and I personally like it as a comedy boys-own adventure. Basically Mitch Robbins (Golden Globe nominated Billy Crystal) is the middle-aged radio adverts salesman, and with his best friends Phil Berquist (Home Alone's Daniel Stern) and Ed Furillo (When Harry Met Sally's Bruno Kirby) are all having a mid-life crisis. At Mitch's birthday party, they tell him about a two week trip they have arranged where they can become cowboys in the wild west herding cattle from New Mexico to Colorado, and his wife Barbara (Patricia Wettig) is actually letting him go, she doesn't want him coming with her to Florida to see her parents. There they meet other keen riders including Bonnie Rayburn (Helen Slater), and brothers Barry (Josh Mostel) and Ira (Mighty Joe Young's David Paymer) Shalowitz. There they are greeted by the one's who have experienced herding, Clay Stone (Good Morning, Vitenam's Noble Willingham) and Dr. Ben Jessup (Bill Henderson) with his son Steven (Phill Lewis). Then when opportunity kicks in, they meet the man who really knows what he's doing, Curly Washburn (Oscar and Golden Globe winning Jack Palance). As they travel the route with the herd in front of them, they are finding it hard work herding, but Mitch gets to Curly really well and he seems a nice guy under his ruff attitude. Soon enough though, Curly dies suddenly (kind of like Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine, short Oscar winning role) and the gang have to take the cattle alone. Towards the end, it is only Mitch, Phil and Ed left from the whole gang, and they go through tough terrain, but they and the cattle do make it. It appears that the cattle are going to become meat, but there is a happy ending with all characters going back to their lives with some new found hope in the future, and Mitch brings home the calf he helped deliver, Norman. Also starring Tracey Walter as Cookie, Jeffrey Tambor as Lou, The Simpsons' Yeardley Smith as Nancy, Total Recall's Robert Costanzo as Sal and young Jake Gyllenhaal as Danny Robbins. There are some good giggly moments, and although the sentimentality (characters bonding and sharing their feelings) can slow the story, I kind of like it, and this is a very entertaining comedy adventure. It was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical. It was number 86 on 100 Years, 100 Laughs. Very good!

A Top-Five Comedy, But Also With Feeling

[zkonedog · 10/10 · 12 March 2017]

Strictly as a comedy, "City Slickers" is an 8 or nine star film. What makes it a 10/10 all-time classic, however, is how it touches on personal themes (especially for men) and makes you truly care about the characters.

For a very basic overview, this film tells the story of Mitch (Billy Crystal), who undergoes a mid-life crisis. He works a job that not longer excites him, is almost 40, and can't keep up on his best friend's big adventures (the film opens with the trio of buds running from the bulls in Spain). However, an opportunity presents itself for Mitch to be able to re-capture his youth--two weeks herding cattle at a Dude ranch--and he reluctantly takes it. Over the course of the trip, Mitch and pals Phil (Daniel Stern) and Ed (Bruno Kirby) recapture some of the excitement and genuine camaraderie that seemed to have been missing from their lives.

Like I said, strictly as a comedy "City Slickers" is hilarious. The jokes in this film are not the physical comedy of, say, Jim Carrey, but they expertly mirror the changes that each man is going through in his own life. The wise cracks are about one-per-minute and genuinely funny in a psychological, earned way.

Only helping matters is the superb acting form the entire cast. Crystal, Stern, and Kirby do the heavy-lifting, but the entirely of the auxiliary cast are also spot-on perfect. They each in turn provide the perfect compliment to Mitch's "old-age" crisis. The addition of Jack Palance as the trail-hardened cowboy (sort of an homage to all his old western film roles) is the cherry on top--a performance that earned him an Oscar.

Besides the comedy and acting, however, what always impresses me about watching this movie is the heart it ultimately possesses. The camaraderie, struggles, and real-life discussions between the characters really provides the emotional backbone of the film. Whether it's Mitch learning to find his "one thing" in life or Phil's complete breakdown, there are many tender or contemplative moments here. When Mitch, Ed, and Phil ride into camp with the rest of the herd in the film's final moments, you'll feel as if you've been on a real journey with them.

