American Outlaws (2001)

Starring: Colin Farrel, Scott Caan, Ali Larter
Director: Les Mayfield

Rating: PG-13

Studio: Warner Bros.

Reviews Posted: 8.22.01

Spoilers: Minor

Rating: 1.5/4

By Craig Younkin.

In a summer of big stars and big special effects, bland storytelling and not a single famous face could be deadly for a movie. Take "American Outlaws" for example. You can tell in the first five minutes that this movie has absolutely nothing to offer that we haven't already seen before and that it isn't exactly going to be better than before either.

The story takes place after the Civil War has ended. Jesse James (Colin Farrel), his brother Frank (Gabriel Macht), and their cousins Cole (Scott Caan) and Bob (Will McCormack) Younger plan on doing nothing but settling back down on the farm, only the Missouri town they left is far different upon their return.

The Railroad Company is evicting the entire town so a railroad can be built in its place. If someone in the town doesn't want to give up their land, they will be strong-armed out of the way. This happens to Jesse's mother (Kathy Bates), sending him and the rest of the gang on a bank robbing spree- every bank that holds the railroad company's money.

"American Outlaws" is as bland as can be. It contains about as much story as a music video and looks just about the same. The script sets up no obstacles for these characters, so the feeling of danger is out the door already. Character development and dialogue also becomes a major problem, the biggest is that it all sounds dreadful. There is also barely an action sequence to be seen. "It's going to be a long spring" as one villain says, explaining the history of the outlaw bank robberies. But why talk about tracking down the robbers when you can show it to us?

The cast is a nightmare. Not only is there not a single recognizable face in the bunch, but their all a bunch of one dimensional teeny-bopper recyclables to boot. Their southern accents are incredibly forced and only the likable Colin Farell manages to become an interesting character here. The rest of the outlaws, Scott Caan, Gabriel Macht, and Will McCormack all serve no purpose. And the bad guys, including Timothy Dalton, Harris Yulin, and Terry O'Quinn are about as intimidating as a bunch of bloated fat cats can be. "Outlaws" is another movie that shows the decline of the American western. Clint, where are you when we need you?

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