A Million Ways to Die in the West

A Million Ways to Die in the West is a 2014 American comedy film directed by Seth MacFarlane, who co-wrote the screenplay with Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild. The film's all-star ensemble cast includes MacFarlane himself, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Neil Patrick Harris, Giovanni Ribisi, and Sarah Silverman. As the title suggests, the film creatively portrays the Old West as a dangerous and brutal place where the hazards are not just from gunslingers and outlaws but from the harsh realities of frontier life itself.

The character that Seth MacFarlane portrays is Albert Stark, a sheep farmer with a wickedly dry sense of humor and a decidedly modern (or at least anachronistic) perspective on the dangers, inconveniences, and nonsensical aspects of life in the 1880s Western frontier. When Stark's fickle girlfriend, Louise (Amanda Seyfried), leaves him for the obnoxious mustache groomer Foy (Neil Patrick Harris), Stark's life takes an unpredictable turn and becomes even more complicated.

Stark's luck changes for the better when he saves a mysterious and beautiful woman named Anna (Charlize Theron) from an unfortunate event at the local saloon. The two quickly become friends thanks to their shared sense of humor and cynicism towards the Wild West. Anna helps Stark regain his confidence and teaches him how to shoot, with the intention of winning Louise back by challenging Foy to a duel.

What Albert, our hero, doesn't know is that Anna is much more than she seems. On the other side of town, Anna's fearsome husband, Clinch Leatherwood (Liam Neeson), the most infamous outlaw in the state, is waiting for her. Leatherwood is a clear and dangerous contrast to Stark, who would rather avoid conflict and live peacefully with his flock of sheep.

Through a series of events that are simultaneously hilarious and disturbing, Stark learns about Anna's true identity, and he must dig deep to become the man he needs to be – not just to win the girl but to survive the infamous gunslinger hell-bent on getting his wife back. What ensues is a series of endearingly awkward, outrageously funny, and at times, violently explosive adventures.

The film is a comedy first and foremost – a parody of, homage to and critique of Western genre conventions. Its humor, characterized by its contemporary sensibility and the modern, almost neurotic sensibility of MacFarlane’s character, is sharply contrasted against the harsh and often absurdly deadly backdrop of the Old West. Notably, the film also contains several surreal, non-sequitur, or anachronistic elements, which add to its distinctly offbeat humor.

Charlize Theron, as Anna, displays excellent comedic timing as well as demonstrating both action chops and a real emotional grounding to her role. Liam Neeson, as brutal outlaw Clinch Leatherwood, delivers an intimidating and gruff performance, providing the necessary narrative and emotional tension. Neil Patrick Harris is flamboyantly antagonistic as Foy, and Amanda Seyfried portrays the role of Louise effectively. Giovanni Ribisi and Sarah Silverman round out the cast as Edward, Stark's best friend, and Ruth, Edward's girlfriend, who are oddly innocent despite Ruth’s hilariously inappropriate occupation as the town’s lady of the evening.

Visually, the film is beautifully shot. It captures the grandeur and untamed beauty of the Old West, largely through filming in locations such as Santa Fe, New Mexico. The production design is fabulous and adeptly creates the aesthetic of a classic Western. The sharp, witty dialogue, accompanied by the quirky characters, is unmistakably MacFarlane.

A Million Ways to Die in the West is not just a comedy set in the Wild West; it pokes fun at the Western genre's conventions, drawing out the inherent contradictions and unrealistic expectations of those storied times. It's a film that blends a comedic exploration of the perils of frontier life with elements of romance, friendship, and personal growth, all set against the ruggedly picturesque backdrop of the American West.

In the clever hands of Seth MacFarlane and his co-writers, the film manages to balance irreverence and a certain level of profundity, peppering its humor with surprisingly poignant moments. It’s definitely not a typical Western film, but it’s a fun off-beat ride that should leave audiences thoroughly entertained.