I consider "City Slickers" to be perhaps a top five comedy of all-time in my book. While that makes up about 75% of the proceedings to be sure, the rest is compromised of real-life messages that will have you thinking a bit deeper than most comedies ever will. That is the true power of the film.

And the star of the movie is...

[ciocc1001 · 6/10 · 20 January 2003]

Yeardly Smith!

Time has not been kind to this movie. The first half descends into caricatures, rather than acting. And given the fine cast, one expects more. The low point is when Nancy barges into the party with her incredibly whiny voice, and you think "who is this incredibly annoying person?" And then when I discovered at the end credits that it was Yeardly Smith I realized it was truly great acting. Hey, its not easy being THIS annoying. I guess this is what the director wanted.

Fortunately, the movie eventually gets better as the characters gain depth through a personal self-discovery on the range sort of thing. Nothing like a little peace and quiet away from the city, eh? I think this was what the movie Grand Canyon was trying to get at in its crude sort of way.

My advice: If you get the movie, stick with it! It can only get better. And keep an eye out for Nancy!

three men in mid-life crisis go on a cattle drive

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 13 June 2013]

A wonderful, wonderful film, and if you're my age, you'll cry.

From 1991, "City Slickers" stars Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Bruno Kirby, Jack Palance, Patricia Wettig, and Helen Slater. Three men (city folk) whose lives range from unhappy to disastrous go on a two week holiday in the wild west driving cattle from New Mexico to Colorado. There, on the open range, away from their responsibilities, they can perhaps sort out what they want and who they are.

Crystal is Mitch, a happily married man with children who hates his job and is depressed most of the time. When he gets a 30th birthday gift from his pals to do the cattle drive, his wife (Wettig) insists that he go rather than visit her family. If he hesitates, it's because his friend Ed's last idea, of running with the bulls in Pamplona, was a horror.

Phil (Stern) is humiliated at Mitch's 30th birthday party when a woman who works for him comes in and announces she's missed her period, thus causing his wife to dump him on the spot - though they've been miserable for years.

Ed has a lingerie model girlfriend who wants a family, but he's having trouble making a commitment.

So all three go.

There, they meet some real cowboys, and the oldest one, Curly (Palance), is one tough cookie. But Mitch is able to spend some time with him, and Curly tells him that only one thing matters. Just one. But you have to figure out what that one thing is. When Mitch has a crisis, he finally finds out what it is for him.

I really loved this film. It was absolutely hilarious, with some of Billy Crystal's fabulous delivery, and yet very touching at the same time. A perfect combination, something that's not always easy to achieve. Very well acted and directed, the film moves along beautifully.

Highly recommended. Full of wit, with some excitement, and poignant moments.

Different From What I Expected

[Theo Robertson · 6/10 · 11 January 2006]

Remember when this was released in the cinemas ? Remember what two scenes they played in the trailers ?

" Apologise "

" No "

Out with the throwing knife

" AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH. I APOLOGISE !"

and

" We're going into the wilderness with a lunatic .He's behind me , isn't he ? "

Which led me to believe we'd be watching a film comedy centered around a bunch of wannabe cowboys from the city being guided through the New Mexico wilderness by a psycho called Curly . Considering these two scenes were very prominent in the trailers and adverts and the fact Jack Palance won an Oscar for his part as Curly this unfortunately isn't really what the movie is about

Three city slickers ( Hence the title ) are having a mid life crisis . Well two of them are - the other is suffering from getting caught committing adultery - so decide to take the opportunity of a once in a life time working holiday of a cattle drive . The first half hour is taken up by introducing the characters , a sort of chick flick for middle aged men , the second half hour sets up the story proper while the third half hour revolves around men doing what men have got to do and starts to descend into unneeded sentimentality with large eyed calves staring into the camera . What stops this from ruining the film the use of some smart dialogue . But CITY SLICKERS could have been so much better if it had a slightly more sadistic edge

Sweet funny movie

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 3 February 2014]

Mitch Robbins (Billy Crystal) is frustrated with his job selling ad time on the radio. Phil Berquist (Daniel Stern) is in a hateful marriage and found cheating with the checkout girl. Ed Furillo (Bruno Kirby) is settling down with an underwear model. The three friends decide to go on a getaway driving cattle. There they meet the beautiful Bonnie Rayburn (Helen Slater) who just was recently dumped, father & son dentists, Barry & Ira ice cream makers, and the harden trail boss Curly (Jack Palance).

