The fact that Family Guy creator Seth Macfarlane is co-writer, director and star of A Million Ways to Die in the West should serve as a flashing warning sign that moviegoers who find his crass, in-your-face style of comedy more off-putting than knee-slappingly hilarious are better off looking elsewhere for their night’s entertainment.
However, for those brave souls who have managed to stay loyal to the Macfarlane brand – one that has suffered in recent years with fan fatigue to his numerous animated series – the film could be a fun, albeit vastly uneven, night at the theater.

Set in an Old West where a giant block of ice poses a safety hazard and fancy moustaches are all the rage, A Million Ways to Die in the West tells the story of Albert Stark (MacFarlane), a sheep farmer who promptly loses his girlfriend (Amanda Seyfried) when he fails to prove his mettle during a gunfight. Heartbroken, Albert soon meets a beautiful stranger (Charlize Theron), who shares his modern-day cynicism towards the perilous wild West, and finds that he may yet have an opportunity to win back his old love.

Most savvy (and not-so-savvy) moviegoers can probably figure out where the plot goes from there, as Macfarlane isn’t so much concerned with telling a compelling story as cramming as much dick and poop jokes into the film’s 116-minute running time. A Million Ways to Die in the West is ostensibly a tale about finding your inner strength (yada…yada…yada), but the film lacks the emotional resonance and thematic cohesiveness of Ted, Macfarlane’s directorial feature debut.

The gags therein are also decidedly hit-and-miss (with one of the most surprising bits unjustly spoiled in the marketing) and rely quite heavily on the snarky social commentary and cutaway-style gags that Family Guy has thrived on for years. Thankfully, Macfarlane has put together a ready-and-willing cast that, for the most part, put forth a solid effort in making A Million Ways to Die in the West work.

Neil Patrick Harris and Sarah Silverman are the biggest standouts here, as both performers fully commit to their outlandish characters without blinking an eye. Likewise, Theron does a great job grounding the wackier elements of the film, and her scenes with certified badass Liam Neeson lend a bit of gravitas to the proceedings. It makes it all the more tragic that the star of Taken is so underused in the final film, despite appearing so prominently in its marketing campaign.

Most importantly, the ensemble cast is fairly effective at hiding Macfarlane’s inexperience in front of the camera. While he has a few quip-filled highlights, Macfarlane just doesn’t possess the onscreen magnetism necessary to anchor the film, especially considering his lively voice work on television and as the fuzzy title character in Ted. Theron especially manages to carry their scenes together, and the pair have solid chemistry that provides much of the foundation for the film’s central focus.

A Million Ways to Die in the West may not be the laugh riot fans are expecting (and a number of too-crude gags may turn off some viewers), but it’s far from a comedic train wreck of Love Guru proportions. Several clever moments are scattered throughout, and while a few of the most promising bits are cut short – leaving audiences with a lingering feeling of “That’s it?” – the film has flickers of the same ambitiously witty spark that led fans to demand that Fox bring Family Guy back from the pits of cancellation… twice.

For its part, A Million Ways to Die in the West largely resists the temptation of aping the ground-breaking satirical edge of Mel Brooks’ 1974 comedy Blazing Saddles, and in doing so, it at least dares to stand on its own, with mixed results. This particular entry in the burgeoning Macfarlane filmography may not cement his status as the next big comedy director, but with Ted 2 next up and, undoubtedly, a notebook full of ideas still in his back pocket, it’s too soon to count MacFarlane out just yet.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

A Million Ways to Die in the West stars Seth Macfarlane, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman, Giovanni Ribisi and Liam Neeson. It is directed by Seth MacFarlane and is now in theaters.