Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: September 10, 1990
• Run Time: 109 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300213722
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #179,464 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Nicholson directed and starred in this Western spoof about an outlaw who is saved from hanging by a young widow (Mary Steenburgen) who puts him to work as an indentured servant. She has a gold mine that no one knows about and she wants him to help her get the gold before anyone else finds out. But, of course, his old gang--who gave him up to the law in the first place--finds out about the mine and wants a piece of it. This was filmed in the late 1970s, when drug use was rampant (and not particularly frowned upon) in Hollywood; keep that in mind when you listen to Nicholson's stuffy-nose delivery. Alternately amusing and flat, with a cast that includes Steenburgen in her first movie role and John Belushi in a tiny part as a member of the gang, also making his film debut. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun With Jack..., May 9, 2005

By 

L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (Huntington Beach,CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Goin South [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"Goin South" is a must have to add to your Jack Nicholson collection. Directed by and starring Nicholson, not long after he dazzled us with his wonderful take on Randle McMurphy in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", it's an off-beat Western comedy that will have you smiling from first frame to last. He once again, takes an unlikeable character, and makes us love him and root for him all the way.

He's the unscrupulous Henry Lloyd Moon, running from the law, heading south of the border to Mexico, where the law can't touch him( so he thinks). But the possse led by Christopher Lloyd, isn't going to let a little river between the U. S. and Mexico keep them from getting their man, and as quickly as Henry rejoices thinking he is safe(doing a wonderful little dance on the river bank), he must run again. But uh-oh what's this, his faithful horse has fainted! He's roped in and brought in for a hanging.

With his head in a noose, and the hangman poised to pull the lever, he is saved by an oridinance in town that allows a woman to claim him for her husband. The fair Julia, played delightfully by newcomer Mary Steenburgen, has a good use for him...working her unprofitable gold mine. And so the fun begins, Henry trying to adapt to married life, Julia trying to strike it rich before the railroad takes over her property and Henry's outlaw pals, always seeming to get in the way.

It's a fun romp with Jack and pals, who also include Danny Devito, John Belushi and Veronica Cartwright. Filmed in Mexico, it's got some great scenery and wonderful cinematography, fabulous dialouge, and, although just a touch slow in a couple of places, it will delight both fans of Nicholson and the Western/Comedy genre.

Find yourself a horse that won't faint, saddle up with Jack...and enjoy...Laurie

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars humorous redemption, July 12, 2001

By 

John R. Bridell (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Goin South [VHS] (VHS Tape)

GOIN'SOUTH is a funny movie about a humorous redemption. Jack Nicholson is the redeemee and lovely Mary Steenburgen is the redeemor. Jack, the low-life criminal, finds that marriage with obedience to Mary is the price he has to pay for going straight. Mary finds that the price of getting cheap gold miner labor through marriage to Jack includes all of the vows, conjugal and otherwise. They actually strike gold and GREED enters into the plot. Greed is a dandy comedy catalyst. The writers gave this movie excellent dialogue. Casting was terrific. What can telegraph a better joke than Nicholson's devilish leer? Mary Steenburgen fit the role of a prim, greedy reformer to a Tee. Even the cover on the box sets the comedy mood of this film with Jack's leering face framed by a noose, saying if I may, "Hey! This is going to be a funny, funny, movie."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An oldie but a goodie!, August 4, 2006

By 

Love to read (Logan, IA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Goin' South (DVD)

This is absolutely one of our favorite movies. It's a great friends night out movie (there's some language that makes it inappropriate as a family movie). You won't believe all the stars in this movie - besides Jack and Mary are John Belushi, Christopher Lloyd and a lot of others you'll recognize.

When we're in the mood for a good laugh, this is the movie we bring out. My husband has some good lines he's memorized from the movie and uses (I mean ALL day long...)which leads to us loaning out our copy to the poor unfortunate that has no clue what he's talking about. We keep extras because I don't always get our copy back!