Wagons East! (1994)

By Greg
Score 2/10

Wagon's East will forever be known as the last film that John Candy acted in, that is the only thing this film had going for it. The film was so horrible. It has very few redeeming qualities and even John Candy wasn't in his "A" game.

The film's story is simple,  various individuals, a doctor, a banker, prostitute and seller of eccentic things, no this is not the beginning of a joke, are not "fitting in" in the Wild West. These misfits want to head back east. They hire rugged James Harlow (John Candy) to be the wagon master and lead this group of western oddballs east. Indeed the journey does have perils; they encounter Sioux Indians, who help guide them back east because the Indians believe this could become a trend. A railroad tycoon reads about these westerners leaving so he sets the cavalry out and hires a lone outlaw to stop them before they reach St. Louis. This would prevent any embarrassment or prevent future settlers.
  Plenty of small historical jokes, for example: the group begins to fear Harlow because he supposedly led the Donner Party. For anyone unaware of the Donner story, they were settlers trapped in a mountain pass, forced to begin cannibalism for survival. Sophomoric jokes that should have been left out, for instance, one of the men has sexual feelings for a cow, cliched penis jokes and homophobia. In the right context, they could have been funny, this film they fell flat. The film did have potential, but it fell on the behind the scenes, writer, director or producer. Had great scenary, a cast capable of good or even great things and the story isn't horrible, just tweaking.

Truthfully, I would recommend 'Blazing Saddles" it was directed better, had better actors, the comedic timing was there. Wagons East! wanted to be a new Saddles, but it will only live on as the last film that had the acting greatness of John Candy. He did pass away on set and required a body double to finish scenes. The studio, director and producer could blame his passing for the film not reaching total potential, but I don't think anyone or thing could save this film.

Starring: John Candy, Richard Lewis, John C. McGinley and Robert Picardo
Directed by: Peter Markle
Budget/Gross: N/A / $4,358,940 (USA)
IMDB Rating:
Tomatometer: 0% Critics and 32% audience liked it