The Villain (1979) User Reviews

incredibly stupid fun

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 3 August 2005]

This is a perfect film if you just want to turn off your brain and have a good laugh. I was amazed at how low rated this film is--perhaps too many people take this film too seriously! This was never meant to be high art, but more like an extended live action version of a Wiley Coyote versus the Roadrunner cartoon. There was so much similarity, I half expected that this film would be sponsored by ACME.

Kirk Douglas is the hapless bad guy bent on killing the more than amply endowed Ann-Margret (you'll see what I mean if you watch the film) and the incredibly dumb hero played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Again and again and again his dopey schemes fall flat until the movie comes to a very unexpected and funny ending.

While I will admit this is more of a kids movie, adults can enjoy it too provided they don't think too much and just sit back and watch with an open mind.

Dudley DooRight versus Wile E. Coyote for Jessica Rabbit

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 25 May 2008]

I'm not quite sure why Kirk Douglas took the part of a live Wile E. Coyote in the film villain other than to say that he had now tried the slapstick comedy genre. But in this case the frustrated coyote is not matched up with the beeping road runner. His adversary is Dudley DooRight in the person of Arnold Schwarzneggar, the Handsome Stranger. Yes folks, that's his character name.

We've got a third cartoon character in the mix, Ann-Margret doing a prototype of Jessica Rabbit. Annie's really showing off the stuff today with bosoms akimbo, she's got every member of the cast panting after her with the exceptions of Strother Martin who is her father and still sees Daddy's little girl and Arnie whom she pants after, but who doesn't show the slightest interest.

The bulk of the film is taken up with Kirk as villainous Cactus Jack and his horse Whiskey, doing their best to stop Arnie and Ann and rob them of a large sum of money from banker Jack Elam to Strother Martin. It's here where all the comparisons to the road runner cartoons take place.

I'm sure Kirk Douglas liked the change of pace, burlesquing his own western image. And he had a tough assignment because the majority of his scenes are alone and the dialog was spoken to his horse. Maybe Mr. Ed should have been cast in the role.

If anybody noticed the name of the horse Whiskey is the same name that Kirk Douglas used for his horse in his acclaimed Lonely Are The Brave.

Lest you think that because this is a road runner film the ending is a road runner ending. Let's just say that Jessica Rabbit has her needs and priorities as well.

An amusing and hilarious Western that is a sort of live-action equivalent of the cartoon series

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 31 July 2019]

Diverting Western satire in which there are several nutty characters and improbable happenings . Fun Western parody in which satire goes on and on the same premise . This wacky spoof is packed with mayhem , lots of silly laughters and great entertainment and fun . Most of the laughs and sight gags galore work acceptably well ; humor is also bold and intelligent with a myriad of imaginative but well-known sketches . Demystified as well as amiable Western was one of a group of diverse characters changed the concept of this particular genre each bent on disproving a popular myth , yet tinged with humor , spoof and combining with anti-heroes , crazy Indians and many other things . A funny spoof of B Western that is almost live-action Roadrunner/Coyote and his disaster-prone cartoon , it is the fastest fun in the west! . Here Douglas plays the inept highwayman Cactus Jack who is assigned by a corrupt banker , Jack Elam , to take a vital cash from the couple Margret/Arnold to its destination only rebound on himself . But incompetent Cactus mugs his way through a routine series of flops and he repeatedly fails to to get the loot . Along the way Cactus keeps attempting to abduct the damsel in distress and she is helped by a drippy , miscast Arnold Schwarzenegger who keeps rescuing her .

