IMO, it sounds like the theatrical cut release ended up being way better than the original script was, or using all the footage of it would have been. 40+ minutes spent focusing on their lives in...
IMO, it sounds like the theatrical cut release ended up being way better than the original script was, or using all the footage of it would have been. 40+ minutes spent focusing on their lives in Hollywood before they go to Mexico sounds kinda boring. And I suspect keeping in that part of the film would have taken away from how super tight, fast paced, and rapid-fire the jokes in the theatrical release ended up feeling. The deleted scenes with the crazy cannibal mountain man, played by Sam Kinison, sound like they could have been fun though. I wish footage of that still existed. :(
Wadsworth Constant strikes again! Having that much backstory and exposition does sound like it would've been detrimental to the overall story that we know as the theatrical film. The cut content...
Wadsworth Constant strikes again! Having that much backstory and exposition does sound like it would've been detrimental to the overall story that we know as the theatrical film. The cut content does sound like it would've been humorous, but maybe too much. Might not have aged well, either.
I wonder how audiences of the time would've handled a 120-minute comedy.
That seems like a pretty reasonable way to film a comedy, money and time allowing. Get in the writing flow, play around, put down everything that seems good, then see it play out and pare down...
That seems like a pretty reasonable way to film a comedy, money and time allowing. Get in the writing flow, play around, put down everything that seems good, then see it play out and pare down anything that doesn't work when seen as a whole piece. Just don't let yourself get too attached to a particular joke that isn't actually serving it's purpose and you can be fairly sure you didn't miss an opportunity for something great that you wouldn't have thought of if you tried to restrict yourself too much from the beginning.
Yeah, and given the background of the cast, I imagine there was a lot of improvising too. So just filming a whole bunch of extra scenes, and extra takes, to give the actors room to riff off each...
Yeah, and given the background of the cast, I imagine there was a lot of improvising too. So just filming a whole bunch of extra scenes, and extra takes, to give the actors room to riff off each other, and keeping only the best stuff, is a good way to do it. I certainly can't complain about the results, and think the IMDB score (6.5/10) is bizarrely low. It's not the best movie of all time, but for me it does rank up there in terms of the best comedies.
There are a number of comedies that I've really enjoyed that have low IMDb scores. I suppose it's a failing of comedy in general. It's much more personal. I've been to stand up performances where...
There are a number of comedies that I've really enjoyed that have low IMDb scores. I suppose it's a failing of comedy in general. It's much more personal.
I've been to stand up performances where the comedian bombs - and not because they have bad jokes. They just picked the wrong venue for their jokes. Like a black man exclusively telling jokes about just how poor he was growing up. But he did this at a fundraiser night in a nice part of LA. I don't think there were any people in the audience that could relate to the bits. I felt bad for the dude.
A lot of Three Amigos' jokes tend to play upon just how out of place three particularly un-masculine men are in a wild west setting. The humor captures both audience members that can laugh at the Amigos and those that can laugh at the Mexicans in these moments of situational comedy. But I suppose there are plenty of people that aren't in either or both of those bands.
Makes sense. I suppose comedy is a lot like music in that regard. It's deeply personal and subjective. I still think 6.5 is weirdly low though, since I figured the movie would have pretty...
Makes sense. I suppose comedy is a lot like music in that regard. It's deeply personal and subjective. I still think 6.5 is weirdly low though, since I figured the movie would have pretty universal appeal. But clearly it doesn't. :( Ah well, I still think it's great, and supremely underrated! :P
I agree that the final version is probably better than the longer scripted version. A lot of John Landis’ films are found in the shooting stage/editing room though, so it isn’t surprising to hear...
I agree that the final version is probably better than the longer scripted version. A lot of John Landis’ films are found in the shooting stage/editing room though, so it isn’t surprising to hear that the original script was longer.
Dan Ackroyd’s original script for The Blues Brothers was nearly 400 pages before Landis edited it down.
I'd never heard of this movie before, but the idea of "Galaxy Quest, but western" sounded great so I gave it a watch last night. Not bad! I think my favorite scene by far is early where the Three...
I'd never heard of this movie before, but the idea of "Galaxy Quest, but western" sounded great so I gave it a watch last night. Not bad! I think my favorite scene by far is early where the Three Amigos show up to the cantina and perform "My Little Buttercup" having been mistaken for a band of murderous quickdraws.
There were some bits that got ruined by the trope of holding on a punchline for waaaaaay too long. I prefer the jokes to be rapidfire. If a viewer doesn't get one - no problem. There's another one in 30 seconds.
My favorite scenes are all the ones with El Guapo, he's just such a hilarious and perfect villain. All his and Jefe's interactions are amazing, but especially the "plethora of piñatas" scene. :P
My favorite scenes are all the ones with El Guapo, he's just such a hilarious and perfect villain. All his and Jefe's interactions are amazing, but especially the "plethora of piñatas" scene. :P
That is 100% accurate and I can’t believe I never realized it before. One of my favorite bits is near the beginning when the Amigos are breaking into the movie studio. Steve Martin atop the wall...
"Galaxy Quest, but western"
That is 100% accurate and I can’t believe I never realized it before.
One of my favorite bits is near the beginning when the Amigos are breaking into the movie studio. Steve Martin atop the wall trying increasingly conspicuous birdsong signals to get the others’ attention while they stand below him, oblivious. I still blurt out “LOOKUPHERE!” from time to time, it’s an absolute classic.