What makes this work is the chemistry between the three good comedic talents, and Jack Palance playing up his rough cowboy act. It has a sweet heart and Billy Crystal making jokes when he was still funny. It has some really funny insightful mid-life-crisis guy talk. And Jack Palance delivers some funny memorable punchlines.

Castle Rock has produced great movies. I definitely like their productions.

[macpherr · 7/10 · 9 November 1999]

Billy Crystal (When Mary Met Sally, Forget Paris) is "Mitch Robbins" a happily married guy whose mom calls him early in the morning every birthday. Mitch's mom wakes up Mitch and his wife "Barbara Robbins" Patricia Wettig (thirtysomething, L.A. Doctors) at the same time every year, on his birthday and says exactly the same thing. He loves his wife and kids but the monotony of life and his job are both getting to him. His wife tells him to go on this trip with his friends and find his smile. "Phil Berquist" Daniel Stern (City Slickers II, Home Alone), and Bruno Kirby (When Harry Met Sally) "Ed Furillo" are Mitch's best friends. They go on this trip with Mitch to drive a herd of cattle across a part of the western U.S. There they meet this strange cowboy, "Curly "Jack Palace (Shane) and learn a lot from him. Jack Palace won an Oscar for this part. "Bonnie Rayburn" Helen Slater (The Secret of my Success, Ruthless People) is the only woman on the cattle drive, and Phil falls for her after his life has turned into chaos, because he had an affair with a grocery clerk. The movie is fun, full of great lines. I find Billy Crystal very talented, family type a guy. Those who are not fond of Billy Crystal should try to watch his interview on the best show on television these days, "Inside the Actors Studio," and get an inside view of him. I recommend this movie as well as City Slickers II. I have both tapes and enjoy watching them. I have had those tapes for years and still find them very enjoyable especially because the way the scripts are written.

My favorite scenes: The birth of the baby calf. The scene was not even shot with the two actors, Billy Crystal and Jack Palace together. Mitch meeting his family back at the airport. My Favorite Quote: Mitch: "Everything is a competition. Life is a competition." Curly:" The secret of life is, ( he points and looks at his index finger) that one thing! Mitch: "Secret of life is that one thing, you have to figure out what that this is." The movie was made by Castle Rock Entertainment that is Karl and Rob Reiner's company. Castle Rock has produced great movies. I definitely like their productions.

Crystal funny?

[drunken_critic · 5/10 · 9 April 2005]

I have come to the painful conclusion that Billy Crystal is not funny. At least he is not funny when he tries to be funny. Actually I think he is a good actor, but he is just annoying when he is trying to be funny. I laughed at situations in this movie, but I did not laugh when Billy Crystal tried to crack jokes.

This movie was about a bunch of guys going through mid-life crises. They try to go on adventures to make their life exciting. I like that idea. I liked the scenes of running with the bulls in Spain. That seems like a romantic thing to do. I also liked that they end up going on a cattle drive, but the story really didn't go anywhere exciting. They deal with problems that really didn't excite me or interest me. I was really feeling bored at the end of the movie. I don't have Adult deficit disorder, but I was showing signs of it at the end of this movie. I was getting antsy, and I really didn't feel like paying attention to the movie. The ending was too boring and predictable.

The most amazing thing about this movie is that Jack Palance won a best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance. How and Why? He was in the movie for about 5 minutes. How could he win? He played a cranky old cowboy that everyone is scared of, but I didn't feel it was convincing or worthy of an Oscar.