The Last Cowboy

I watched the TV movie The Last Cowboy with very few expectations and ended up unimpressed.

It is the usual stressful father/daughter relationship who find out that the need to come together through the tough circumstances, including the loss of his wife and her mother and the possible loss of his farm. Lance Henriksen (The Right Stuff, Millennium) and 90210 alum Jennie Garth play the bickering father and daughter. They do as good a job as the material given to them.

The actor who really impressed me was M.C. Gainey. Playing the farm foreman and friend of Henriksen's character and a middleman between the father and daughter, it was nice to see Gainey in a role where he is basically a nice guy. Because of his physical presence, he typically plays gruff, villainous rednecks, bikers or criminals. Sometimes they are all the same character. His appearances in movies like Con Air and Breakdown and his role in "The Last Cowboy" shows that Gainey can play different types of roles and do it well when casting directors give him a chance.

An early diamond in the rough Hallmark movie that outclasses what they do today. I look at Hallmark movies for 3 things: premise, character development, and execution. I cannot speak for the technical aspects of the movie that may be in other reviews. The premise is straightforward: daughter hasn't been home in a long time returns when her grandfather died. She learns the ranch is in dire financial straits and will be repossessed by the banks. Garth plays the estranged daughter with a child and Hendrickson plays the grumpy, stubborn father-ranch owner. You have Bradley Cooper in it but his contribution is obviously before his "love interest" roles. He is relegated to second string to play a somewhat contributing part when the ranch is saved at the end. Gainey plays the old, loyal, dependable ranch hand who is the mediator in the film seeking and understanding and balance between Garth and Hendrickson. The other parts are people being brought in to help the ranch or the banker for the repossession. Good character development that supports the premise and makes it a good film from an emotional standpoint. The movie has a nice balance for tension and development. All the movie pieces i.e. scenes of bank meeting interruption, real estate agent introduction, barn fire, bank negotiations did not overshadow the movie by skimming over crucial details or bogging it down with the unnecessary emotional baggage. The movie had some pretty cinematic sceneries of the mountings and ranch. But as mentioned in other reviews, it wasn't Texas, but it doesn't matter. The movie's pacing was pretty good considering the themes here. The movie could have slowed down considerably if it was to become too introspective. Lastly, the acting was good and even for everyone's part although some characters could have been stereotypical and one dimensional. Gainey I thought played his role the best with providing both dramatic and comedic moments. Overall, Hallmark lost its way by going away from this movie recipe that didn't involve romance or typical romcom hang ups.

They may be better looking than most ranchers but the story is what rings the bell sweet and true. Even if it never happens quite like this except in the movies, it is still worth watching and believing that it is possible to have work that one loves and save it with an idea and with love, love of the family, love of friends and love of the land. I loved this movie and everyone associated it with it. I especially love Lance Henriksen, who proves that a man can keep his charm for a very, very long time. Great fun to watch and enjoy. This is worth a thousand "rom-com" movies that fall flatter than the proverbial pancake. It may be more of a rom-life but I'll take it any day. Love the feeling it gives and the love that it shares.

Jennie Garth has a grudge against her father (Lance Henriksen), but comes back home to attend her mother's father's funeral. When she inherits part of the family ranch, she must make peace with Dad if they are to ward off the debts and developers trying to take their land.

Formula stuff, but played well by a terrific cast, especially Henricksen, M. C. Gainey with a show-stealing turn as a laid-back ranch hand and "Alias" sidekick Bradley Cooper. Garth is better than I've ever seen her and rides a horse credibly.

If this is what Hallmark is going to do with their TV network, it could make up for the "Touched By an Angel" reruns.

This is a story about going with your time, keeping families together, and finding love. It is a very simple story, really, and sometimes a little boring. You can tell in the first 15 minutes how it is going to turn out - both love-wise and money-wise!

Still, I liked this movie in some ways. It is homelike and cosy. It maintains family values and old-world ideas. It also has got some humour in it.

It is worth watching a rainy day when you are ill or something. It is a good movie to watch in the company of your children, as there is nothing really unpleasant in it, like violence, gore, sex... It is a true family movie, and your horse-mad daughters are going to love it..!