The true story of Jesse James provides ideal fodder for moviemakers, but unfortunately that’s not the story the producers chose to tell here. Instead, they use clean-cut, preppy characters with names like “Jesse James,” “Frank James” and “Cole Younger” in a tale that bears no real relation to their real-life exploits. In recent Hollywood westerns (most notably the superb “Unforgiven”) contemporary directors managed to catch some of grime and grit of the authentic Old West; not here, however: these fresh-faced dudes in their well-starched duds look like models for a J. Peterman catalogue rather than deadly desperadoes.
At least the movie begins with a bang: a beautifully choreographed and thoroughly exciting skirmish in the War Between the States, with Union regulars trying to smash a band of mounted Southern partisans, including the James and Younger brothers. The action isn’t at all plausible (the good-lucking soldiers dodge bullets almost effortlessly) but it’s full of adrenaline and imagination and energy. Unfortunately, this intensity lasts only about eight minutes, and afterward the film quickly falls apart.
Jesse and friends go home to Missouri to defend old Ma (an endearingly overacting Kathy Bates) from the Yankee railroad men who want to run her off her land. Fortunately, Timothy Dalton plays one of those baddies (mercenary detective Allen Pinkerton) with such snarling charisma that he almost saves the movie. Harris Yulin also has a good time with his part as a rapacious millionaire, determined to catch the James boys.
The problem is that the movie can’t focus enough on these old pros and instead gives most of its attention to its callow kiddie corps. Leading that pack is Irish heartthrob Colin Farrell (“Tigerland”) as Jesse, who would look far more at home on TV’s “Friends” than he does in re-enacting nineteenth century gunplay. His co-star, Ali Larter of “Varsity Blues,” is even worse — looking like she’s just been lifted from a shopping spree at the Sherman Oaks Galleria by some insidious time travel experimenter and rudely and incongruously deposited in the midst of the wild west. Of the principals, only Scott Caan (as Cole Younger) even tries to convey the down-to-earth earnestness appropriate for a Missouri farm boy of 130 years ago.
The non-existent plot is so thin that it’s not even worth describing — or spoiling — other than to say that there are lots of bank robberies and lots of gun fights, all redolent of the theme park aroma of “Knott’s Berry Farm.” Even for those of us who crave more movie Westerns (Clint, come back!) “American Outlaws” offers few satisfactions. ONE AND A HALF STARS. Rated PG 12 for formulaic Wild West violence and mild sex references.
(Michael Medved hosts a nationally syndicated daily radio talk show that focuses on the intersection of pop culture and politics. You can contact him at www.michaelmedved.com.)
