Three Amigos

There’s hardly a moment in “Three Amigos,” released in 1986, that isn’t silly – make that incredibly outrageously and breathtakingly silly. Maybe that’s why this story of a trio of clumsy silent-movie actors turned real-life heroes is such an enjoyable ride. Patrick Goldstein compared in his review, “It’s like a cross between a big-budget Three Stooges movie and a Hope-Crosby road picture, with dozens of old cowpoke gags thrown in to spice up the brew.”

Nothing is real in this silly Western travesty – not even the poster-board sunsets. Goldstein said, “And it’s this giddy artifice that gives “Three Amigos” a delightfully fresh spin. Who would’ve thought that a movie loaded with so many corny jokes and wobbly slapstick routines could be one of the daffiest comedies of the year?”

The film takes place in 1916, when the small Mexican village of Santa Poco is being terrorized by a group of banditos led by El Guapo, played by Alfonso Arau, a criminal outlaw who looks like, as Goldstein puts it, “as if he hasn’t brushed his teeth since the Spanish-American War.” When an innocent senorita (Patrice Martinez) sees a silent movie starring the Three Amigos (Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short), she is so taken by their heroism that she asks their help in defeating this evil villain.

By the time the famous actors get her confused telegram, they’ve been kicked off the Goldsmith Pictures studio for demanding a raise. Now out of work, the bumbling trio are really happy to travel south of the border, thinking they’ve been hired (for 100,000 pesos) to make a quickie personal appearance.

Goldstein said, “Needless to say, these Hollywood tenderfoots are in for a rude awakening. They hit town, dolled up in their fancy, prop-department “charro” duds, only to find real bullets buzzing by their heads.” (You know they’re in trouble when a street beggar asks, “Can I have your watch when you’re dead?”) It’s the comedy of misunderstanding, and director John Landis feeds the situation for every laugh possible, taking playful enjoyment in showing how unprepared these actor heroes are for life outside the studio.

The amigos see everything as an act. Even when the bad guys start shooting, the three find time to divide the villains’ performance before the smoke clears. Goldstein mentions, “Soothing a clump of Mexican children, Short--who plays a former child star named Ned Nederlander--regales them with Dorothy Gish anecdotes. Landis even stages a deliciously loony campfire scene, where the amigos croon a Randy Newman sagebrush ballad (“Blue Shadows on the Trail”), aided by a back-up chorus of desert critters, including a scene-stealing tortoise.”

Goldstein continues, “It’s a testimony to the sad state of Hollywood these days that this is one of the few comedies in recent memory which has actually benefited from the presence of bona-fide stars.” While Martin, Newman, and “Saturday Night Live’s” Lorne Michaels have given a serviceable script, the real enjoyment here is the amigo trio’s well-done comic timing. Goldstein said, “Their trademark “Amigo” salute--which plays like a mixture of an elaborate soul-shake and a Carmen Miranda dance step--is one of those inspired pieces of nonsense that gets funnier each time they do it.”

Short is a disappointment, giving little more than juvenile silliness. However, Chase, even if he’s a little rough in his bolero jacket, is filled with charm, more mischievous and endearing than he’s been on screen in years. Goldstein credits, “Best of all, Martin emerges as a screwball comic wizard, whether he’s slyly imitating the swaggering stride of a gunslinger or gamely wrestling with dungeon manacles as if they were a clanking maze of Nautilus equipment.”

Goldstein continues, “All this nuttiness may drive you crazy--it’s like being forced to watch 90 minutes of David Letterman’s “Stupid Pet Tricks.” But Landis is a shrewd comic craftsman who realizes that attitude can be everything, especially when you’re aiming for the ridiculous instead of the sublime.” “The Three Amigos” reaches low for its silly jokes. However, in Hollywood, sometimes you have to condescend to conquer.

This is a comedy classic. If you haven’t seen it, you are missing out. Especially if you’re a fan of these three actors, who have shown up together in so many different shows, this is a must. I had seen a little bit of this movie as a kid, but I decided to go back and watch it after hearing everyone talk about how funny this was. They were not wrong, as I think everyone will have a great time laughing at this film. See it if you haven’t because this is a must.

Next week we’re going to look at another really bad sequel in “Chevy Chase Month.”