Lightning Jack

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Lightning Jack

PG-13

1994

1h 33m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

6%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

47%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

After being taken hostage in a botched bank robbery, the mute Ben Doyle (Cuba Gooding Jr.) has inadvertently become Sancho Panza to the quixotic Lightning Jack Kane (Paul Hogan), who fancies himself a legendary Wild West outlaw. While Jack teaches Ben how to shoot, ride a horse and perform a successful heist, he's also being pursued by a posse of vigilantes. Finally seeing the writing on the wall, Lightning Jack wants to make one last score and retire, but a rival gang isn't making it easy.

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: D+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Leonard Klady

Variety

A good-natured, if laconic, oater that rides along nicely on the screen persona of writer/actor Paul Hogan.

Aug 25, 2008

Full Review

Stephen Holden

New York Times

The film has no internal comic rhythm to match its faltering sense of humor. Much of the time, it plods along like a mediocre conventional western.

Rated: 1/5

May 20, 2003

Full Review

Jeff Simon

Buffalo News

It isn't Paul Hogan's sad showing a writer/star of this feeble Western spoof about a gunfighter and his pupil that ought to worry us, it's the career of fine young actor Cuba Gooding Jr.

Rated: 1.5/5

Feb 29, 2024

Full Review

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Politically incorrect jokes (endlessly) about hearing impaired (Gooding) make for tasteless flick.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 14, 2009

Full Review

Film4

It's a long slow trek from gag to gag.

Aug 25, 2008

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Marty A

As usual critics at Rotten Tomatoes are harshly incorrect. After many years I watched this movie again and upon trying to remember the movie's name, I came across these reviews. The movie might not be the most well scripted, or high budgeted film, but it fulfills its goal; to entertain. Cuba Gooding is funny and an amazing actor and Paul Hogan fulfills his role brilliantly. The only reason American critics don't like it here at rotten tomatoes is because Paul is Australian. The movie is hugely entertaining and deserved much better criticism.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/15/24

Full Review

Daniel N

Absolutely brilliant. Great fun. Fantastic mix of comedy and action with great writing and great characters. Perfect family movie. Cannot live this enough.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

Full Review

Lee R

amazing movie , light hearted and of course hogan was great

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/21/24

Full Review

Mr D

Overall it's a good movie for what it is. It's not serious, it's a comedy. It's a lot better than movies that the "so called" critics like.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/15/24

Full Review

rody r

good fun from start to end

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/29/24

Full Review

David W

It might not be Hogan's finest hour but this comedy western is far from terrible as many critics described it and does have some good laughs in there. Hogan and Gooding Jr make for a good comedy pairing and I found this to be an undemanding but enjoyable watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/24

Full Review

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Simon Wincer

Director

Paul Hogan

Lightning Jack Kane

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Ben Doyle

Beverly D'Angelo

Lana Castel

Kamala Lopez

Pilar

Pat Hingle

U.S. Marshal Dan Kurtz

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Synopsis

After being taken hostage in a botched bank robbery, the mute Ben Doyle (Cuba Gooding Jr.) has inadvertently become Sancho Panza to the quixotic Lightning Jack Kane (Paul Hogan), who fancies himself a legendary Wild West outlaw. While Jack teaches Ben how to shoot, ride a horse and perform a successful heist, he's also being pursued by a posse of vigilantes. Finally seeing the writing on the wall, Lightning Jack wants to make one last score and retire, but a rival gang isn't making it easy.

Director: Simon Wincer
Producer: Paul Hogan, Greg Coote, Simon Wincer
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.3M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround