The Last Cowboy (2003)

They may be better looking than most ranchers but the story is what rings the bell sweet and true. Even if it never happens quite like this except in the movies, it is still worth watching and believing that it is possible to have work that one loves and save it with an idea and with love, love of the family, love of friends and love of the land. I loved this movie and everyone associated it with it. I especially love Lance Henriksen, who proves that a man can keep his charm for a very, very long time. Great fun to watch and enjoy. This is worth a thousand "rom-com" movies that fall flatter than the proverbial pancake. It may be more of a rom-life but I'll take it any day. Love the feeling it gives and the love that it shares.

To me this movie shows what's happening in America today. This farmer is intent on keeping the land that's been in his family for five generations. It's not about money, it's about family, tradition, and values. Lance Henriksen was everything you would expect a Texas cowboy to be. Beautiful scenery, which only reinforces the desire to see this cowboy keep his land and his way of living rather than lose it to a banking institution where their only intention is to subdivide the land. How dreadful it would be to see housing communities across those hills. Outstanding cast and great story line keep you interested until the very end. Lance Henriksen, Jennie Garth and M.C. Gainey were very real, likable, and believable characters. Would like to see a sequel because it makes you feel as if there is more to the story that needs to be said. Have recently started to view the Hallmark channel, and have thoroughly enjoyed "The Last Cowboy", "Johnson County War", and "The Colt". It's so refreshing to watch programs that touch the heart. All are worth seeing again.

Grumpy farm guy wants to keep his land, and the money folk trying to take it are all treated as reprehensibly greedy slickers (even though the money people are behaving reasonably and the farm guy is belligerent, violent, and unreasonable). Just once, it would be nice to see one of these movies where the hero is the banker... just trying to do his job and even help the farm guy, while the farm guy is recognized as an intractable jerk (No disrespect to the farming community, it's just that the banking community has had to endure such a beating from these sorts of films, that it would only be fair turnabout!) That said, this film is pretty solid for the genre. While the countryside bears more resemblance to California than Texas, it's still pretty and beautifully shot. By contrasting the three leads' different approaches, the movie actually addresses the fundamental flaw in these movies. The heroine wants to update her father's farming practices, while he is married to tradition. And I may not be a Hallmark Channel kind of guy, but it nice to see a project that is morally clean without totally whitewashing its issues.The production's greatest strength, though, is the casting of Jennie Garth, Lance Henriksen, and M.C. Gainey. Fine actors all; it's nice to see them cast in roles with the complexity that thespians of their talent deserve. And they all look halfway plausible with the horseriding, as well.All in all, I wouldn't watch it again, but it certainly is better than a lot of the stuff you might run across on the Hallmark Channel.

Jennie Garth has a grudge against her father (Lance Henriksen), but comes back home to attend her mother's father's funeral. When she inherits part of the family ranch, she must make peace with Dad if they are to ward off the debts and developers trying to take their land.Formula stuff, but played well by a terrific cast, especially Henricksen, M. C. Gainey with a show-stealing turn as a laid-back ranch hand and "Alias" sidekick Bradley Cooper. Garth is better than I've ever seen her and rides a horse credibly.If this is what Hallmark is going to do with their TV network, it could make up for the "Touched By an Angel" reruns.