Doc West

I am a hard core fan of Clint Eastwood's Man With No Name trilogy and the two thoughtful follow-ups he controlled: High Plains Drifter and Pale Rider. I disliked Terrence Hill's corruption of the genre with his grinning, overdubbed, hip "whatever" character and was glad when he went away. But then, fast forward to 2009 and he returns, pleasantly grizzled, speaking careful second language English and playing a serious character with just enough humor to comfort his old fans.

"Doc West" and the unfortunately named second episode "Triggerman" are a genuinely excellent and authentic Spaghetti Western with good production values and music that does not attempt to mimic Morricone. And of all things, it was filmed on location in New Mexico by an Italian crew.

Hill has one Eastwood moment in the movie when a poker competitor realizes Doc West has drawn him. When Doc is confronted, he glints back with no hint of a smile and says: "I'm not the one who thought he had a sucker on his hands." with his hand on his gun. I expected to hear the Eastwood tympani/chime strike followed by the wind blowing.

I rated the movie 8 only because he was more merciful with the Bad Guys than Clint would have been, but then, he IS a doctor. Anyone who remembers and likes the Clint trilogy should view this with an open mind. It's a little like going home. I wish Hill would do another before the years catch up.

The acting is not very good but it adds charm to this little PG gem. Its a cute little generic western movie, very clean. Docs character is a one of a kind.

Easygoing stranger Terence Hill rides into town chasing some stolen cash and ends up in jail, dispensing medical advise, and finally getting involved in a local land dispute, while simultaneously charming nearly all the town's residents!

Despite a sometimes slow pace, this lightweight, family-oriented western has some decent production values and benefits greatly from likable performances by Hill (the first time I ever heard his real voice in a film) and Paul Sorvino, whom I suspect is a stand-in for Hill's partner Bud Spencer, as the town's upright sheriff. In fact, the film is so good-natured that it's nearly impossible to dislike.

I'm also a bit in awe of Terence Hill's nearly unchanged appearance since the old spaghetti western days. He looks really great!

I love the movies Terence Hill put out in the '70s and '80s, and I was curious to see an example of what Hill has been putting out in the present day, which explains why I rented "Doc West". Sadly, I didn't think too much of this effort. Hill still has his piercing blue eyes, but now in his senior citizen years, he looks extremely worn out and tired in this movie. The movie's sense of humor also seems worn out and tired, with the attempted humor not even generating a mild chuckle. In fact, much of the movie is (oddly) played pretty straight. I will admit that for a made-for-TV (Italian TV) movie, the production values are fairly good, from the western sets to the New Mexico countryside. But good production values can only carry a movie so far, and this movie ends up being a big disappointment.

A thoroughly predictable and trite story line, which was an enjoyable two hours. The supporting acting is top notch, and the attention to setting detail deserves attention. Well directed and the on site cinematography is startling. Redemptive story of a broken doctor who has gone west to earn a living as a card sharp while caring for a young girl in Boston whose mother he killed in a botched operation. Predictably, he becomes a local star in a small western town because of his moral compass and his developed skill with a fire arm. The old hackneyed showdown between two families over a land dispute. A satisfying comedic western. Well worth the time on a weekend night.