Today’s quick review: Cowboys & Aliens. Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig), a wanted criminal, wakes up in the desert with an alien device cuffed to his wrist and no memory of how he got there. Riding to the nearest town, Jake clashes with Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford), the local cattle baron. But when aliens kidnap townsfolk, the men must put aside their differences to rescue the captives, including Dolarhyde’s son Percy (Paul Dano).
Cowboys & Aliens is a sci-fi Western starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. As the title implies, the movie pits a group of cowboys, settlers, and outlaws from a dusty Western town against a band of aliens that have set up shop in the wilderness nearby. Armed only with a mysterious device and a few cryptic hints from Ella (Olivia Wilde), Jake must lead an outgunned posse to the aliens’ hidden ship to rescue the people who have been taken.
Cowboys & Aliens scores a few points with its cast, its story, and its execution. Daniel Craig ends up being the major draw of the film, with a commanding presence that ties the story together. He’s joined by a cast of misfit characters who are all after the aliens for their own reasons. Finally, the movie manages some decent action that pits guns and explosives against towering aliens armed with advanced technology.
However, Cowboys & Aliens takes its premise too seriously for its own good. Instead of going for a schlocky romp, Cowboys & Aliens takes the harder route of trying to tell a dramatic, cohesive story. This ends up backfiring. Tonally, there are too many bitter characters without enough moments of hope and humanity to balance them out. Narratively, the aliens are boxed into a half-hidden, quasi-realistic role that doesn’t let them shine.
The result is a movie with fine craftsmanship, but one that’s missing the creative spark its premise would suggest. Give Cowboys & Aliens a shot if you’re a science fiction fan or a fan of its cast. Although tonal issues and a slightly mismanaged premise weigh it down, it still offers solid action and a competent plot. Steer clear if you are looking for something fun, exciting, or carefree.
For a more conventional Western with even more of a dramatic edge, try Unforgiven, 3:10 to Yuma, True Grit, or The Searchers. For a stylized alien invasion that makes better use of its setting, try Attack the Block. For an alien encounter with an even darker tone and better drama, try Dark Skies.
[6.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409847/). I give it a 6.5 for a good cast and solid production values hurt by some distinct flaws.