So much average

Pretty Good

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

I missed the opportunity to watch this film once, so I rented it on DVD, I recognised it by the image of the leading actor, also directing, with a beard posing behind a hangman's noose, I hoped the film itself would be worthwhile. Basically set in the late 1860s, shortly after the Civil War, in Longhorn, Texas, third-rate outlaw Henry Lloyd Moon (Jack Nicholson) is a convicted bank robber, horse thief and cattle thief. Moon is sentenced to be hanged, to the glee of the locals who gather to watch his execution, a local ordinance dictates that as he has not committed murder, he may be freed if a lady will marry him and take responsibility for his good behaviour. An elderly woman offers to marry him, but dies on the spot immediately, as Moon is dragged back to the gallows, headstrong, genteel Southern virgin Julia Tate (introducing Golden Globe nominated Mary Steenburgen) agrees to marry and take charge of him. Julia weds Moon, intending only to use him as labour in a secret gold mine under her property, they strike up a shaky partnership and he gains her trust, it slowly develops into something more. The local sheriff's Deputy Towfield (Christopher Lloyd) constantly accuses Moon of stealing "his" girl, but there is no evidence Julia has any interest in him, and she offered marriage to Moon herself. It gets complicated when Moon's old gang arrive at Julia's house, she is abstinent, but they introduce her to intoxicating beverages. Julia and Moon are overjoyed when they successfully strike gold, but soon enough the outlaws discover this, Moon schemes to betray Julia and steal the gold., but following a collapse in the mine, he has a change of heart. There is a gun fight between the many men for the gold rush, and in the end, Julia and Moon walk away to make way with their fortune, with the nature of their relationship changed for the better. Also starring John Belushi as Deputy Hector, Danny DeVito as Hog, Veronica Cartwright as Hermine, Richard Bradford as Sheriff Andrew Kyle, Batman's Tracey Walter as Coogan, Ed Begley Jr. as Whitey Haber, Barbara Ann Grimes as Spinster #1, Anne Ramsey as Spinster #2, Marsha Ferri as Spinster #3 and Lin Shaye as Parasol Lady. Nicholson is good as the antihero, this is a good first movie for Steenburgen, and there is fair support from the other recognisable actors, the story is fairly simplistic, a relationship that turns from sour to smooth, a search for gold, and some bandits trying to get their hands on it, the movie may have been a flop at the cinemas, but it is a reasonable and fun comedy western. Worth watching!

Incredibly underrated flick - great from from start to finish with a perfect blend of action, romance and laughs. First saw it as a teen on HBO a year or two after its theatrical release and it remains one of my absolute all time favorite movies. Great story, dialogue and cast. Nicholson shines as an actor and director while displaying delightful wry comedic timing. Filled with classic scenes and quotable lines. I would guess I've watched "Goin' South" several dozen times and enjoyed every second. If you haven't seen this gem, trust the positive reviews, ignore the misguided negative reviews and check it out.

First half of the movie was really funny, enjoyable and fast but only negative thing about the movie is second half was some slow. It is easy to predict the end of the movie maybe this one also makes you get bored before the movie's end is coming.Most of the movie watchers accept that Jack Nickholson's acting is great but especially I surprised in this movie that he is also very good at comedy acting. He acted in some dark and not funny characters at the past but he could choose comedy acting more. Other actors were also very good in the movie.Finally this movie is worth watching, enjoyable but also predictable. This is a western comedy but it includes also lots of romance. If you like to watch romantic-comedies, give this movie a try.

For some mysterious reason, this film failed to delight both critics and the public when it was first released in 1978, probably because it did not match the celluloid and writing quality of Nicholson's previous multi-million dollar funded blockbusters, "Chinatown", and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". I first watched "Goin' South" on video back in 1987 when I was 26. I watched it with six other people, and we all laughed hysterically throughout this delightfully funny film (and we don't drink or take drugs). The critics, and sadly, Nicholsen's fans, completely missed the point of this great movie. It was Jack taking a break from the 'biz' to explore his directing gifts (though no Spielberg, he is capable) and due to the low budget, he makes up in performance what the Hollywood trimmings and glitz cannot provide. His co-stars, especially John Belushi in his first major film role, is absolutely hilarious. Every one of his films pale compared to his toothless, Mexican loser of a bandit impersonation. When I watch this movie every now and then, I can see why the critics were so hard on this film. Mary Steenburgen (in her first film role too) was not the right person to play the part of the prissy, virginal, and headstrong maiden who saves Jack from the gallows (some old Civil War law where a woman can save a condemned man by marrying him). She's just too bitchy, and none of us want to see the misguided, but lovable Jack treated this way. You kind of feel sorry for the guy, and this unintentionally brings the viewer down a little here and there (but not much!). Even though things change for the better, by that point in the film, you just don't care. If the film had a larger budget, they would have been able to afford an actress of the caliber of Julie Christie, Sally Fields, or even Goldie Hawn. There are times when Steenburgen just sort of sucks the life out of the scene, and if it weren't for Jack's over-the-top acting, even I might get annoyed. This being said, the film is still one of the best 90 minutes I can spend in front of the boob tube. I love it, and I think you will too.