Jack Nicholson Movie:

Editorial Review:
Nicholson directed and starred in this Western spoof about an outlaw who is saved from hanging by a young widow (Mary Steenburgen) who puts him to work as an indentured servant. She has a gold mine that no one knows about and she wants him to help her get the gold before anyone else finds out. But, of course, his old gang--who gave him up to the law in the first place--finds out about the mine and wants a piece of it. This was filmed in the late 1970s, when drug use was rampant (and not particularly frowned upon) in Hollywood; keep that in mind when you listen to Nicholson's stuffy-nose delivery. Alternately amusing and flat, with a cast that includes Steenburgen in her first movie role and John Belushi in a tiny part as a member of the gang, also making his film debut. --Marshall Fine

Goin' South [Region 2] Reviews:
best Jack
2009-11-20 - this is without adoubt the funniest movie jack nickelson ever made.i lost one copy and this one is a replacement.i won`t be loaning this one out.

not too impressed
2009-06-26 - I had heard from a co-worked that this was the funniest movie ever made. I guess I just expected too much, or maybe I just didn't get it. the premise is funny, but I just didn't think it was the cat's meow.

Goin' South
2009-04-11 - One of my favourite films. Have seen it many times and always enjoy the "reruns". Wanted it for my private cinema library. Outstanding Nickolson comedey

Goin South
2009-02-05 - Item exactly as described in ad. Prompt shipping. Love the movie. Thanks

What a cast!
2008-07-04 - First off, there's Jack as the male lead (he also directed). But then you also got John Belushi in his movie debut (lot of people don't know this), Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen in HER movie debut, Ed Begley Jr., Danny DeVito, Vernonica Cartwright, and some strong actors in other supporting roles--Tracey Walter and R.L. Armstrong. It's a lot of fun to see Belushi and DeVito do their thing here, and Jack is also a lot of fun to watch.

This 1978 film is an interesting companion piece to his other Western done around the same time, The Missouri Breaks, a much more serious film. Goin' South has some punchy comedy stuff in it, thanks to the Mary Steenburgen character's on-again, off-again "romance" with her newly chosen husband, Jack--whom she marries just so he'll help her get the gold out of a mine on her land. Connubial bliss is far from her thoughts, in fact.

The swinging back and forth between Jack and Mary hitting it off and at real odds with each other is further compounded by the two ornery deputies in town, played by Christopher Lloyd and John Belushi (a Mexican converted to American deputy status--don't ask), AND by Jack's former gang--Danny DeVito, Vernoica Cartwright, Tracey Walter, and another guy--and this back and forth also keeps the movie swingin' away at comic situations. An especially funny scene has the outlaws and the two deputies shooting at each other over a short roof.

The ending is kind of abrupt, but bearing in mind this was the 70s when the movie was made--and that the director was Jack himself--it's OK, or even better than OK. The parallels to The Missouri Breaks are found in Jack's attraction to a strong-willed woman, his involvement (former or current) with a gang, a Western setting, and a connection--good, bad, or indifferent--to a wealthy man (landowner or railroad representative).

While The Missouri Breaks is a much stronger film--not the least reason for which is the presence of the amazing Marlon Brando in it--Goin' South has a lot of goofy charm and is definitely worth seeing.