Maverick – 1994 – Western, Comedy
Directed by: Richard Donner
Written by: William Goldman
Main Players: Mel Gibison; Jodie Foster; James Garner; James Coburn; Alfred Molina; Graham Greene

Maverick covers titular character Bret Maverick’s (Gibson) journey towards a poker tournament with a large buy-in. Maverick has always thought he was a good player; however, this will be his real test of skills, against some of the best in the world, and with a huge payout.
The opening scenes puts us in the middle of a tense scene, as a noose may end the movie quite early, and sets a tone of both western action and a bit of silliness. A quick backup in time brings us to a more introductory point, and gets the film on the tracks.
As Maverick starts a journey towards gathering a hefty entry fee and getting to the game (which is played out on a barge), he encounters a slew of nefarious characters and is caught up in multiple wild west hijinks. He meets love interest Annabelle Bransford (Foster), who also admits to looking to win the poker tournament. This leads to some serious tension between the two, who are both allies and enemies at times.
The scenes play out as both fun and funny, bringing a great tone for the adventure. While the movie is brimming with comedy, it’s never slapstick nor silly. The lines are delivered well by the fantastic cast, and smart jokes are cracked throughout the film’s entirety. Everyone does a great job.
Despite being a bit goofy at times, this is a true western in both setting and themes. Despite danger, gunfights and villains, it remains light hearted throughout. The poker element is present in the story, but if one does not care at all about the game it will not diminish the enjoyment of the film.
I cannot compare it to the show from the 1950s, as I have never seen an episode, but this version is a very fun ride from beginning to end.
See This If You Liked:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; Silverado; The Ballad of Buster Scruggs; A Big Hand for the Little Lady; True Grit (1969; 2010)
Score:
7.5