Released in 1978 and directed by Jack Nicholson, "Goin' South" is a Western comedy/romance starring Nicholson as a two-bit outlaw saved from hanging to marry a prim virgin (Mary Steenburgen) who uses him to (try to) strike gold on the mine located on her remote ranch, inherited from her dad. But the ex-outlaw's former gang might not let him strike it rich, whether with gold or love. The wannabe outlaws are played by Veronica Cartwright, Tracey Walter, Danny DeVito and Jeff Morris.

The tone is akin to 1976's "The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox," but the movie's not as good. It's generally amusing, but sometimes a little boring; the script needed more work to further draw out its potential. Yet it's still worth catching if you like the cast. There are some chuckles. The best parts are the sequences in the town involving two deputies (Christopher Lloyd & John Belushi), the sheriff (Richard Bradford) and others.

This was one of only three films directed by Jack (if you don't count "The Terror," where he got his initial experience). It also marked the film debut of Steenburgen and was one of Belushi's first theatrical films (he did this and "Animal House" around the same time).

The film runs 108 minutes and was shot in Durango, Mexico.

GRADE: Borderline B-/C+

The best thing about Going' South is the fact that Jack Nicholson gives us the force of his full blown personality in the lead role. And it's completely in character with the role he's enacting. Which is natural enough since the project was created for Jack Nicholson and directed by Jack Nicholson.

He's a rogue of an outlaw and sad to say that he gets caught when he least expects by a posse in hot pursuit to Mexico. They've got Jack for horse stealing and back in those days that was a capital crime in the old west.

Sheriff Richard Bradford and Deputy Christopher Lloyd, the latter who has a special grudge against Jack are ready to hang him legal and proper when a special law is invoked. It seems as though the aftermath of the Civil War left a shortage of men. So unless you've committed murder, if any widow wants to claim you for whatever reason, you can be married.

He's in luck when young Mary Steenburgen claims him, but she's far more interested in getting him to work a gold mine on her property. But she's a widow with other needs and even Jack the rogue has a charming way about him, if a direct one at times.

Going' South was Mary Steenburgen's first feature film and she matches Nicholson in her own way guile for guile. The Civil War left her a bride nearly intact shall we say, but she does accomplish her objectives with Jack.

Two really great gags that I liked was the posse's flagrant disregard for international law to bring Jack in. Second was an unfortunate encounter Christopher Lloyd had at an outhouse with some equine waste product, courtesy of Nicholson.

Going' South is a nice rollicking comedy where Jack Nicholson goes full blast with his quirky personality. For some reason it didn't catch on, but I think Nicholson fans and others will really like it.

"Goin' South" is an unusual picture, as it's a comedy western. Now such a film isn't unheard of...with prior films like "Cat Balou", "Blazing Saddles" and "Dirty Dingus Magee"...but it is a genre in which there just aren't that many movies. Plus, "Goin' South" is a comedy but compared to these others, it's a heck of a lot more normal! It's unusual for a few other reasons...it stars AND is directed by Jack Nicholson, many of the co-stars are late 70s TV comedy actors (with Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd and John Belushi) and it's the screen debut for Mary Steenburgen. It's also unusual for a Niicholson because it was a box office failure.

The film begins in 1866 with Henry Moon (Nicholson) riding like mad towards the Mexican border. He's a horse thief and a posse is chasing him. Unfortunately for Moon, they catch him and soon he's sentenced to hang. But just before he is to die, he gets a reprieve. Apparently this town has a strange law...that if a woman wants to, she can marry any man sentenced to hang provided he's not a murderer. And, at the very last moment, Julia (Steenburgen) volunteers to marry him. But it's certainly NOT done for romantic reasons...she just needs a hand to help her with her mine. What's next? See the film.

Nicholson and Steenburgen are quite good in this movie. As for the comic relief, although John Belushi is in the film, he doesn't say or do much. According to IMDB, this could be because he and Nicholson did NOT get along at all...and so much of Belushi's part was removed. Christopher Lloyd makes a lot of goofy faces...and is more prominent in the movie and Danny Devito is there...but says and does very little.

So is it worth seeing? Yes. While it's not a rollicking comedy, it is cute and clever and plot-driven...and also features a bit of romance, albeit rather odd romance! However, be forewarned...the consummation of this marriage is a bit problematic when seen today, as it would probably be seen as a bit 'rapey'.