Starts off with such promise...
...then gets redonkulous...
"All the donuts have names that sound like prostitutes"
-Tom Waits
...which makes perfect sense considering they started filming the movie without a finished script and came up with the ending while filming.
But from a pure entertainment standpoint, I think Joe Kidd delivers. I grew up with the film and have always enjoyed the many comedic gags in the film. Thanks in large part to the cool charismatic charm of Clint Eastwood. "...serving ten days".
*SPOILERS* The ending might be absurd but it's entertaining, is it not? A train ramming into a saloon that leads to a gunfight?? Come on. That's all this movie is about. It's really not fair to compare it to classics like 'Josey Wales' or 'Unforgiven'. 'Joe Kidd' never had those aspirations - Eastwood only joined for the entertainment value.
20, being a big fan of Eastwood's westerns, I admire your attempt to find virtue in this film. I however cannot give it more than a 6. The narrative meanders too much to go higher. I only gave it that much for Eastwood's character and humor. Duvall was essentially wasted here, and the rest of the cast was not up to the usual standards of supporting work. Compared to High Plains Drifter or Outlaw Josey Wales, the cast here was pretty bad.
I know those are high standards, but still.
I also found the setting and the shooting of it to be problematic. One of the great features of Eastwood's westerns is their craft, and part of that is the look of them, how the western setting is so evocative. Not here, I didn't find. It's my least favorite of all his westerns. Even Hang em High is better.
I agree it's very thin on story. It doesn't have the mature aspirations of a Josey Wales or Unforgiven (obviously). I think it's redundant to mention those shortcomings.
The intentions of the filmmakers of this film seemed to all be about simple-minded entertainment. The film is clearly a Clint Eastwood vehicle - capitalizing on his newfound success. Joe Kidd is a smart ass. He's defiant of the law. He's a bad ass. That's what the film's about. On that level, I think they succeeded because Eastwood is charismatic and charming and I think it's a lot of fun to watch.
I am about half way through the film, and I had high hopes for it, but they faded after the first ten minutes. The film isn't bad, its just not that good.
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