This comic Western is a kind of live-action similar to Roadrunner and Wile E Coyote , Kirk Douglas-alike . A farcical and disconcerting comedy-action in which there are laughs , slapstick , noisy action , thrills , entertainment and amusement . This is an enjoyable film but repetitive and director Needham , apparently lost in the continuous gags , resorts to hackeyed camera trickery , including a truly offensive denouement . The picture is wonderfully amused and agreeable and it has its moments here and there . Trio protagonists : Kirk Douglas/Ann-Margret /Arnold Schwarzenegger are complemented by a nice support cast such as : Foster Brooks , Ruth Buzzi , Mel Tillis ,Jack Elam , Strother Martin . Furthermore , Paul Lynde as Nervous Elk and Robert Tessier as Mashing Finger steal the show as two deadpan , amusing and uptight Indians . The twisted screenplay besides having more than its fair scraps of funny lines ,throws up sympathetic roles . The formula deals to enhance the comics observations of the western originated on the decade 60 , being continued by the following filmmakers : Andrew McLagen and Burt Kennedy with ¨Support your local gunfighter (one of his better spoof Western)¨ , ¨Support your local sheriff¨ (his highpoint) , ¨Dirty Dingus Mcgee¨ and director Michael Gordon with ¨Texas across the river¨ ; a bit later on , Mel Brooks directed the indispensable ¨Blazing saddles¨ , a surrealist , extreme and gross-out spoof with the ordinary bunch of loonies and loopies .

The motion picture was regularly directed by comedy-action specialist Hal Needham , who attempts to lift the comedy with quick-motion sequences , but having flopped in the States . Hal Needham was a stunt , second unit director , producer and director who made some successful films , being Burt Reynolds his fetish actor . Hal directed hits and flops such as : Cannoball run , Cannoball run II , Smokey and the bandit I , Smokey and the bandit 2 , Megaforce , Hostage hotel , Stroker ace , Rad , Body slam , among others . rating : 6/10, acceptable and passable .

hilarious film, just like Roadrunner

[barryaus · 10 July 2004]

Almost like a Roadrunner cartoon, but live action. Pretty much all the clichés you can think of, including names such as "Handsome Stranger" for the handsome stranger played by Ah-nold, and "Charming" for the beautiful heroine.

Frankly, IMHO, Kirk Douglas's horse was the star of the movie. While watching it with friends I said, "I love that horse." I think that animal should have won an Academy Award. (I think there is a "Patsy" award for animals, actually)

Probably best to see this one with friends. Probably pretty boring to see it alone, but where friends can feed upon each other it is wonderful.

None of Kirk Douglas's implements did come from the ACME company, though :-)

Good Fun

[Lamia7609 · 3/10 · 6 September 2001]

I can't understand why most people think every movie is trying to be Citizen Kane. I mean I love steak, but I would tire of it if I had to eat it every day. Sometimes you need pudding. This movie is pudding..not much substance but tastes great while it's in your mouth. I hadn't thought about this movie in ages until I was reading a bio on Arnold. This movie is a live action cartoon. It's goofy, silly and other adjectives that end in y, but it's fun to watch. It's especially fun to see it on those Sunday afternoons when nothing is on, but car racing and fishing. (With the advent of cable this has become a rare occasion, but I think most people will agree that even with 150 channels it's still hard to find something you want to watch.) If you get a chance to see this movie and don't take yourself too seriously you will have a good laugh.

Loved it as a Kid, disappointed as an adult

[DavidAUllery · 4/10 · 25 January 2006]

I had fond memories of seeing this film with my father when it first came out. So, naturally I rushed to the checkout with it when I saw it available on video a few years ago. Once home I sat slack-jawed and bored watching it with my wife.

Now, don't get me wrong there is some humor in it but it is so telegraphed that you are done laughing (usually on the inside) when the punchline or sight gag is finally delivered. Also, I love all the actors in it (espeically Ann Margaret..hubba, hubba). How could it go wrong with such great actors? Don't know; movies should be more than the sum of their parts (actors, special effects etc...). But if this movie had just had a quicker pace it would have been much better (and shorter).

Maybe my liking it as a kid was because I was spending time with my dad, and not because of the movie itself. Oh, well, maybe I'll watch it with my children some day and see if they enjoy it with me.

From the Vaults of the Forgotten...

[CaressofSteel75 · 5/10 · 15 May 2020]

Pre-Conan Arnold got involved in some real weird stuff, but perhaps there was none weirder than the Villain which, as others have noted, was really made to resemble a live action Road Runner Cartoon. How they talked Kirk Douglas into this one I'll never know.

