Urban Cowboy (1980)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Written by Aaron Latham and James Bridges, based upon the story by Aaron Latham
Directed by James Bridges
Starring John Travolta, Debra Winger, Scott Glenn, Cooper Huckabee, Barry Corbin, Madolyn Smith

Features:

• Outtakes
  
• Rehearsal Footage
  

Rating: PG

Anamorphic: Yes

My Advice: Skip it unless you’re a sociologist studying sexism in modern cinema or die for the Eagles and Johnny Lee

Urban Cowboy tells the story of Buford “Bud” Davis (Travolta), a country boy who moves to the big city of Houston, Texas to live with his uncle. After taking a job at the refinery where his uncle works, Bud finds everything he wants in a girl, Sissy (Winger), and a local bar where he can be himself--a place called Gilley’s. After a whirlwind romance, Bud and Sissy marry, but their joy is cut short when Bud develops suspicions that Sissy is seeing a rather nasty sort of man, a mechanical bull-riding cowboy named Wes (Glenn), and Sissy asks Bud to prove that he’s a “real cowboy.” When Mickey Gilley announces a bull-riding contest, Bud signs up in the hopes of winning back his girl and saving his marriage.

The acting is as good as you would expect with names like Travolta and Winger starring. Too bad they aren’t given much to work with--the script is hackneyed, cliché, and just plain dull for the most part. I could handle some clichés if they are at least effective or interesting--after all, some things became cliché because they work so well--but that is not what we have here.

The features are decent, if not terribly inspired. There’s a set of outtakes, which are always fun and nice to see, and some rehearsal footage.

The soundtrack is truly a treat for anyone who enjoys classical country-western music. You hear from the Charlie Daniels Band, Mickey Gilley, Boz Scaggs, Kenny Rogers, and a host of other famous musicians. People who don’t like this music might be miserable, but at least the sound quality is good.

Speaking of the audio quality, it and the video quality are both quite good. I detected no fuzzing or distortions, even in the loud bar scenes. Music was ambient, but rarely detracted from the scenes, though that may not be a good thing.

If bulls, beer, sexism, and cowboy hats are your idea of a good time, then by all means, get this and enjoy it proudly. If, on the other hand, you want some substance to your love stories then you’re better off elsewhere. Fans of musical soap operas might get into this one, between its closure-lacking relationships and idiotic choices. Just once I would like to see a movie about the South that doesn’t portray all Southern women as maniacs who care only about manipulating men, or portrays men themselves as something other than dirt-eating rednecks. I’m pretty sure your average cowboy would scoff at mechanical bulls and goofy bar fights, as well. In any case, people who enjoy bar fights, stifling machismo, and country line dancing should truly love Urban Cowboy; anyone else should skip it.