Cat Ballou

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Wayne K When I hear the term ‘Western Comedy’ my mind tends to go straight to one of the greatest comedies every made: Blazing Saddles. I can see the influence Cat Ballou had on that film, with the larger-than-life characters, zany antics and irreverent humour. Lee Marvin’s Best Actor Oscar win has been heavily debated, considering the competition he was up against, and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that it’s not what you’d consider a traditionally Oscar winning role. Though I find it refreshing that a comedic performance with hints of pathos won the big prize, rather than a typically mannered and measured turn that we’ve seen actors give time and again in hopes of scooping the statuette. Jane Fonda looks like she’s having a blast with the role, but it’s a shame that the scattershot plot doesn’t ever allow her character to fully bloom. The musical numbers that pop up now and then are occasionally fun but become repetitive and unnecessary, since the duo are just singing about what’s happening on screen anyway. It’s a film that could have made a greater impact if Fonda was given more chance to lead her gang and if Marvin’s redemption had more focus. But at a brisk hour and 36 minutes, and with a plethora of jokes that mostly hit, Cat Ballou is a fun, albeit insubstantial film. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/14/25 Full Review Jay W Cat Ballou is not your typical western. It has more in common with a spoof like "Blazing Saddles" than it does a western like "Fistful of Dollars". What makes this comedy work so well, is how seriously they play it. For example, let's look at the main villain of the picture. Now, most villains may have an eye patch or scar on their face to make them look intimidating. What does this villain have? A metal nose. It looks ridiculous in every scene it is in. But never in the movie do they call it out or make fun of it. All the characters just act like he is the most terrifying figure they've ever seen. Another comedic bit that worked well for me was the introduction of Lee Marvin's character. I won't spoil the punchline, it is just a very funny scene. Like most comedies, it all depends on your own sense of humor. The movie seemed to lose focus a number of times. Some scenes that should have felt like big moments, may have been cut short for the sake of a joke. It goes from point A to point C with me wondering how it was that we got there. There is also a romantic subplot that does not work at all. It subscribes to the 60's Bond mentality of forcing a woman to kiss you as she struggles against it, is the first step to true love. Not a movie for everyone, but I'm willing to wager that you can find a cat person. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/02/24 Full Review Audience Member I have seen better westerns, but you have to keep in mind. This is more of a comedy and yes it is well worth watching James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, October 26, 2023. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/27/23 Full Review Leaburn O A while since I watched a Western and this one reminded me why I love the genre. Fonda was wildly sexy in this one and the script was fun and jaunty. Nat King Coke did some singing throughout…what an interesting face he had. I thought it was a very good Western and deserving of its place in AFI's top ten for the genre. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/23/23 Full Review Dave S It's often disappointing to revisit a movie that was loved when first watched during childhood. Case in point: Cat Ballou. Seen for the first time in the 70s, it's remembered as an uproariously funny Western. Seen now, one has to wonder what happened to all of the laughs. It's not that it's a bad movie – Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin (in a dual role as a drunken gunslinger and the antagonist) are both great, the musical performances from the duo of Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye are fun, and the story is interesting. What hurts it is the corny music score, the sporadic outbursts of silly slapstick, the overacting by much of the secondary cast, and the often cringeworthy dialogue. Is it worth a watch? Sure, but just don't expect too much. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/11/23 Full Review isla s This film felt a bit bland and possibly a little slap-dashed, although some scenes I enjoyed more than others. The main memorable aspect of it were the songs, a bit like 'trail of the lonesome pine' - that sort of song, mostly upbeat but some are sorrowful too, sung by two men with I believe a banjo present too. There are some cliches but there are also some mildly entertaining plot elements. Its an easy enough watch and its somewhat amusing at times, in a cheesy way (the comedy is slapstick) - suffice to say, its certainly not a film to take at all seriously and I suppose I maybe somewhat liked some of the tongue in cheek-ness it has, although the naivete of the titular character irked me. Its an alright watch overall - not especially good but mildly amusing enough to pass the time I guess. I wouldn't especially recommend this film though, no. If your interested in a Western oriented comedy/parody film then I'd recommed 'A Million Ways To Die In The West' instead (although that film is less family friendly due to strong language and sex references - Cat Ballou being suitable for most kids to see). Oh and one more thing - after seeing this film, I'll bet money you'll find yourself humming/singing along to 'Cat Ballooooo', whether you like it or not. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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