Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy

Romantic comedies aren't supposed to take themselves too seriously, and "Nothing Too Good For A Cowboy" succeeds in creating a "feel good", lighthearted vibe from its likable characters. Although it has a certain amount of unpretentious, quiet charm, it never rises above that monotonous note. Saddled (pun intended) with that one-note script and directing, its charms ultimately suffer from being too lightweight, too clichéd, too gimmicky, and too contrived. Like the merest sweet trifle of a dessert, it may taste good, but can ultimately leave you unsatisfied.

Set in WWII-era rural British Columbia, it's story line is basically a traditional Western, complete with the expected uninspired clichés. We follow our characters on the all-too-familiar terrain of the cattle drive, complete with sections of the script and directing that apparently were lifted en masse from the Western 101 text book. It's "hook" is the romantic relationship, and Sarah Chalke (Eliott on "Scrubs") does an acceptable job of keeping her character interesting, as the fish out of water (and into the forest).

Ted Atherton's crusty and flip cowboy does wonders with the limited script, and a young Ryan Gosling proves the adage that there are no small parts, it's all about what you do with them. The gimmicky editing, cinematography, and directing may have been an attempt (failed) to enliven the weakness of the too lightweight script, but it was the actors doing the best they could with what they were given, that gives "Nothing Too Good For A Cowboy" the one thing that was good about these cowboys (and cowgirls): their charm.

Nothing Too Good For A Cowboy casts Chad Willet as a former New York stockbroker turned cowboy and now trying to run a ranch with the good help of good old boy Ted Atherton as a cowboy mentor. The time is 1939 with Canada about to go to war to help the mother country.

When war comes Willet is told that raising beef cattle is an essential occupation and he's exempt. His patriotic hands with a little encouragement from banker Dan McDonald enlist. McDonald does a real good job of being a real snake in the grass who even in time of war is looking to pick up some good bargains in foreclosure.

But Willet gets the best bargain of all in Sarah Chalke when they meet in Vancouver. She's a débutante and seeing him on that horse was enough for her. After a fashion she takes to ranch life even winning over Atherton as well.

Before hitting the big time with an Oscar nomination, Ryan Gosling plays a supporting role as one of a pair of itinerant youths that Willet hires to replace his cowhands. Both Willet and Gosling did not play in the short-lived television series made from this film.

Nothing Too Good For A Cowboy is an easy to take film with a pair of attractive leads in Willet and Chalke.

This was a great, entertaining TV movie with good comedy but also great dramatic moments and story over all. I'm so glad they turned this into a TV series and we enjoyed that as well.

I made the mistake of seeing the show first. I didn't like it that much but thought it was okay. Then when I saw the movie I fell in love with it and could enjoy the show more. Sarah Chalke is in her best performance in this. It's funny, entertaining, easy to watch, and even contains two members of my favorite comedy troupe, although they only spend a few seconds on the screen at the most. This movie used to have a 8.1 rating and deserved it.

As World War II is breaks out in Europe, transplanted New York City cowboy Chad Willett (as Richmond "Rich" Hobson) and his partner Ted Atherton (as Panhandle "Ted" Phillips) try to run a cattle ranch in Canada. The war takes its toll on investors and personnel, but the men persevere. It's not all business when Mr. Willett locks eyes with pretty blonde Sarah Chalke (as Gloria McIntosh) at a Vancouver party. Willett tells Mr. Atherton that Ms. Chalke is the "dream girl" he has been wishing to meet. She's engaged to one man and desired by many, but Willett wins her attention...

This irks Atherton, who doesn't want his pal to settle down (long-term) a woman. They hire teenagers Zachary Bennett (as Ed Kroger) and Ryan Gosling (as Tommy Aitkens) to work on the ranch. The secretive, mysterious Mairon Bennett (as Kit Kroger) and Falconer Abraham (as Robert McDaniels) add subplots. The story is weak, but the characters good. The main conflict becomes a question about whether Chalke will be accepted by Atherton as a ranch worker.

**** Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy (1/4/98) Kari Skogland ~ Chad Willett, Sarah Chalke, Ted Atherton, Zachary Bennett