Billy Crystal and two pals star as the 'city slickers'. Urban East Coast folk tired with their lives looking to give them some meaning by winning the western wilderness. During their adventure, they're confronted by events and stuff that make them find their true natural selves.Sounds good on paper. But it isn't, really. It starts off fairly funny, but then replaces the funny with pure plot and morality, which aren't anything more than mediocre in quality.And the only real broader moral at the end really is: "if you're spoiled city scum, go hit some dirt and ride a horse for a week without your family and you'll return a refreshed husband and parent for about as long".5/10.

As old as the "Men are from Mars, Women are from Jupiter" ponderings is the difference between "guy" films and "chick flicks". Though not trying to stereotype the genders too much here, the camp of movie-goers that will watch "The Notebook" or "A Walk To Remember" have different hormones flowing through them as those that go to "Terminator Salvation" or "Rambo IV". There's just a fundamental difference that often cannot be overcome by either gender."City Slickers", however, is the rare film that, while being a complete "guy" film, also proves to be as introspective as any emotional drama. Basically, "Slickers" tells the story of a middle-aged man named Mitch (played superbly by Billy Crystal) who undergoes a mid-life crisis. He works a dead-end job, has kids that think he is an "old fart", 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), and is on the verge of complete depression. However, an opportunity (two weeks herding cattle at a Dude Ranch) presents itself for Mitch to be able to re-capture his youth, and he reluctantly takes it. Over the course of the trip, Mitch (and his pals, by extension) slowly but surely (and with often hilarious results!) begins to recapture the excitement that seemed to have been missing from his life.Besides the inspiring storyline that rivals any feel-good film, "Slickers" vaults itself into the stratosphere with the quality of both its humor and acting. The jokes in this film, while not the physical comedy of, say, Jim Carrey, are still hilarious, and mirror the changes that each friend is going through. Speaking of those friends, Phil and Ed (played by Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby, respectively), they each in turn provide the perfect compliment to Mitch's old-age crisis...Ed is the go-getter who never seems to slow down, while Phil is stuck in a heartless marriage and wishes he could just start over. The camaraderie, struggles, and real-life discussions between those three guys provides the emotional backbone of the film. Plus, the auxiliary characters (including Jack Palance as the trail-hardened cowherd Curly) each add their own take on life into the picture.Towards the end of the film, Mitch proclaims that he has finally found his "one thing" in life. Though that "one thing" is never revealed, that is actually the point...everyone must go out and find it for him/her self (much like the viewer may begin to contemplate while watching). So guys, the next time your significant other wants to watch another two Kleenex-box romance, suggest this film as a change of pace (but make sure she watches the whole thing...as the meat of the message is saved for the finale). She may not laugh at all the same things you do (which will be pretty much everything!), but she may also come away with a bit better of a perspective on what it's like to be a guy.

Released in 1991 and directed by Ron Underwood, "City Slickers" is a Western dramedy taking place in modern times (1991, that is) starring Billy Crystal, Bruno Kirby and Daniel Stern as three buddies from the New York City area who are experiencing mid-life problems and decide to take a two week vacation driving cattle from New Mexico to Colorado to find their mojo. Jack Palance plays the tough leader of the cattle drive while Patricia Wettig plays one of the wives. Helen Slater and others are along for the ride.This was a hit at the time but, seeing today, it was a little overrated. Still, it's a solid dramedy mixing amusing moments with somewhat poignant insights on life. While I'm familiar with Crystal, this is the only movie I've seen him in and he plays a quality everyman. Wettig is striking and Slater is winsome, but the latter is prematurely removed from the main events.The film runs 113 minutes and was shot mostly in New Mexico, but also Colorado, New York City and Universal City, CA.GRADE: B or B- (6.5/10)

City Slickers (1991) *** 1/2 (out of 4)Wonderful buddy film/comedy about three men (Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Bruno Kirby) facing mid-life crises who decide to go on a two week vacation, which just happens to be a cattle drive. Along the way the three try to work their problems out while at the same time getting to understand their boss (Oscar-winner Jack Palance). CITY SLICKERS is a wonderfully entertaining little gem that really has a terrific set-up, a terrific cast and in the end it's really just a really entertaining way to kill a couple hours. I think the movie works on many levels but its best is simply the cast. The three leads to a wonderful job together and they really come across as life-long friends. The three are such wonderful comic actors that they can handle all of this without any problems. Best of all is the terrific comedy that the three make together as their timing is perfect and they really bring you into their personal stories and make you care about them. The movie is mainly a comedy but there are moments of drama with the three and the actors pull these moments off as well. The supporting players in the cow drive are also very good and make good use of their time on the screen. Of course, one of the biggest draws comes from Palance who delivered his Oscar-winning performance here. You really can't blame the voters for giving him the award even if his screen time isn't anywhere near the longest. The actor is just so tough, charming and fun that you can't help but fall in love with his character. The chemistry between Palance and Crystal is priceless and alone makes the film worth seeing. The screenplay is quite smart in its own right as it's able to create such wonderful bits of dialogue, terrific stories and in the end it really does come together well.