Wild Wild West
Wild Wild West

Wild Wild West

1999Movie106 minEnglish

Legless Southern inventor Dr. Arliss Loveless plans to rekindle the Civil War by assassinating President Ulysses S. Grant. Only two men can stop him: gunfighter James West and master-of-disguise and inventor Artemus Gordon. The two must team up to thwart Loveless' plans.

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Insights

IMDb4.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes17%
Metacritic33/100
Google Users44%
Director: Barry SonnenfeldGenres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Western

Plot Summary

In the post-Civil War American West, a mysterious government agent and his flamboyant partner are tasked with protecting the President from a diabolical inventor threatening the nation with a giant mechanical spider. Their mission involves navigating treacherous terrains, outsmarting deadly contraptions, and overcoming their own clashing personalities. The unlikely duo must learn to work together to thwart the villain's ultimate plan for domination.

Critical Reception

Wild Wild West was a critical and commercial disappointment. While Will Smith's charismatic performance received some praise, the film was widely panned for its nonsensical plot, poor special effects, over-the-top acting, and a general lack of cohesion. It is often cited as one of the worst films of the 1990s.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for Will Smith's star power and some comedic moments.
  • Heavily criticized for a convoluted and nonsensical plot.
  • Widely panned for its weak special effects and over-the-top performances.

Google audience: Audiences found the film to be a loud and silly spectacle, with many enjoying Will Smith's presence but lamenting the weak story and poor execution. Criticisms often centered on its departure from the original TV series and its reliance on crude humor and uninspired action.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for multiple Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture and Worst Actor (Kevin Kline). Won a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Visual Effects.

Fun Fact

The giant mechanical spider, a central element of the film's climax, was inspired by a similar contraption featured in the classic 1961 Western film 'The Great Train Robbery'.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

**_A wild, WILD Western_** This has to be one of the most notorious films ever made. Released in 1999, it's a blockbuster parody of the late-60's TV series with Will Smith in the starring role, which should tip everyone off that it's not...
Peter89Spencer

Peter89Spencer

THE GOOD: 1) It's funny 2) Got good action 3) The music video is awesome 4) It stars Will Smith and Kevin Kline THE BAD: 1) It didn't live up to the original series 2) Over the top storyline 3) I hate spiders! THE UGLY: 1) Thi...
r96sk

r96sk

I felt entertained by this. It is a very bonkers film, though it actually works stupidly well in my opinion - the steampunk theme helps it of course. Will Smith and Kevin Kline are a good pairing as West and Gordon. Kenneth Branagh (Arli...
John Chard

John Chard

Steampunk Blockbusterdom! Barry Sonnenfeld's Wild Wild West is a film that I have avoided for over 15 years. I have no frame of reference with the source materials, but even though I'm a big Westerns fan, it wasn't this, or the critical ...