One might find the idea of cowboys fighting against demons from outer space quite promising. Unfortunately, not even Indiana Jones and James Bond could salvage this movie, which we say is just so-wrong-it’s-right kitschy. The film just marries Western and pulp sci-fi archetypes without much thought.
Set in 1873, a mysterious man (Daniel Craig) wakes up in the middle of a barren desert barefoot, with a chunky metal bracelet around his wrist, a mysterious gaping wound and a serious case of amnesia. After riding into the desolate mining town of Absolution, he finds himself in the middle of a scuffle between an inebriated snotty Percy Dolarhyde (Paul Dano) and a local pub owner (Sam Rockwell) and lands himself in hot water with Percy’s dad, Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). Soon after, the town sheriff (Keith Carradine) learns that our stoic stranger is Jake Lonergan, an outlaw, and attempts to arrest him. Just then, aliens attack from above, wrecking the town and abducting a handful of people, including Percy. A tenuous truce is stuck between Jake, who wants to find out about his past, and the townspeople, who want to rescue their loved ones.
While the concept of the film is interesting, it’s a real pity that it carries a negligible amount of emotional weight and raises more questions than it botheres to answer. The plot is riddled with clichés and offers too little dramatic momentum to hold your attention. Daniel Craig, however, skillfully portrays the classic antihero who rises to goodness, at the same time revealing vulnerability beneath his muscles and cold bravado. Apart from looking annoyingly beautiful throughout the entire movie, Olivia Wilde maintains her character Ella Swenson’s elusive and mysterious nature to the very end, proving herself to be more than just a pretty face. Harrison Ford is totally underwhelming though, and it’s almost heartbreaking to see him reduced to a nondescript supporting actor.
If you don’t take Cowboys & Aliens too seriously, and come with low expectations, you might still enjoy yourself.