I saw this movie at the theatre in 1979, but I'd forgotten it even existed. Not many people saw this movie, so I'll assume the 71 other people who reviewed this title were there with me. My biggest memory of the film- Arnold's ongoing gag with his seven shot six shooter. He had it made special. Ha. I'd watch this for old times sake if it ever came up, but I don't think this movie has seen the light of day for 40 years.

...And THAT'S a two-by-four.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 11 April 2017]

Are you looking for sophisticated humor? Subtlety? Nuance?

I didn't think so.

If what you desire is an outrageous Western spoof made in the mold of Road Runner / Wile E. Coyote cartoons, then "The Villain" is certain to tickle your funny bone.

Kirk Douglas is top billed as the title character, alias Cactus Jack Slade, an outlaw who screws up time and time again. He's determined but incompetent. He really is like that famous cartoon canine, what with his spectacular lack of success.

Cactus Jack is hired by crooked banker Avery Simpson (Jack Elam) for the purpose of screwing over a miner named Parody Jones (Strother Martin). Parody isn't dumb, though, utilizing his sexpot daughter Charming (Ann-Margret) and the ramrod straight Handsome Stranger (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to make sure that a critical payment reaches its destination.

All you really need to know about "The Villain" is this: special guest star Paul Lynde plays an Indian chief named Nervous Elk. And that's what you can expect in this gleefully goofy, comically sadistic, politically incorrect comedy with gags-a-plenty. Other guest stars include Foster Brooks as a drunken bank clerk, Ruth Buzzi as a damsel in no distress, Robert Tessier as an Indian sidekick, "Mashing Finger", and singer Mel Tillis as a stuttering telegraph agent (Mel also sings the three theme songs).

Kirk is hilarious as a bumbling bad guy, for whom you do feel rather sorry. Ann-Margret is tantalizing as the decidedly horny Charming, who lusts after Handsome Stranger. Arnold is appropriately sincere, and dense, as the supposed hero. Some of the supporting roles are really rather brief (you don't see Martin for long). The ones that tend to steal the show are Lynde, and a horse named Ott as Cactus Jacks' not so loyal steed, Whiskey.

"The Villain" is not always terribly funny, but when it works, it's a riot. There's even a classic "painted tunnel" gag in the Wile E. Coyote tradition!

Directed in style by Hal Needham of "Smokey and the Bandit" and "The Cannonball Run" fame.

Seven out of 10.

Interesting idea, lame execution

[IndustriousAngel · 5/10 · 30 December 2016]

Cactus Jack has all the ingredients for a cool comedy - Hal Needham at the helm, capable actors (Schwarzenegger can be used very effectively in comedies), gorgeous settings, fun costumes and a nice soundtrack - but after an OK start things get more and more repetitive, predictable and, simply, tedious.

The idea of doing a real-life version of a LooneyTunes cartoon is interesting, and Kirk Douglas really tried to breathe some life into his Wile E Coyote, but the dynamic and rhythm are way off - most gags last about five times as long as in the cartoon if not longer - and stretching such a 7 minute cartoon to feature length without adding anything at least resembling a decent story or interesting characters makes Cactus Jack nearly painful to watch.

Dopey but fun....

[byron-116 · 6/10 · 4 February 2020]

It's strange to watch Kirk Douglas in this cartoon-like wacky movie, but even stranger to watch Arnold Schwarzenegger.in it...... It certainly is a dopey film, but it's fun !

An expensive mistake!

[ptsj-music · 1/10 · 25 November 2016]

Kirk Douglas was never funny, Arnold Schwarzenegger couldn't be funny even unwillingly, still Kirk Douglas'horse, Whisky, is a bit funny. Monument Valley is stunning and so is Ann-Margret, and I'd give the film 2 just for the sake of that, but the total is so embarrassing to watch that it just won't do. This is one of the least funny comedies with a quite big budget ever made. It's an expensive mistake. I tried for some time but ended up winding through just to watch a bit more of Ann-Margret. When screenwriters,directors and actors who are not funny and amusing try to be, it never is funny or amusing. It's just annoying. I'd rather watch Bud Spencer and Terence Hill movies for the rest of my time on this earth than to see this movie all the way through. It really is painful to see good money and talent wasted on something like this, and it would have been better just to help some poor people or perhaps cancel the whole project in the beginning, make real western with a good plot, with the same crew, and Schwarzenegger as the bad guy. That might just have been a success.

