Product Details

• Actors: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Garner, Graham Greene (II), Alfred Molina
• Directors: Richard Donner
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: May 23, 1995
• Run Time: 127 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303269842
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,932 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

The joined-at-the-hip team of director Richard Donner and star Mel Gibson (all the Lethal Weapon movies and Conspiracy Theory) had obvious fun resurrecting the Wild Western comedy television series about a roguish rambler-gambler. Gibson assumes the role of cardsharp Bret Maverick, equally quick with a pair of aces and a pair of guns. Good sport James Garner (who played Maverick on TV) takes another role, as a lawman who travels alongside the hero to a big-money poker game on a riverboat. The real peach in this fruit salad of satire and broad jokes, however, is Jodie Foster, who plays a crafty Southern belle quite adept at poker herself. Sexy, funny, and (from the onscreen evidence) a great kisser, Foster has never been more of a delight. Written by William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). The DVD release offers production notes, optional French and Spanish soundtracks, and optional full-screen or widescreen viewing. --Tom Keogh

From The New Yorker

Richard Donner's big-screen version of the popular TV Western series of the fifties couldn't be called a travesty of a classic, because the original show was itself resolutely un-classic-a genial revisionist take on the genre. The series' hero, Bret Maverick (then played by James Garner), wasn't a paragon of rugged integrity or two-fisted masculinity, but a slick, witty, suspiciously well-dressed gambler, whose pained reluctance to do what a man's gotta do was the show's richest source of comedy. The new Bret Maverick (Mel Gibson) is still a charmer, but an antsy, wild-eyed, motormouthed one, like the deranged daredevil cop that Gibson plays in the "Lethal Weapon" pictures. The whole movie has a frantic quality that seems a poor substitute for the original's sly, relaxed humor. There are a few laughs, but the picture feels awfully long, because almost everyone is trying too hard: the few performers who aren't, like James Coburn and Garner himself (on hand to play straight man to the star), come off best. At a couple of points, Garner has to remind Gibson not to "babble," and the dry old pro gets his laugh so effortlessly that it's impossible not to take his side. Also with Jodie Foster, Graham Greene, and Alfred Molina. -Terrence Rafferty
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ALL ROUND ENTERTAINMENT, April 25, 2004

By	Shashank Tripathi (Gadabout) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Maverick (Snap Case) (DVD)

Mel Gibson's Maverick is somewhat goofy but charming, sly, and fairly humorous.

A number of excellent cameos provide some comic relief, especially Danny Glover near the beginning of the movie. The biggest surprise for me was Jodie Foster, who, in an impressively rare comedic role, thankfully discards her repetoire of facial tics for a much more natural performance here.

The plot is kept pretty simple until near the end -- and the end has a great twist, which I won't divulge. Suffice it to say that your time will be well spent.

Recommended rental for sure, but also consider buying this excellent DVD because this comedy does well with repeat viewing.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maverick - This is a hilarious film!, April 22, 2003

By	K. Wyatt "ssintrepid" (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Maverick (Snap Case) (DVD)

Maverick is a hilarious, enjoyable and fun film to watch and bears well over several viewings. Of course, how could this film have missed given its cast; Mel Gibson, James Garner, Jodie Foster, James Coburn and a whole slew of other stars to include an outrageously funny cameo by Danny Glover. The more interesting thing here is that James Garner played Brett Maverick when it was a television series many moons ago and he had turned down many film scripts for this one where he didn't even play the lead. Maverick is a big hit and all involved in making this fine western/comedy deserve all of the accolades they received for it!

The premise:

Bert, oops I mean Brett Maverick (Mel Gibson) is a card playing and fast drawing hustler who is on his way to good old St. Louis for a huge poker tournament. His main problem is that he's three thousand dollars short of the entry fee so he decides to stop in another town and play another round of poker in the hopes of picking up some of the three thousand he needs. This is where he meets Annabelle Branford played by the ever beautiful Jodie Foster. Mrs. Branford's beauty is matched only by her desire to pick up the money to enter the big poker game as well. Not too long afterwards we meet Zane Cooper (James Garner) who is a lawman of some fame and he just happens to be going the same way as Maverick and Mrs. Branford. What follows is most definitely one of the most hilarious westerns ever made. I would highly recommend this film to any and all fans of the stars and this genre.

Special Features:

Production notes: This particular DVD is "all" about the film itself as there is very little in the way of special features. The production notes are of course in text and somewhat interesting. {ssintrepid}

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where's Bart?, April 14, 2008

By	Gunner (Bethlehem,Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maverick (Snap Case) (DVD)

Maverick DVD

Mel Gibson stars as a bumbling gambler who is trying to join a poker game. The movie is based on a TV series. Jodie Foster co-stars as does James Gardner who was in the original TV series, as Bret, I believe. Bart was his Brother. Highly recommended for fans of Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster and fans of the original TV series.

Gunner April, 2008