Alright, fellow tape trackers, slide that worn-out copy of Wagons East! into the VCR, adjust the tracking just so, and settle in. This one... well, this one comes loaded with baggage, doesn't it? Released in the summer of 1994, it carries the immense weight of being the final completed film for the legendary John Candy. And knowing that inevitably colours the whole experience, transforming a potentially forgettable comedy into something far more poignant, a bittersweet curiosity from the back shelves of the video store.
Heading West? Try Going Back!
The premise itself feels like classic high-concept 90s comedy fodder: a group of disgruntled, utterly inept pioneers in the Wild West of the 1860s decide Manifest Destiny isn't all it's cracked up to be. They're miserable, they miss creature comforts, and they want to go home – back East. To lead this expedition against the grain, they hire James Harlow (John Candy), a washed-up, hard-drinking former wagon master. It’s a fun idea, flipping the classic Western narrative on its head, ripe for fish-out-of-water gags and satire about the romanticized frontier. The potential for a Blazing Saddles-lite is certainly there on paper.
The Last Ride of a Comedy Giant
Let's be honest, the main reason most of us sought out this tape back in '94, or might dig it out now, is John Candy. Seeing him here, sporting a weather-beaten look and a slightly more world-weary persona than his usual lovable goofball, is undeniably affecting. He brings his signature warmth, even to the cynical Harlow, and gets a few decent chuckles. But you can't shake the knowledge hanging over the film. Candy tragically passed away from a heart attack during the final stages of filming in Durango, Mexico, in March 1994. While director Peter Markle (Youngblood (1986)) and the production team admirably pieced together the remaining scenes using existing footage, script adjustments, and reportedly some subtle work with doubles for wide shots, there's an unavoidable sense of incompleteness. You can almost feel the moments where his energy would have typically filled the screen, now just slightly... absent. It’s a testament to the crew that they finished it at all, but the shadow of his loss looms large.
A Wagon Train of Neurotics
Surrounding Candy is a posse of familiar 90s faces, chief among them the perpetually anxious Richard Lewis as Phil Taylor, a settler whose neurotic East Coast sensibilities are hilariously out of place on the prairie. Lewis does his trademark kvetching and hand-wringing, providing some of the film's more reliable laughs as he reacts to the absurdity and danger around him. Remember his stand-up? He brings that same energy here. We also get the always intense John C. McGinley (Dr. Cox from Scrubs, but here years earlier) as Julian Rogers, a flamboyant gay bookseller secretly writing scandalous Western novels, and Ellen Greene (Little Shop of Horrors (1986)) as Belle, the requisite saloon madam looking for a fresh start. The ensemble tries hard, leaning into the quirky character types, but the material often feels thinner than a worn-out saddle blanket.
Comedy Misfires and Production Woes
Despite the promising setup and talented cast, Wagons East! struggles to find its comedic rhythm. The script, credited to Matthew Carlson and Jerry Abrahamson, feels underdeveloped, relying more on the concept than sharp jokes or clever situations. Some gags land with a thud, while others feel like missed opportunities. The direction by Peter Markle, who had handled action and drama competently before, seems a bit lost navigating the comedic tone. Was the troubled production, culminating in the tragic loss of its star, simply too much to overcome? It's hard to say definitively, but the final product feels disjointed. Filmed on location in Mexico, it looks the part of a Western, but the spark just isn't consistently there. Perhaps it's telling that the film, reportedly budgeted around $30 million, only managed to recoup about $4.4 million at the box office, alongside scathing reviews (it holds a legendary 0% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics back then). Audiences hoping for one last classic Candy romp were likely left wanting.
A VHS Relic Worth Revisiting?
Watching Wagons East! today on a fuzzy CRT (or, okay, maybe a modern screen) is a strange experience. It's not a good film in the traditional sense. The jokes are scattershot, the pacing uneven, and the shadow of Candy's death is impossible to ignore. Yet... there's a certain melancholic charm to it. It's a time capsule, not just of 90s comedy attempts, but of the end of an era for one of cinema's most beloved comedic actors. Seeing Candy and Lewis riff off each other, even in underdeveloped scenes, offers glimpses of what might have been. It reminds you of browsing those video store aisles, grabbing a tape based on the cover and the star, hoping for gold, sometimes finding... well, this.
Rating: 3/10
The score reflects the film's undeniable flaws – weak script, uneven comedy, and troubled execution. However, the presence of John Candy in his final role, alongside a game Richard Lewis, elevates it slightly beyond complete disaster into the realm of poignant curiosity. It's less a hidden gem and more a somber artifact.
Final Thought: Wagons East! is the cinematic equivalent of finding a faded photograph of a dear friend's last party – you cherish the image, even if the party itself wasn't great. Watch it for Candy, manage your expectations, and maybe have another, better 90s comedy queued up afterwards.