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"Doc West" (2010)
-Terence Hill, Paul Sorvino
Plot: DVD Talk
The American West. Mysterious cowboy "Doc" West (Terence Hill) has just transferred by wire some serious cash from the Santa Fe post office to one of the finest boarding schools for girls in Boston...right before the post office is robbed by desperados. Unable to give rapid chase because of his horse's split hoof, West tracks the robbers, until he comes upon Silver (Benjamin Petry), a young boy suffering from a dislocated shoulder (his horse threw him and ran off), and a more immediate concern: a rattler moving in for a strike. West carefully draws down on the rattler, and from 300 yards, shoots his tail off...as a warning to the other snakes, he later tells Silver. Utilizing a bit of positive imagery misdirection, West re-sets the boy's arm, causing Silver to suspect that West is not only a hellava shot, but also a physician--a theory West quietly (too quietly) denies. Taking Silver back to his small desert town, Holysand, West immediately makes himself known to the wrong people, including taking vicious henchman Garvey (Alessio Di Clemente) in a poker game. Garvey works for town big wheel Nathan Mitchell (Boots Southerland), who's ruthlessly acquiring farmland for his expanding cattle herd. Sheriff Basehart (Paul Sorvino) locks up West for his own good (after Garvey accuses him of cheating at cards) as much as for the chance to talk to someone interesting for a change. Denise Stark (Clare Carey) isn't a doctor, but she knows one when she sees one, especially after the jailed West gives her the correct prescription for an ailing patient. The arrival of Millie Mitchell (Mary Petruolo), Nathan's daughter, sets into motion a final showdown between her father and farmers the Baker family--with "Doc" West caught right in the middle.
Phantoms Review: While it's great to see Terence Hill back in the saddle again, this film is a bit on the dull side. The action is very light and for some reason all of the female actors are terrible.
On the plus side, Hill still has that same charm he had back in his spaghetti western days and Paul Sorvino looks like he's having a great time. Also, the film is beautifully shot in New Mexico. If your expecting lots of Spaghetti western style action and violence you'll be disappointed , this is more of a "Family "style western. Not bad, but it could have been so much better.
The film did spawn a sequel called "Triggerman" which I'll probably be watching next week.
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