Product Details

• Actors: Colin Farrell, Scott Caan, Ali Larter, Gabriel Macht, Gregory Smith
• Directors: Les Mayfield
• Writers: John Rogers, Roderick Taylor
• Producers: Art Schaeffer, Bill Gerber, David C. Robinson, James G. Robinson, Jonathan A. Zimbert
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: May 7, 2002
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (124 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005QWAI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,529 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If you're looking for a showcase for emerging Hollywood talent, American Outlaws is just the ticket. Its handsome young stars, playing Jesse and Frank James and gang, crack wise as if they were in a contemporary high school locker room. Combining authentic costumes and sets with stunt work befitting a Jackie Chan comedy, accompanied by an "Old West" soundtrack that's anything but old and only marginally Western, the film yields a few enjoyable highlights. Seasoned genre buffs, however, will cringe at the movie's clash of visual qualities, as well as the dialogue, which, while not as heinous as that in Maverick, is on par with Young Guns in terms of non-period flavor. It's not exactly a testament to the enduring potential of the authentic Western that was realized by Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, made barely a decade before.

With all the light-hearted action and character interplay, it's hard to tell if director Les Mayfield (Flubber) is taking the material seriously, but this much is certain: the Jesse James here (played with effortless appeal by Tigerland newcomer Colin Farrell) and his brother Frank (Gabriel Macht) have almost no connection to historical fact. Nor do their fellow farm-raised gang members, the Younger brothers Cole (Scott Caan), Bob (Will McCormack), and Jim (Gregory Smith). (And Jesse's fiancée, played by Ali Larter, looks like she dropped in from a Gap commercial.) The gang's post-Civil War battle against a ruthless railroad baron (Harris Yulin) and his Pinkerton henchman (Timothy Dalton) seems arbitrary, irrational (since farmers typically welcomed railroads, not fought them), and riddled with clichés, turning the movie's bloodless shootouts into another opportunity for pretty-boy preening. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Movie with a great Cast!!!, July 14, 2002

By 

N., Vanessa "Bookworm" (Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Outlaws (DVD)

Yes, I have heard that "American Outlaws" isn't always historically accurate! But you know what? Who cares? It's a terrific movie, that takes you on a wild and hilarious ride with Jesse James and his gang. All the actors are well-cast and did a great job portraying their characters, although - in my mind - Colin Farrell (the next big thing!) and Ali Larter (Hollywood's most underrated actress) do stand out among the others! If you are looking for a history lesson - go to the library. But if you are looking for a fun movie with lots of action, a great cast, good script, a bit of romance, and some truly unforgettable moments, then don't miss out on "American Outlaws"!!! It's become one of my all-time favorite movies! Plus, the DVD has really great bonus features ... trailers, tv spots, photo galleries, DVD Rom features, and 4 great featurettes - check out "How to be an Outlaw" for some nice shots of the guys in cowboy camp ... showing off their muscles during what would later be know as the hottest summer in Texas' history :o)

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars American outlaws, June 18, 2005

By 

Hawkins - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Outlaws (DVD)

Wow what a great movie!!!!! This movie is jammed with cowboy action that just gets better and better! When you watch it you will be introduced to Jessie and his mom and Bob which Jessie learned how to shoot from. They're are more characters who show up along the way. They're constenly having problems with thier enemy putting up wanted signs and hanging farmers that are just plane innocent. They have a huge problem with them sneeking up on them every second and attacking. The one thing they don't do is run away, even if thier in the middle of robbing a bank or store they will countinue what their doing and fight back at the same time. It kind of makes them look like the enemy when they go up to banks and try to rob them, But thier still the good guys in the movie. I think this movie deserves 5 stars! This is a great movie for all ages. Families that love western movies will defiantly enjoy this!!!!

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Action, Solid Humor, Solid Way to Spend an Evening..., August 19, 2001

By 

Mr. JKW "jkw" (Honolulu, Hawai'i) - See all my reviews

American Outlaws, one of the first Westerns of the new millennium, is an adaptation of the life of legendary 1800s outlaw bank robber Jesse James and his band of men, the James-Yonger Gang.

It's the story of "tradition vs. progress." Following the Civil War, James and friends returned home to the farm where the "big bad" railroad was trying to expand west by buying out all the farmland from the people in its path. The people of James' town did not want to go quietly so a huge war begins between the farmers (with James and friends as their warriors) and the railroad tycoon when the railroad "goons" begin to rough up the townsfolk.

Overall, though there are a few historical inaccuracies, the movie is a fun action romp (tons of humor) through the old west with cowboys, LOTS of gun battles, stage coach robberies, train robberies, saloons, horses and lovely southern belles.

Highlights:

- TONS of shoot outs/gun battles (on trains, banks, battlefields, etc)

- Daring escapes

- Hilarity with wanted posters

Overall, this was a great movie to catch, harkening back to the days of the good old Westerns. The action was solid and the humor was "just right." This was a solid way to spend an evening (or afternoon).

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