Notebook Reviews: WILD WILD WEST

Barry Sonnenfeld – 1999

Director Barry Sonnefeld‘s Wild Wild Wild West is much better than the reviews make out. Will Smith and Kevin Kline are on fine form, although the latter is under-used. Kenneth Branagh and Salma Hayek offer-up support as the villain and the damsel in distress respectively. 

Some of the effects are great, while others disappoint for a film of this budget and scope. The script goes from serious to flippant with a bit of unease, while the childishness sits beside the racist barbs with a lack of credibility. 

Wild Wild West is enjoyable if you leave your brain at the door, but ultimately it fails by trying to be all things to all people.