The part of the movie I really don’t like is when the Amigos are traveling to El Guapo’s hideout. The campfire sing-along with all the friendly animals, the bits with the singing bush and the invisible swordsman… those should’ve been cut entirely IMHO. They don’t fit with the tone of the rest of the film at all. Not saying a fun comedy like this one needs to be fully realistic, but it’s the only place we see any magical/supernatural stuff and then it’s immediately forgotten. And that campsite set looks so blatantly fake, which would be fine if the rest of the movie did too, but all the other locations appear fairly true-to-life. I just find it jarring how different this part is.
IMO, it sounds like the theatrical cut release ended up being way better than the original script was, or using all the footage of it would have been. 40+ minutes spent focusing on their lives in Hollywood before they go to Mexico sounds kinda boring. And I suspect keeping in that part of the film would have taken away from how super tight, fast paced, and rapid-fire the jokes in the theatrical release ended up feeling. The deleted scenes with the crazy cannibal mountain man, played by Sam Kinison, sound like they could have been fun though. I wish footage of that still existed. :(
Wadsworth Constant strikes again! Having that much backstory and exposition does sound like it would've been detrimental to the overall story that we know as the theatrical film. The cut content does sound like it would've been humorous, but maybe too much. Might not have aged well, either.
I wonder how audiences of the time would've handled a 120-minute comedy.
That seems like a pretty reasonable way to film a comedy, money and time allowing. Get in the writing flow, play around, put down everything that seems good, then see it play out and pare down anything that doesn't work when seen as a whole piece. Just don't let yourself get too attached to a particular joke that isn't actually serving it's purpose and you can be fairly sure you didn't miss an opportunity for something great that you wouldn't have thought of if you tried to restrict yourself too much from the beginning.
Yeah, and given the background of the cast, I imagine there was a lot of improvising too. So just filming a whole bunch of extra scenes, and extra takes, to give the actors room to riff off each other, and keeping only the best stuff, is a good way to do it. I certainly can't complain about the results, and think the IMDB score (6.5/10) is bizarrely low. It's not the best movie of all time, but for me it does rank up there in terms of the best comedies.
There are a number of comedies that I've really enjoyed that have low IMDb scores. I suppose it's a failing of comedy in general. It's much more personal.
I've been to stand up performances where the comedian bombs - and not because they have bad jokes. They just picked the wrong venue for their jokes. Like a black man exclusively telling jokes about just how poor he was growing up. But he did this at a fundraiser night in a nice part of LA. I don't think there were any people in the audience that could relate to the bits. I felt bad for the dude.
A lot of Three Amigos' jokes tend to play upon just how out of place three particularly un-masculine men are in a wild west setting. The humor captures both audience members that can laugh at the Amigos and those that can laugh at the Mexicans in these moments of situational comedy. But I suppose there are plenty of people that aren't in either or both of those bands.
Makes sense. I suppose comedy is a lot like music in that regard. It's deeply personal and subjective. I still think 6.5 is weirdly low though, since I figured the movie would have pretty universal appeal. But clearly it doesn't. :( Ah well, I still think it's great, and supremely underrated! :P
I agree that the final version is probably better than the longer scripted version. A lot of John Landis’ films are found in the shooting stage/editing room though, so it isn’t surprising to hear that the original script was longer.
Dan Ackroyd’s original script for The Blues Brothers was nearly 400 pages before Landis edited it down.
I'd never heard of this movie before, but the idea of "Galaxy Quest, but western" sounded great so I gave it a watch last night. Not bad! I think my favorite scene by far is early where the Three Amigos show up to the cantina and perform "My Little Buttercup" having been mistaken for a band of murderous quickdraws.
There were some bits that got ruined by the trope of holding on a punchline for waaaaaay too long. I prefer the jokes to be rapidfire. If a viewer doesn't get one - no problem. There's another one in 30 seconds.
My favorite scenes are all the ones with El Guapo, he's just such a hilarious and perfect villain. All his and Jefe's interactions are amazing, but especially the "plethora of piñatas" scene. :P
The bit where Jefe helps El Guapo work through his feelings got a laugh out of me. So out of place!
That is 100% accurate and I can’t believe I never realized it before.
One of my favorite bits is near the beginning when the Amigos are breaking into the movie studio. Steve Martin atop the wall trying increasingly conspicuous birdsong signals to get the others’ attention while they stand below him, oblivious. I still blurt out “LOOKUPHERE!” from time to time, it’s an absolute classic.
The part of the movie I really don’t like is when the Amigos are traveling to El Guapo’s hideout. The campfire sing-along with all the friendly animals, the bits with the singing bush and the invisible swordsman… those should’ve been cut entirely IMHO. They don’t fit with the tone of the rest of the film at all. Not saying a fun comedy like this one needs to be fully realistic, but it’s the only place we see any magical/supernatural stuff and then it’s immediately forgotten. And that campsite set looks so blatantly fake, which would be fine if the rest of the movie did too, but all the other locations appear fairly true-to-life. I just find it jarring how different this part is.
Yeah, the invisible swordsman bit is very Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I laughed, but you're right - it could have been cut.
It's a Mexican classic alongside Nacho Libre.