Lucky Luke is based on a Belgian comic-book series created by Rene (Asterix/Tintin) Goscinny.
It is the tale of Luke (Jean Dujardin – bearing some resemblance to Robbie Rotten from Lazy Town, with his over-accentuated quiffe), who witnesses his parents being killed in cold-blood. He grows up to become the slickest gun-slinger in The West. The only draw-back (no pun intended) is that he has vowed never to kill anyone. If only life were that simple.
The Union-Pacific railroad is mere weeks away from completion. The final length of track is to be laid right in the centre of Luke’s home town – now a lawless hell-hole! The President of The United States – at the behest of Luke’s old ‘friend’ – hires Luke to clean up Lucky Town in time for the rail-roads arrival. Easy for a man of Luke’s talents. Not!
Colourful characters such as Shakespeare spouting Jesse-James (Melvil Poupaud), she-man Calamity Jane (Sylvie Testaud) and juvenile lolly-pop sucking Billy The Kid (Michael Youh) are out to see that his mission goes anythjng but smoothly. That, coupled with Pat Poker (Daniel Provost), a card dealing villain, bodes the question: how is Luke going to survive the films’ running length without killing anybody!
I almost forgot to mention Belle (Alexandra Lamy), the object of Luke’s desire. Oh dear. Love…the most dangerous thing of all.
I am not a big fan of westerns, but I was very impressed with the gritty feel of the whole film. Under the tempered direction of James Huth, the film stays the right side of farce whilst still having its tongue planted firmly in its cheek.
The cinematography is luscious. The acting faultless. As a comedy, the gags fly out of the screen ten to the dozen. It is a film that deserves to be watched more than once.
Fan: David Watkins
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