It's supposed to be a LIVE action Road Runner Cartoon!

[drew1751 · 8/10 · 1 November 2004]

You people have completely missed the point of the movie! When Kirk Douglas falls off the cliff, or off his horse, he is not intended to be hurt! Didn't you get it when he painted a tunnel on the big rock, and Arnold and Ann PASS right through it? Then when Douglas tries it, he runs splat into the rock! It is a very funny comedy! COMEDY being the key word here. Arnold has some great lines in this movie as does Ann Margaret. This is your classic Saturday Morning Wile E. Coyote/Roadrunner cartoon done in a live version. Don't worry so much about the acting, and just enjoy the movie.

Also, Ann Margaret is NOT 63 in this movie, and she is VERY hot looking in it. And even at 63, she is still somewhat hot!

If you have this movie and Brain Donors, you have yourself a fun day ahead of you!!

Meep Meep!

[mmallon4 · 6/10 · 23 November 2014]

Kirk Douglas and Arnold Schwarzenegger did a movie together? Yeah, I couldn't believe it at first either. But that's only the tip the iceberg of bizarreness that is Cactus Jack. It's also a live-action Road Runner cartoon! So let's sum this up: "One of the all-time Hollywood greats and the granddaddy of cheesy action movies team up for a live-action road runner cartoon." How did this movie bypass me for so long?

Douglas (in remarkable shape for 61) wasn't as a big a star as he once was by the 1970s, so did he take this role due to lack of superior film offerings or was he not ashamed to show that he had a sense of humour about himself as the inept, out of his league outlaw Cactus Jack Slade. It's also worth noting the relationship he has with his horse named Whiskey parallels to that he shared with a horse of the same name in a previous Kirk Douglas film Lonely are the Brave from 1962 - with the one difference being that the Whiskey in Cactus Jack acts in a cartoonish, anthropomorphic manner.

I'm also not sure if much of Arnold Schwarzenegger's line delivery is supposed to be intentionally or unintentionally funny in the role of the male bimbo Handsome Stranger as he is oblivious to the sexual advances of Ann Margret's Charming Jones. The scene in which Handsome narrates a flashback about when he tried to stop a bunch of runaway horses from injuring women, children and old men while trying his hardest to emote cracks me up.

The main problem with Cactus Jack is that the jokes are very hit and miss, from well-timed gems to moments of head-scratching awkwardness. At 85 minutes it's already a short movie but even then it could have trimmed down to meet the requirements of its high concept premise. The roadrunner inspired gags are undoubtedly the highlight as Jack pulls props and elaborate setups out of thin air. By far my favourite gag is the classic painting a tunnel onto the side of a rock; having this gag in a cartoon is funny itself, however, I find having it played out in live-action is even funnier in the sense that I couldn't believe they were doing a live-action rendition of this joke, having me pondering if that the carriage would really go through that painted tunnel.

On the other hand, other slapstick gags in the film don't make a whole heap of sense even within the film's cartoon world nor appear to have a clear method as to what Cactus Jack is trying to do in order to take down Handsome Stranger and Charming. Likewise, Cactus Jack is not a film that is particularly well-directed although a sleeker project would have less charm. This is the type of film I can watch more than once based purely on its novelty value and I'm happy it exists, even in its very flawed state.

It feels like a bad cartoon

[Maziun · 1/10 · 4 August 2013]

THE GOOD : Ann Marget looks sexy . Arnold Schwarzenegger fits surprisingly well the role of Handsome Stranger . Kirk Douglas is obviously having fun with his role of Cactus Jack . The acting is the strongest part of the movie. I did laugh two or three times at some less lame jokes .

THE BAD : The whole movie feels like a cartoon that was turned into a movie. I like cartoons. Still , I don't like movies that want to look and feel like a cartoon. Why ? The answer is simple – what works in cartoon doesn't work in a movie . The jokes that are funny in the cartoon won't be funny in normal movie simply because they will look stupid . Not to mention that some of the jokes here are taken straight from the cartoons . Take a look at the tunnel joke – I swear it was a rip off from one of the Road Runner cartoons.

