MAVERICK
A Film Review by Michael J. Legeros
Copyright 1994 Michael J. Legeros
Directed by Richard Donner
Written by William Goldman
Cast Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, and James Garner
MPAA Rating PG (what else?)
Running Time 129 minutes
==
"I promise I will lose for at least an hour." - Gibson as Maverick, to a table of reluctant poker players.
MAVERICK, the first of two Warner westerns to hit the summer screen, reteams Mel Gibson and Richard Donner for an update of the 1957-62 ABC TV series. Despite a pair of ace co-stars and a script by SUNDANCE scribe William Goldman, MAVERICK is merely an OK corral of top talent.
"Maverick" is Bret Maverick (Gibson), a sharp-witted, sharp-shooting card player en route to a championship poker game. He's cashing old debts as he rides between towns, making both friends and enemies along the way. His "love" is a pesky pickpocket (Foster), his foil is a former lawman (Garner, who originated the title role on television) and, together, they face everything from a runaway stage to not-so-renegade indians.
MAVERICK proves, once again, that what works on paper doesn't always work on-screen. This witty western-wannabe isn't exactly D.O.A., but it ain't exactly F.U.N., either. Simply, MAVERICK never comes alive.
Gibson makes a gamely gambler, but, compared to his antsy antics as detective Martin Riggs, the man-with-a-face seems stuck in slow motion. Foster is a loss with her (intentionally?) bad Southern accent and Garner doesn't get enough shared screen time to truly tap his talents.
(If you commit to sit, don't miss scene-stealing Graham Greene as an indian who addresses Maverick as "Mav.")
Donner's direction is hardly lethal. The man can make a movie, no question, but he lacks the precision to punch-up a standard set-piece like a runaway stage. He's backed by a posse of pros, though, and therein lies the irony. Far from an inspiring experience, MAVERICK is *still* crafted better than recent roundups TOMBSTONE and GERONIMO.
Film fans should savor a cornucopia of cameos recruited from film, television, and country music. Blink and you'll miss Corey Feldman, Margot Kidder, Doug McClure, Dan Hedaya, Dub Taylor, Denver Pyle, Robert Fuller, Hal Ketchum, Waylon Jennings, and Clint Blink.
BOTTOM LINE: Despite a treasure trove of top talent both before and
behind the camera, MAVERICK is another western-by-numbers
that delivers more yawns than yukes.
Grade: C+
.
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