Doc West

What can I say about this film? While it wasn’t one of the greatest movies I ever watched, it wasn’t the worst film either. Yes, there are some funny moments, and this movie has a good story behind it. The scenery is fine, as well as the music. However, I was quite disappointed with the acting in this movie. I felt that though the story was good, the characters were not well developed, and so there were no emotions that I could draw from this film.

The profanity in this film is mild, and I expected it would be, considering its “PG” rating. I heard three instances of the word “d**n”. I heard the Lord’s name taken in vain once, and I heard four instances of the word “h**l.”

The sex is also mild. There are two brief kissing scenes. Two of the characters spy on one of the town’s girls, Millie, bathing in the water (she is fully dressed, and the two boys are caught). Lastly, the Sheriff mentions to Doc West that another character, Garvey, probably has a girl “stashed away” in another town.

As expected in a Western, there is violence. There is a scene where Doc is teaching some men how to fight. There are a couple shootings (very mild). In one scene, as Doc is teaching the men how to box, he is knocked out by a beam. There is also an medical operation scene where blood is shown (again, very mild).

A child falls off a horse, after the animal is scared by a rattlesnake. References are made to drinking and being drunk. There is some gambling in the saloon. One of the locals is stripped of some of his clothes.

***POSSIBLE SPOILER*** In the beginning of the film, Doc West’s purpose in life is to accumulate as much money as he can in order to financially support a little girl he is taking care of by means of card games.

While money is a necessity in life, the Bible makes it clear that money should never be the main focus of our entire existence. I can say that because I, too, forget that money is not always the most important thing. The apostle Paul warns us about being careful with our money and the dangers of allowing money to take over.

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:9-10, New International Version).

Our Lord Jesus encourages us to focus our attention on “heavenly treasures.” He states in Matthew 6:19-20:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and dust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

So, do I recommend this movie? It’s hard to say. While the story is interesting, and there are some funny moments in the film, the acting is not very good. If you haven’t viewed this film yet, you haven’t missed much.

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Mild / Sex/Nudity: Mild

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.