Best movie ever!

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

One of my favorite movies of all time. I thought the pairing of Ford and Wilder was strange, but Oy Gevalt! It was a silly, beautiful thing. I could watch this over and over (I did) and find something new every time. Beyond the classic buddy picture or road movie (not a great road btw) it will make you laugh and melt your heart. Some campiness, yeah, but a true portrait of growth, acceptance and friendship. It lost a point by not using Native American actors, but it is also possible they couldn't find any willing to do such silly scenes.

Its movies like The Frisco Kid which are right up my alley - a totally bizarre, odd ball comedy. A movie which feels like a classic Hollywood western but about a man who is in a totally alien world. The odd pairing of actors Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford works like a charm. Just like how you wouldn't expect these actors to team up, you wouldn't expect a rabbi and a Wild West cowboy to be a duo. There's such pleasure watching the two interact and develop their odd, endearing bromance; Tommy (Ford) has no reason to stay with Avram (Wilder) other than he's formed a liking to him. Harrison Ford goes from space cowboy in Star Wars to actual cowboy in The Frisco Kid, showing he really had a knack for playing ruffians. However his character is not just a Han Solo redux. Unlike Solo he's not just out for himself but wants to give a helping hand to underdogs.The Frisco Kid showcases the absurdity of faith, but also celebrates it at the same time. Rabbi Avram Belinski follows his faith to a tee (despite being ranked almost last among his peers strangely enough). He would put his life and the lives of others on the line for the Torrah or in order to obey the Sabbath. Yet Tommy defends and even lauds Avram's actions as a man dedicated to his faith, even if he put his life in danger for religious reasons.Likewise the Native Americans they encounter along their travels have a failure to understand the God of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In one dialogue exchange, the Indian chief is perplexed that this God can make rain yet he doesn't because as Avram puts it, "that's not his department". Yet the chief asks if he wanted to he could, and Avram replies yes. Yet Avram contradicts this statement later in their discussion when he proclaims God can do anything; the chief responds with "then why can't he make rain?" and Avram loudly states "because he doesn't make rain!". However on top of this Avram tells the chief that there is only one God and that he's your God too. Take that as a bit of falsifying another's faith.However The Frisco Kid is a movie which showcases peace and unity between cultures. Along his travels Avram encounters whites, blacks, Native Americans, Christian monks and the Amish. When he first encounters the Amish he mistakes them for rabbis due to their similar attire, perhaps symbolising that we're not all so different. Here Gene Wilder shows he is an actor who is not afraid to celebrate their religion and culture on screen; even if he is playing a neurotic Jew but not in an annoying way. The Frisco Kid is a movie which could possibly appeal to the both the religious minded and the atheist alike.

This is an excellent film and Gene Wilder, William Smith and Harrison Ford are great. Gene Wilder is always great, in films like Young Frankenstein, The Producers and Blazing Saddles, he shines. He must have had the "X Factor" some people talk about. A sign of a good film is when you watch it lots of times and never seem to tire of it. This may be because of the good acting, good story (human interest) or charismatic actors and this film contains all these qualities. This film proves that over the top special effects and continuous roller-coaster action are not necessarily required for an enjoyable and memorable film. Robert Aldrich was a good director and although he didn't make a lot of films, most of them like "Flight of the Phoenix" were interesting and memorable. This film is worth owning on DVD.

Gene Wilder was born to play this role and he does it almost reverently. It is just superb, funny and touching and warm and suspenseful...the classic "I laughed, I cried, I worried...then I laughed again!" The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is because there is a lot of unnecessary cursing. There is a certain humor from hearing the rabbi curse, and with an accent yet! But it gets old fast and disrespectful. And that keeps it from being a family film even the kids can enjoy.The other drawback is that Harrison Ford is awful. I think Ford is a great actor in later films, but while he's still in this "let's put him in a film because he was big in Star Wars" stage, not so much. And it's even more of a tragedy if the trivia is true that John Wayne could have played the part. The contrast between Wayne and Wilder would have made the West and this film...well, even Wilder! It is a wonderful, wonderful film. You'll find yourself humming happily in Hebrew for days afterward. All that and a happy ending? Oy Gevalt!