A hardened American gunslinger is repeatedly thwarted in his attempts to mount a showdown in a friendly town in Canada where no one seems to understand or appreciate the brutal code of the American Wild West. A quiet and peaceful community in the Dominion of Canada is shaken up by the arrival of a wounded and stinky gun-toting American cowboy, simply known as The Montana Kid, wanted for the alleged killing of seven men. A subsequent clarification reveals that his real name is Sean Rafferty, and he admits to killing, not seven, but eleven men. Things only get worse after Sean gets in the bad books of the local militia, and with armed bounty hunters hot on his trail, challenges the local unarmed blacksmith, Jack Smith, to a duel - wild west style! Well here is a first. I've never heard of a Canadian western. The idea may sound promising or risky. What it turns out to be is delightful, a bit amateurish, but fun.<br/><br/>The movie is played mostly for laughs. Paul Gross is terrific. To be honest, the guy feels like a cross between Bruce Campbell and Matt Dillon to be honest. Gunless is definitely not a traditional western, but like all the best ones it has a fiery showdown, throwing in some satire for good measure. <br/><br/>Western and Comedy don't often come together. I think Blazzing Saddles is the only one that ever tried, either that or the only one which succeeded, (well there is also Shanghai Noon). Gunless, though far from the humour of Mel Brooks, offers something fresh amongst all the mediocre/gimmicky pre summer features currently running. If it has managed to get theatrical release in your country (to all my non-Canadian readers), go see it, if not rent it when in comes out in a few months. Gunless (2010): Dir: William Phillips / Cast: Paul Gross, Sienna Guillory, Dustin Milligan, Tyler Mane, Callum Keith Rennie: Hilarious Canadian western comedy about forgiveness. It stars Paul Gross as the Montana Kid who ends up in a small Canadian town after narrowly avoiding death in the United States. He is overwhelmed at the lifestyle and behaviour in opposite to his quick drawing pistol brandishing methods of solving problems. Directed by William Phillips exposing western clichés but not without many very funny moments. Gross is excellent as a man out of his element and on the run in hopes that time would be on his side. We know that his past will catch up with him and that he will have to face his enemies. He will also have to realize that pulling the trigger isn't always the best way to solve problems. Sienna Guillory plays a woman whose windmill needs fixing and Gross reluctantly assists. This is an opposites attract relationship that works on sheer humour due to his simplicity and her methods of exploiting his nature. Dustin Milligan brings humour to a standard but amusing role of Corporal Kent. He will become the bunt of sight jokes due to his pride and authority. Tyler Mane plays Jack who is challenged to a gun fight. He is innocent and is the target of Gross's arrogant nature but his way of solving this conflict is one of the film's best laughs. Callum Keith Rennie plays a bounty hunter but the role is not that interesting. While it is not quite True Grit, it certainly can play a double billing alongside it. Its humour is in tact but its message of forgiveness pulls the trigger. Score: 8 / 10
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