THE VERDICT : If you can avoid it. Better watch normal cartoon. I give it 1/10.

The best Road Runner / Wile E. Coyote remake ever!

[scornelius-1 · 18 September 2003]

Both Kirk Douglas & his horse 'Whiskey' should have both gotten an oscar for their performances in this movie. Arnie was at his best and Ann-Margret did Ann-Margret, perfectly. I could watch this movie over and over. This movie will live on as a cult classic forever. If you watch it once, you better be prepared because you're gonna want to watch it again and invite everyone over to join you. It's that type of movie. Long live Nervous-Elk!

Not even mildly entertaining

[realvedmak · 1/10 · 26 March 2014]

The worst thing in this entire movie is how bad of an actor Arnold was. First movie I ever saw him in was Predator, and that role he did well enough that 6 or 8 year old me liked it.

Maybe if I saw this movie when I was 2, back in 79, and my standards were not yet developed, maybe then I could give this movie more than a 1. But considering its movie with Kirk Douglas, who happens to be excellent grade A actor (watch "There was a crooked man" to see him shine), I feel its criminal how much his talents were underused in this film.

Only possibly reason I can see for this movie even being made is that Arnold polished somebody's pole really well and they gave him this as reward. There is no way any sane person would have hired him as actor with that bad of English to star in same movie as Kirk Douglas if there was not more to it.

The Most Unfunny Comedy I Have Ever Seen

[michaelf · 1/10 · 3 February 2000]

There are no laughs here. When I saw it, the theater was stone silent. Arnold Schwarznegger hadn't learned how to act in front of a camera yet. Kirk Douglas who should have known better is just plain awful. This is one of the few times Ann-Margret is not worth looking at. Certainly, "The Villain" is one of the worst films ever!

Horribly unfunny!

[spfi · 1/10 · 3 January 2002]

Oh my God. Lord knows I've seen some bad movies in my time and this one makes me just as angry. Trying to make a live version of the Roadrunner cartoon into a western with real people is one of the dumbest ideas Hollywood ever thought of. Even the late great Paul Lynde couldn't save this.

"You forgot number two." "Oh no I didn't! I did that when you stuck that gun in my face!"

[sixshootersonny · 6/10 · 11 September 2018]

Kirk Douglas plays Cactus Jack Slade (which may have been a better title for the film) a robber who gets caught trying to rob the Snakes End Bank. In turn he works out a deal with Avery Simpson (western vet Jack Elam), who owns the bank. He must steal money off of the charming...Charming Jones (beautiful Ann-Margret), but she has the clueless Handsome Stranger (Arnold Schwarzenegger) as her muscular bodyguard.

Just think of Wile E. Coyote trying to capture The Roadrunner on Looney Tunes. That is exactly what we have here. Cactus Jack comes up with some good ideas that always seem to misfire along the way. In fact the two stars of the movie to me are Kirk Douglas who wonderfully plays his character over-the-top and his smart, but very disgruntled horse Whiskey (played by a horse named Ott). They carry the film to me and you could argue the horse gets more laughs than anyone else.

Now, Paul Lynde plays Nervous Elk a chief who has been sent to watch over Cactus Jack by Avery Simpson. Lynde is a funny guy, but the portrayal of the Native American people in this film isn't the best. They do not come across as very bright. In saying that though no one in the film really is. Apologies to Native people who end up watching this film.

Also starring Strother Martin and country legend Mel Tillis.

No wonder this film was a flop!

[stevenjohnsonsj · 3/10 · 27 April 2019]

Absolutely awful,pathetic,unfunny movie! Kirk Douglas, in his worst role, trying his very best to be comical but unfortunately failing very badly. The rest of the cast aren't even worth a mention.

"I got all dressed up for nothin'."

