Customer Reviews

Goin South [VHS]

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"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

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."

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!

I have watched this movie many times and never get tired of it. I have shown it to many of my friends and they all enjoy it. Jack Nicholson cracks me up every time. No-one could carry this part off as well. Watch this movie and be entertained as you want to be.

This is a must see movie. Cast is outstanding, crazy plot with hilarous scenes. You'll laugh from beginning til end

A fine film if you love jack you will love this movie this has to be jack"s finest overlooked screen gems of all time a must see but when will it come out on dvd????

"Goin' South",directed by star Jack Nicholson, is an engaging lightweight comic western. The story concerns a two-bit outlaw(Nicholson) saved from the gallows by a virginal ordinance bride(Mary Steenburgen). The chemistry between Nicholson and Steenburgen, in her film debut, is excellent. The story, though it sags in part, keeps you interested throughout. Christopher Lloyd has an amusing bit as a sheriff's deputy. To the film's detriment it wastes the talents of John Belushi and Danny DeVito in miniscule parts. A minor film in the impressive canon of Jack Nicholson's career but a film well worth seeing.

"Goin' South" is a Western-Comedy directed and starring Jack Nicholson, in his directorial debut. Nicholson has only directed two films (the other one being the Chinatown sequel, The Two Jakes) and both of them are really good projects. Especially this one. I don't much like Western-Comedies; They all have that same mood and they, usually, play it way too goofy. This movie has its moments of goofiness, but it's actually pretty funny and charming. If Nicholson hadn't played so many memorable characters already (R.P. McMurphy, Jack Torrance, Warren Schmidt, Jake Gittes, etc.) than you could call his Henry Moon one of his most memorable creations. Anyway, Henry Moon is an outlaw. A robber of banks and stealer of horses. When the law finally catches him, he's sentenced to hang. As he's being led to the gallows, he discovers a loophole. If a woman who owns property agrees to marry him, he doesn't have to swing. After an old lady volunteers, but quickly dies, Julia Tate (Mary Steenburgen, in her debut film role) takes Henry under her wing and marries him. She doesn't marry Henry because she couldn't stand the thought of him dying or because she particularly likes him, but because she needs finding gold in the mines on her property. Henry doesn't mind much, but he's disappointed at the lack of affection the wife is showing her husband. Matters are made worse when the railroad evicts her and two boneheaded lawmen (Christopher Lloyd and John Belushi) are always trying to arrest Henry. Also, Henry's former gang (two of the members include Danny DeVito and Veronica Cartwright) wants in on some of the gold he's been discovering. The movie's humor is hit-and-miss, and I'd be lying to you if I said it didn't miss a lot...It does. But the stuff that hits is pretty funny and the movie is well written, entertaining, and charming enough to get a high grade from me. Jack Nicholson and Mary Steenburgen have good chemistry onscreen and Lloyd & Belushi are so goofy, that they're hilarious. The movie isn't perfect, but it's highly enjoyable. Besides, the DVD is cheap and it's worth the money.

GRADE: A-

I saw this movie when it first came out and time has not changed my mind. It is a funny movie, with my favorite scenes being when Nicholson's old gang shows up at the house and he tells his bride to have a drink and loosen up but watch what she says. Mary Steenburgen plays the inebriated, straight laced woman to the hilt for some of the best laughs in the movie, as well as when she looks at her eyes in the mirror for that "tell tale sign". Nicholson's facial expressions are worth watching as they fill in between the lines and give a whole new meaning to the phrase "twisted grin"! I highly recommend this movie for some great laughs!

Do yourself a favor and buy this movie.This is one that you will not want to miss! This hilarious film, directed by Jack Nicholson, will keep you laughing from beginning to end. Jack is at his mischievous best as a condemned outlaw in the old west who is saved at the last minute by marrying a spinster, played to perfection by Mary Steenburgen. Danny Devito and Christopher Lloyd are excellent as two colorful characters in Jack's gang of cronies. It's silly and funny and just a blast to watch over and over. This film has been a personal favorite for many years. It is a Nicholson classic.