The Cowboy Way (1994)

As they visit New York City, a pair of cowboys have to become unlikely heroes when their friend is kidnapped.

Director:

Gregg Champion

Writers:

Robert C. Thompson (story) (as Rob Thompson), William D. Wittliff (story) (as Bill Wittliff)

Stars:

Woody Harrelson, Kiefer Sutherland, Dylan McDermott

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Woody Harrelson	...	Pepper Lewis
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Sonny Gilstrap
Dylan McDermott	...	John Stark
Ernie Hudson	...	Officer Sam 'Mad Dog' Shaw
Cara Buono	...	Teresa Salazar
Marg Helgenberger	...	Margarette
Tomas Milian	...	Manny Huerta
Luis Guzmán	...	Chango
Angel Caban	...	Boca
Matthew Cowles	...	Pop Fly
Joaquín Martínez	...	Nacho Salazar
Kristin Baer	...	Melba
Christian Aubert	...	Jacques
Emmanuel Xuereb	...	Gaston
Francie Swift	...	Desk Clerk at Waldorf Astoria

Storyline

Buddies Pepper Lewis (Woody Harrelson) and Sonny Gilstrap (Kiefer Sutherland) who are championship rodeo partners travel to New York to find their missing friend, Nacho Salazar Joaquín Martínez after he disappears in New York City to pick up his daughter, Theresa (Cara Buono). When Pepper and Sonny find that neither is anywhere to be found, they go about the wacky adventure of finding Nacho and Theresa, and in the process, test the foundation of their friendship. Along the way, they find themselves entwined in the inner workings of a New York sweat shop where Theresa has been enslaved after traveling to the U.S.A. from Cuba. Going about doing things in a cowboy way, Pepper and Sonny put their small town skills to the test in a big city kind of way and rescue Theresa from the thugs.

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Plot Keywords:

cowboy | buddy comedy | reference to new mexico | reference to arizona | arizona territory | 

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Taglines:

How the East was won.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, some language and comic sensuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

The second of two movies with Luis Guzmán with the word "Way" in the title. The first was Carlito's Way (1993).

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Goofs

Pepper has been shot in the buttock. This would be extremely painful for a while; yet at the end of the film, he hops into the truck and even bounces on the seat after telling Sam that his wound is a "tender subject."

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Quotes

Chango: What's a baby cow gonna do to me?
[Sonny shrugs and pulls down Chango's pants]
Chango: Hey come on man!, what you doing?
Sonny: I am embarrassed, our friend here isn't wearing any underpants.
Pepper: [pulls a baby calf out of the barn and the calf starts snorting] He sees it!
Sonny: Damn, that hungry devil thinks your little wee-wee is his mama's teat.
Chango: Hey hey man, you guys can't do this.
Sonny: I'll ask you one more time asshole, where's Teresa?
Chango: I ain't telling you shit!
Sonny: It's your call stubby, let him go Pepper!.
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in The Critic: Siskel & Ebert & Jay & Alice (1995)

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Soundtracks

Sazon
Written by Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan Jr.
Performed by Celia Cruz
Courtesy of RMM Sony

User Reviews

"Oh, I like this city."

Sort of a buddy action film that's focal point is the rocky relationship between the two main protagonists (who just happen to be modern day cowboys) as they find out just how much they rely on each other. The friendship might consist largely of bickering between the two actors; Woody Harrelson (who mugs it up) and Kiefer Sutherland, but the combination naturally flows and their performances are truly fitting with amusing comical exchanges. And even heartfelt too. Two New Mexico rodeo cowboy friends (strained at that) Sonny and Pepper head to New York City to find a missing friend Nacho and his Cuban immigrant daughter Teresa. What they uncover is that Nacho had got himself in some serious trouble that seems him ending up in a morgue and his daughter working in a sweatshop.

This Hollywood dross is something rather light-weight and blunt with a message to boot. Still rather enjoyable even with its sugar-coating and stereotypical traits. The script throws about priceless dialogues and sets up the situation with aplomb. These characters are right out their comfort zone, but go about getting the job done the cowboy way and going all out. Had me thinking of the 1968 feature "Coogan's Bluff". Atypical but amusing if a little a silly. Some good action set-pieces standout (namely the climatic chase) and you can't beat good dummy work. Flavoured country soundtrack finds its way in. The rest of the performances are acceptable with a likable Ernie Hudson as a horse riding New York cop and Dylan McDermott as the sly criminal behind Nacho's death. Also popping up are Tomas Milan, Marg Helgenberger, Cara Buono and Luis Guzman.

"You cowboys are a dying breed."

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 June 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Cowboy Way

Filming Locations:

Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,048,640, 5 June 1994

Gross USA:

$20,280,016

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,280,016

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Entertainment, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1