[utgard14 · 6/10 · 11 June 2022]

I saw this as a teen at the height of my Arnold fandom and didn't like it. Seeing it now I find it pretty enjoyable. It's dumber than a box of rocks but it just brings a big smile to my face. The cartoon homages with the stunts, the clueless hero, the hammy villain, the busty (and lusty!) damsel in distress, and best of all the beautiful brings-tears-to-your-eyes political incorrectness sorely missing from today's world where everyone is an inch away from righteous indignation at all times. Paul Lynde would be canceled five times over today. The movie does lose some steam in the middle, but it's still a fun picture overall. Sensitive types should avoid the film. Pseudo-intellectuals as well.

Top 10 worst movies ever.

[nunyo-3 · 1/10 · 17 December 2005]

It's very easy to think of a marginally bad movie. While trying to describe to my son just how bad "A very Brady Christmas" is, I decided on attempting to compare it to other bad movies. I dug deeper and deeper into bad movie making madness, when I hit something very hard. It was the bedrock of horrible movies. The absolute pits...that's right..."The Villain".

I told him that it was like a full-length non-animated version of the Roadrunner. When I looked in IMDb, low and behold it was described as "a version of the Roadrunner. I actually created an email userid just so I could write this comment for this truly crappy crappy crappy movie.

p.s. I have no idea what a "spoiler" is. The best poet in history could never describe just how spoiled this movie already was.

Great movie

[ibrahim-18 · 9/10 · 9 January 2007]

You've got kids and you want the whole family to have good time. This is the right movie for you. This movie is simply hilarious. It's like watching the road runner or a sequel of Yosemite Sam and Buggs Bunny. Your kids will probably watch the movie several times and every time they're feeling bored or have nothing to do.

In this film Kirk Douglas gets squashed by a rolling big rock, he glues himself to the railroad, he falls in a ravine, he tries to run through a painted tunnel on a Mountain and he glides along a rope stretching between a tree and the mouth of his own horse.

I bet your kids are even gonna talk about it when they're grownups and they'll make their kids watch it too.

You've never seen Kirk Douglas or Arnold playing similar roles to this.

I certainly recommend it.

One of those forgotten movies Arnold was in.

[Aaron1375 · 6/10 · 6 October 2009]

Most people know about one of Arnold's other movies before he got really famous, a awful movie titled "Hercules in New York", but this one was the more enjoyable film. Granted it was not anything great, a bit of a weak version of "Blazing Saddles", basically a cowboy comedy with Kirk Douglas as the title character and doing a very nice job of it. Arnold is not really all that impressive, but for what his job is in the movie he does fine. Basically a goodie two shoes type that is way to good to be true. The comedy is basically a live action Road Runner cartoon as Kirk Douglas and his horse try to spring one trap after another on the handsome stranger and the lady he is escorting and it usually ends rather badly for the villain. Whether it is a boulder rolling the wrong way or his faithful horse basically sabotaging the trap by moving the wrong way or at the wrong time this jokes work rather well. It also has a rather funny conclusion to it too. However, at times the movie moves a little slowly in-between traps and so it is a bit boring in places too. Still, for the most part it is worth a chuckle or two.

Silly western spoof

[HotToastyRag · 4/10 · 22 January 2018]

Ah, the western spoof genre. It's continually done, because there were so many westerns made from the 1940s-1070s that everyone's so ridiculously tired of them and are now in the mood to laugh at the similarities between every cowboy movie ever made. In The Villian, the handsome cowboy is literally named Handsome Stranger, and the charming damsel in distress is named Charming Jones.

Ann-Margret plays Charming, and as in many westerns, she's wearing a form-fitting, cleavage-bearing dress but miraculously isn't taken advantage of by rough-and-tough cowboys. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Handsome, and as in many westerns, he's a reluctant hero who prefers to avoid violence and sex when he can. Kirk Douglas is the title character, the stereotypical bad guy who robs banks and does crazy stunts that would kill a normal person but manages to survive without a scratch in the next scene.

You'll probably get a few laughs out of this movie, but mostly it reminded me of a first draft of the Carry On movies, which I found much funnier. Carry on Cleo is one of my favorite spoofs. The Villain is a little too cartoon-y for my taste, but if you like humor that includes sound effects, sped up film, and lots of over-acting, you might find it funny. For a funny western, I love Dirty Dingus Magee.