Wagons East! | Rotten Tomatoes

Wagons East!

PG-13

1994

1h 46m

Comedy

Western

List

0%

30 Reviews

Tomatometer

33%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When a group of dissatisfied settlers decides they've had enough of the Wild West, they hire James Harlow (John Candy), an alcoholic wagon master, to take them back East. The eclectic but happy bunch includes Dr. Phil (Richard Lewis), prostitute Belle (Ellen Greene) and openly gay man Julian (John C. McGinley). But the railroad investors don't want it getting out that the West isn't a nice place, so they do everything they can to make sure the group never makes it to their destination.

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Critics Consensus

Wagons East! is a witless, toothless satire of Westerns that falls far below the standard set by Blazing Saddles, and is notable only for being John Candy's final screen performance.

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Kenny G

There are some funny parts. It's not great, but if you like Candy or Lewis and westerns you'll have a few laughs.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/17/24

Full Review

Christopher J

this movie is hilarious i don't understand how this movie has a 0% on rotten tomatoes

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/09/24

Full Review

David

You people have no sense of humor. Wagons East is absurd but is funny as hell. No one will ever be like John Candy

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/31/23

Full Review

Joel H

Wagons East isn't the worst comedy I've seen, but it's definitely not a trailblazer. The script feels like it was cobbled together by amateurs, with actors mostly winging it during each scene. The jokes are half-baked and delivered half-heartedly by a seemingly disinterested cast. The basic concept of people going back east because they didn't like the west is amusing, but I don't think this movie knew what to do with it. And it's sad that this is film is part of John Candy's final legacy. I kept waiting for one good laugh as I watched Wagons East, but the best it got out of me was an occasional smirk.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/14/23

Full Review

nick s

Set design, wardrobe & cinematography were fantastic. And it had a great cast. But that couldn't make up for a script bereft of clever comedy.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/17/23

Full Review

Jake W

JC was part of the 80s comedy films with far to many to list. In my opinion he is a lost talent and the like of which we will never see again. Originally part of the early SNL team candy was fresh and funny. He along with Eddy Murphy and John B of blues brothers fame was originally going to be in Ghostbusters in 1984 but due to delays and other commitments and the loss of JB this didn't happen. How different it would have been. That said JC style of slapstick comedy was right for the times and had he still be making movies his style would seem somewhat out of date as times chance.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/14/23

Full Review

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Peter Markle

Director

John Candy

James Harlow

Richard Lewis

Phil Taylor

John C. McGinley

Julian

Ellen Greene

Belle

Robert Picardo

Ben Wheeler

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Steven Rea

Philadelphia Inquirer

[An] anemic Blazing Saddles-wannabe.

Rated: 1/4

May 22, 2013

Full Review

Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

A poorly focused and rhythmless collection of vignettes, Wagons East! does contain a few funny ideas and some decent performances that simply are not enough to rescue the movie.

Rated: 2/5

May 22, 2013

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

A stridently unfunny western comedy that is equally lame in its writing and direction.

May 22, 2013

Full Review

Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

The stunning Mexican scenery is gorgeous, but only works against the comedic mood.

Rated: 1.5/4

Feb 25, 2022

Full Review

Dennis King

Tulsa World

The jokes here sound a lot funnier than they play.

Rated: 1/4

Jul 15, 2014

Full Review

Gary Thompson

Philadelphia Daily News

Awful. A candidate for one of the year's worst movies.

Rated: 1/4

May 22, 2013

Full Review

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Synopsis

When a group of dissatisfied settlers decides they've had enough of the Wild West, they hire James Harlow (John Candy), an alcoholic wagon master, to take them back East. The eclectic but happy bunch includes Dr. Phil (Richard Lewis), prostitute Belle (Ellen Greene) and openly gay man Julian (John C. McGinley). But the railroad investors don't want it getting out that the West isn't a nice place, so they do everything they can to make sure the group never makes it to their destination.

Director: Peter Markle
Production Co: Carolco Pictures Inc., TriStar Pictures, Outlaw Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 17, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.7M
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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