Will Smith’s Western Disappointment From the 1990s Deserves a Rewatch

Nowadays Will Smith is recognized as one of the most demanded actors in the industry, however, back in the 1990s he only rose to fame. The glowing success of Bad Boys (1995) and Men in Black (1997) made him a worldwide star and brought him much acclaim.

Two years after his sci-fi breakout, the actor starred in a multi-genre Western-like flick that was panned by critics. It earned a shameful score of 16% on Rotten Tomatoes, but don’t rush to skip it, as it can still be perfect for a guilty-pleasure movie night.

It starts by introducing us to President Ulysses S. Grant who learns he’s threatened to be assassinated by an insane inventor. So he hires Civil War hero James West (played by Smith) and U.S. Marshal Artemus Gordon to catch the menacing mad man.

The problem is, the duo’s personalities aren’t really compatible, and West and Gordon face lots of challenges as they navigate through the dangers of the Wild West.

Western lovers can recognize here the names of the leads of the CBS spy series, The Wild Wild West (1965 - 1969). Indeed, Smith’s movie appears to be loosely based on it.

Why did it manage to get such a low critical score? The point is, it loses the very charisma of the original and lacks well-written worldbuilding, twists and dialogues.

Nevertheless, it’s still a curious film, as it mixes action sequences, comedy, steampunk aesthetics and, of course, Western elements. Even though this mix isn’t done in the best way possible, it promises quite a fun ride with numerous gags related to the West.

It is the cast that makes it really worth a watch, as apart from Smith, it stars the accomplished actors Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh and Salma Hayek. Besides, its spectacular visual effects and immersive orchestral score are also remarkable.

Titled Wild Wild West, this 1999 flick is not a masterpiece, but it’s full of light-hearted action and pretty good jokes. If you’re a fan of Western comedies, like Salma Hayek’s Bandidas (2006) and Johnny Depp ’s The Lone Ranger (2013), give it a try.

You can check out Will Smith’s Western adventures, as this film is available on Prime.