Wooly Boys

Released to2001, "Wooly Boys" stars Peter Fonda and Kris Kristofferson as two aging sheep ranchers in the Badlands of North Dakota. After the former pays a visit to his daughter (Robin Dearden) in Minneapolis, he brings back his city-bred 16 year-old grandson (Joseph Mazzello). Keith Carradine plays a country sheriff, Rosanna DeSoto a ranch hand and Michael Booth an FBI agent. Jad Mager and Adam Logan are on hand as troublemakers while T. Mychael Rambo plays a hearse driver.

This dramedy focuses is on the conflict-habituated friendship of the two older ranchers and the visiting teen being a fish-out-water in the wilderness, which brings to mind 2003's "Secondhand Lions." At around the 30-minute mark there are several laugh-out-loud scenes, which are less frequent throughout the rest of the movie. The lines of the idiotic FBI agent are the best. Beyond this, the cast and authentic North Dakota locations are great, but the movie's mediocre about half the time. For instance, the kid responds to Kristofferson's character in one scene and it's wholly unconvincing. A top-of-the-line movie would re-do the scene or ad lib; whatever it took to make it work. So it's one of those part good/part meh movies, but I think the good makes it worthwhile, like the laughs, the birthing scene, the cast and the ND locations.

The film runs 99 minutes and was shot in Fryburg, Beach & Medora, North Dakota, and Minneapolis.

GRADE: C+

I've just gotten out of a screening of this film and I have to say, WOW!This one will hopefully be up for some awards.Kris Kristofferson is as always charming, sexy, and wonderful. I loved his comic repartee with newcomer Adam Stradlin. Where did they find this guy, he's great!Stradlin has the intensity of a young Gary oldman and the charisma of Mel Gibson. Everyone shines.Lil' blond Bonnie Borst as the wacky greyhound bus passenger, this girl should have her own sitcom.Peter Fonda tops his performance in "The Limey" and really carries this film. Co-stars Greg Sporleader and Jad mager who I've heard are hardened Shakespeare thespians create believable in-bred hic's, better than Cooter and Roscoe P. Coltrane from "Dukes of Hazzard" I highly recommend it. 10!

Having looked everywhere for information about this film for well over a year, I was shocked when it suddenly popped up on Cable and Satellite last weekend. It was quite different to what I had expected, but nevertheless well worth the wait. If you are looking for a film that will make you laugh and make you cry, but leave you with a nice warm feeling inside, then look no further. The whole cast is excellent, without a weak link and there are fine performances by Peter Fonda, Kris Kristofferson and Keith Carradine. But, not for the first time, Joe Mazzello (Radio Flyer,Jurassic Park,The Cure, Simon Birch) steals the show.As Joe's character, Charles is taken, reluctantly, on the journey of a lifetime, he discovers a whole new world, his roots and himself. We, the viewers, see a hugely talented young actor and the character he portrays growing up before our very eyes. This is one film not to be missed!

I recently had the opportunity to see this film at the FARGO FILM FESTIVAL. As a North Dakotan, I must be proud of any project that promotes North Dakota. WOOLY BOYS definitely does its fair share of "promoting." To be honest, I expected more. For a film that falsely calls itself "North Dakota's first major feature film" I was anticipating a sincere look at Modern North Dakota, or maybe an ernest approach at our history. I did not, however, expect to see yet another film that explores the "golly gee" persona of our elderly and silly folk. (Though these people exist and I love them!)

In regards to FARGO (THE MOVIE), some of the same people that support WOOLY BOYS fame, claim the film (FARGO) makes us look like a bunch of "idiots" and "dorks" and "other such silly names"...In WOOLY BOYS, apparently we are epitomized by Scruffy "Sheep Lovers." That's great.

Meanwhile, Kristofferson gave a hell of a performance. I was in awe. The film had its funny moments and I was impressed with some of the photography. However, the film did not exemplify what it is to live in North Dakota or what it is to be a North Dakotan. Look for this film on USA (CABLE) Saturday afternoons. Because it is good enough to watch in its entirety, if you're a fan of the named actors. (or some silly manure jokes)

Mediocre movie in the vein of "An Unfinished Life" that has its moments, but falls apart because it doesn't know whether to be a drama or a slapstick comedy. Peter Fonda and Kris Kristofferson give amazing performances, and share some very funny and bittersweet scenes, but they're constantly being interrupted by pointless comic relief. A movie about an old man waiting to die should not have bungling cops, Dukes of Hazzard villains, and annoying teenagers. The latter is especially grating. I realize the entire plot centers around the kid, but after ten minutes of his shrill, nasal whining I wanted him to get trampled to death by the sheep.

It has beautiful footage of the North Dakota landscape (after a confusing side trip to Minneapolis), and like I said before, Fonda and Kristofferson are wonderful, but the rest is a wash. If they'd scrapped the comedy, this would have been a great movie.