Editorial Review:Amazon.com:Three Western stars (Martin Short, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase) from Hollywood silent films go to Mexico for what they assume will be a publicity appearance, and find they've actually been summoned to fight a local bandit. John Landis directed this 1986 comedy with self-conscious artifice, and it's hard to get into his self-congratulatory joke. Even the three main stars, brilliant comics all, can't sustain anything funny in it.
--Tom Keogh
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Average Rating:
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The amigos ride again!
Not quite as hilarious and a little tamer than I remember it from my youth, it is still a great way to spend an evening with some light comedy.
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THE FUNNIEST COMIC TRIO SINCE THE THREE STOOGES
¡Three Amigos! is a 1986 comedy western film, produced by George Folsey, Jr., and Lorne Michaels. John Landis directed for HBO Films. Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short star. The movie was written by Steve Martin, Lorne Michaels, and Randy Newman. Randy Newman contributed several original songs, including "The Ballad of the Three Amigos" and "My Little Buttercup", while the musical score was composed by Elmer Bernstein. It was shot in Simi Valley, California,Coronado National Forest,Old Tucson Studios, and Hollywood.
Cast
Steve Martin as Lucky Day, the de facto leader of the Amigos
Chevy Chase as Dusty Bottoms, the dimmest of the three Amigos, and a pianist
Martin Short as Ned Nederlander, a former child star and a genuine quick-draw artist
Patrice Camhi (aka Patrice Martinez) as Carmen, a beautiful villager of Santo Poco who summons the Three Amigos
Alfonso Arau as El Guapo, the evil leader of the Mexican bandits
Tony Plana as Jefe, El Guapo's right-hand man
Joe Mantegna as film producer Harry Flugleman
PLOT
In the year 1916, three prissy silent film actors are fired after they demand a higher salary for their popular "Three Amigos" western films. Later that day they receive a plea from the villagers of Santo Poco who have been under siege from the notorious villain El Guapo. Mistaking the plea for an acting job, the actors steal their costumes and travel to Santo Poco. The villagers give the actors a hero's welcome, believing them to be bona fide gunfighters. After a nearly fatal confrontation with El Guapo, the actors realize the danger to which they are now subject. They panic and plan a hasty retreat, leaving the villagers at the mercy of El Guapo. They soon return to the village and, upon seeing the devastation caused by the bandits, decide to step up and become the Three Amigos "for real."
The Amigos make several disastrous attempts to thwart the bandits, including infiltration of El Guapo's birthday party and seeking of mystical aid via a singing bush and an invisible swordsman. They then ride an airplane, piloted by Ned, back to the village. Lucky Day (Steve Martin) delivers a speech about conquering an individual's personal "El Guapo", whether that be a lack of self-confidence or an actual killer by that name. They then discover that the villagers' greatest skill is sewing. The Amigos organize the villagers, using their sewing skills to create an army of "Amigos" by replicating their mariachi costumes. The villagers defeat the bandits by appearing clad in the costumes and shooting from all sides, creating the illusion that the Amigos are everywhere. Thereafter, the Amigos ride off into the sunset, intending to become the heroes they'd once only portrayed on film.
Trivia from [...]
(1)Alfonso Arau, who plays El Guapo, was one of the main villains in The Wild Bunch (1969).(2)The movie billboard behind Steve Martin when he is trying to break into the studio to retrieve the Three Amigos costumes is an advertisement for the movie "The Dueling Cavalier" starring Miss Reynolds. Debbie Reynolds starred in Singin' in the Rain (1952) in which the talkie movie they were trying to make was called, "The Dueling Cavalier".(3)Lucky Day (Steve Martin) is the only one of the Amigos to get shot in the movie. Once in his left shoulder, and once in his right foot.(4)While singing the opening song the Three Amigos simultaneously hold that high note for 14 seconds.(5)The bats hunted by Ned, is actually fried bacon, served on skewers.(6)John Landis states, had Martin Short turned down the role of Ned, he would have then approached Rick Moranis to play the role.(7)Chevy Chase's favorite film of his own.(8)'Nederlander' is Dutch for 'Dutchman'.
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Incredibly Overrated
I didn't see this movie in theatres because I didn't think it looked that good. They couldn't even pull a decent trailer together, as I recall.
But I heard people say good things about it. And they kept repeating, "You HAVE to see the singing cactus scene!" I kept hearing that the same say I used to hear, "You have to see the campfire scene in BLAZING SADDLES!" or "You have to see the automatic pilot in AIRPLANE!"
So I saw THE THREE AMIGOS. There's a campfire scene and the three leads sing and strum a guitar next to the campfire. And a cactus joins in and sings. That's it. There was nothing more to it. For some reason, people found this really funny.
I suppose if they found that to be a knee-slapper, the rest of this comedy--as arid as the Mexican landscape in the background--would be equally as hilarious.
I like the cast, I like John Landis...but this was not funny.
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absurdly funny
Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, and Martin Short.....(the three funny men of comedy) in a movie together. What could be better? I can't believe they havent made more movies together. I admit, the plot is a little "out there", but the 3 actors pull it off beautifully. For example, theres a scene where the 3 are in a desert and Chevy Chase and Steve Martin are singing to Martin Short trying to make him fall asleep and all the animals in the desert start singing. Originally you'd be rolling your eyes but with the 3 actors, I found myself roaring with laughter. I just found it hilarious.
Now, if you like slapstick comedy and am able to not take a movie too seriously but can appreciate the humor, plus a fan of these 3 actors, you'd love this one. Its a classic.
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Great movie, bad DVD
First off, it's a great movie. But this DVD is one of the worst DVDs I have seen of a major motion picture.
There are no special features, but it's actually the print of the film that is a problem.
First off during the opening titles (and a few other times in the film) the movie shakes and bobs up and down. Then during many of the shots, the far left of the picture has a black line over the print (it looks like the scene is fading out... but only on the far left of the picture and only in particular shots.)
Finally, about 3/4 of the way through the closing credits the dvd stops and returns to the menu. No kidding!
Anyway, it's the only DVD available right now (4-2-08) and these problems won't destroy your enjoyment of the film, but I thought they were worth noting.)
So, if the price sounds good, buy it for the great film and look past the DVD problems.
