The Mountie (2011)

Fresh and Exciting

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

My love of westerns, and being Canadian, are likely influencing my opinion of this film. Also known as The Way of the West, The Mountie contains a few flaws and some poor make-up but, overall, I enjoyed it. I found this film refreshing because of the Canadian content and the appearance of the red serge wearing Wade Grayling (Andrew Walker), a Member of the Northwest Mounted Police. I especially loved the unique behaviour of Wade's horse, Halifax, during one scene (I'm trying not to give it away). As westerns go, I found this particular scene new and, as a result, fun. On a negative note, I hate when Wade, knowing he is in danger, doesn't behave as so. After being caught one time without his revolver, you'd think the Mountie would adjust his level of officer safety? Oh well, just let it go. As a matter of fact, if you can let a few things go, you may appreciate this film as well. Especially if you're Canadian.

What? You know that something went wrong in marketing a movie if it has 3 titles on an internet search. The Mountie, the Lawman, Way of the West. Perhaps the first is the best.. but there goes any chance of a US audience. Maybe it would have been better to keep that title and market it with subtitles to a world audience. Comments from others indicate they were expecting an American Western which it is not. Some can't get the mix of cultures. Well, the film is set shortly after Alaska was acquired from Russia; and guess what- the land was sparsely populated. FYI Yukon almost 150 years on still has a total population under 40,000 in a land area approaching that of Texas.Awful poetry read by a child? Well, the words are those of Robert Service, the unofficial poet of historical Yukon. If I had expected a "Western" I would have been disappointed. But thankfully I had a review from The Toronto Globe and Mail appear thanks to Google which was intriguing. Google it under "The Mountie". Looking for an "operatic" theme movie more in the tradition of Quebec cinema. This is it.

In 'honour' of the woeful poetry a little girl reads out at regular intervals in Way Of The West, or The Mountie, or The Ranger, or whatever they're calling it these days, I thought I'd compose my own dreadful little ode:Clichés abound No Surprises in store This Film Is a plodding boreGood guy with white horse Baddies on black Colour coding This movie doesn't lackThe hero here Is totally vanilla No personality traits Dialogue just fillerThe tedium extends To the shoot outs Stay awake? I have my doubtsBut before I take My blessed nap Let me warn you Of this piece o'crapIt's in the 99p shop Taking up space Just ignore it and leave With a smile on your faceThere we go. Wordsworth, Hughes, Byron... you better watch out... 3/10

If you took The Mountie and added director Sergio Leone, made the Mountie a Texas Ranger or the like played by Clint Eastwood (instead of a Canadian doing his best Eastwood impression), added in Lee Marvin just cuz and you would have had a kick butt 1960's spaghetti western. Instead The Mountie was slapped together on what was certainly a shoe string budget, and made uniquely Canadian. That term kills more than one Canadian movie or Television show. The trailers make the film look like a Canadian Unforgiven about a Mountie out for vengeance and justice but they don't add in the fact that the film attempts some remnant of drama with the action and it just doesn't work. The film feels forced and silly, however historically accurate it might be the addition of the Russian characters seems almost ridiculous. Given the shoe string budget some of the action scenes are brutal and well made and the setting and cinematography work very well. However, and whether or not this was an issue with the theatre I saw it in or not the film is very dark, poorly lit and the sound effects on the weapons was horrible. It just sounded poorly shot.I'm sure I have seen star Andrew Walker in other things but I can't place him if I have. He has a varied resume. He isn't bad in the film and he carries it well but the problem is that he spends the entire film channelling some low budget version of Clint Eastwood. I would rather have seen him do his own thing rather than copy a cowboy. Jessica Paré is the woman with the scar and a lot of baggage that unfolds throughout the film. Her story is interesting, her performance is not. She has a deer in the headlights look through the whole thing and has very little chemistry with Walker or anyone else in the film unfortunately. Her character is a means to an end. George Buza is a virtual whose who of Canadian talent. He's been in some of the best cult classic shows and films of the last three decades. (I can't believe he was Turner Edison from Maniac Mansion for those of you that remember.) He does a decent job as the lead villain in the film although it comes across as a little campy which works for the whole western rip off angle. In her first role Kestrel Martin might steal the whole show as the little girl who becomes enamoured with the Mountie and he takes her under his wing. The mute girl is practically the best character in the film and the only one you will feel connected too. I don't mean to downplay the supporting actors but they are mostly fodder for the Mountie and they don't stand out on their own.Apparently director and co-writer Wyeth Clarkson is a respected Canadian film maker. This is the first I have seen of his and heard of him. Clearly he loves westerns even if he denied it. I see his heart and passion and where he wanted to go with this...but in cinema its not the thought that counts. It just felt like an enormous part of what should have been in place in the film was missing. You can't even refer to this as uniquely Canadian although it was filmed in the Yukon but outside of that nothing makes it different from the aforementioned Western. Unless you're really a sucker for indie films there isn't any reason to see this. I've taken the bullet for you and while I wasn't disgusted with it, I would never go out of my way to see it again. 6/10