All Hat…

Urban Cowboy (1980) – A young country boy moves to the big city looking for opportunities. He discovers work in the oil fields, and love in a legendary honky-tonk. Waiting for him are challenges he didn’t expect, including a mechanical bull, and an ex-con rival for his woman.

Directed by James Bridges

Starring John Travolta, Scott Glenn, Debra Winger, Barry Corbin, Mickey Gilley

Why I Liked It – Some great music.

Here’s a movie that hasn’t aged well. Our two male leads are sullen, emotionally detached men who slap their women around. On the other hand, it’s impossible to overlook the pop culture impact of the movie.

The early 1980s became a hotbed for people who wanted to at least look like cowboy. It also ignited a surge in mainstream country music. Beginning with hits from artists like Kenny Rogers, Janie Fricke, and Mickey Gilley. The club at the center of the story is the real life “Gilley’s”, located just outside Houston, Texas. Riding the mechanical bull, also at the center of the plot, also had its moment in the sun in the early years of the decade. All of that comes from this movie.

You’ll have to make your own choice on the movie.

Glenn and Travolta both believable in their less than sympathetic roles. We’re supposed to root for Bud (Travolta) because he’s the romantic lead, but Sissy (Winger) would be MUCH better off dumping both these jerks. Winger is wonderful here as well, as the mouse caught between two hunting cats. The story itself is a basic romantic triangle, done in cowboy hats and boots to the background music of the Charlie Daniels Band. There are no surprises along the way. Boy meets Girl. They fall in love. They have a fight. Another Boy moves in. There is conflict and angst. I’ll two-step my way past an actual spoiler of the end, but as noted above, no surprises.

The real attraction here is the music. Which sadly doesn’t always get its moments in the spotlight. “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” gets a prime moment, the rest wander through and disappear. The soundtrack itself was a huge bestseller. It includes #1 hits like “Looking For Love” by Johnny Lee, and “Stand by Me” by Mickey Gilley, but also includes hit songs from mainstream pop acts like Anne Murray and Boz Scaggs. There’s a reason hardcore Country fans hate the pop-country movement and its impact on the Country scene. Because Travolta stars, a lot of folks want to compare this movie to “Saturday Night Fever”, which is a vastly superior movie in almost every aspect.

What you’re left with is a decent little romance movie, with some solid performances by the cast, and a fun soundtrack. Which is why I’ll slide it in at the bottom level of a three star review.

“Urban Cowboy” can be streamed on Pluto, YouTube and YouTube TV, Amazon Prime, Fubo, Roku, Sling, Apple, Google, Paramount+, Hulu, Fandango

Rating – *** Worth A Look