Why Ashton Kutcher’s Only Western Flopped and Is Now Totally Forgotten

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By the turn of the new millennium, Ashton Kutcher had become a prominent figure in both film and television. His roles in popular series such as “Punk’d” and “That ’70s Show” were just part of his success story. Additionally, he made his mark in big-screen productions like “Dude, Where’s My Car?” and “The Butterfly Effect.” Looking back, it seems fitting that Kutcher landed one of the lead roles in the 2001 movie, “Texas Rangers.

The film, titled “Texas Rangers,” was designed to revive the traditional Western genre for a new generation of viewers. To achieve this, they enlisted some of the most prominent young celebrities from the new millennium, including Ashton Kutcher, James Van Der Beek from “Dawson’s Creek,” and R&B artist Usher. Regrettably, “Texas Rangers” fell short in every aspect, leaving behind its only notable impact being a 2% Rotten Tomatoes score, a testament to its poor reception.

Texas Rangers is Inoffensive, but Painfully Mediocre & Forgettable

The Film Squanders Ashton Kutcher and the Rest of Its Cast

Compared to other Westerns, ‘Texas Rangers’ is just average.” Unlike many films with harsh Critics Consensus and poor Tomatometer scores, “Texas Rangers” does not fall into the category of hidden gems or guilty pleasures.

As a supporter, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Texas Rangers is a terrible Western. However, it doesn’t stand out in any memorable or praiseworthy way. It seems to follow the genre’s conventions without adding anything fresh or exceptional to them. The gunfights are more laborious than thrilling, and while the film does offer some beautiful landscape shots, that’s about as exciting as it gets.

In this movie, the actors make the best of a weak storyline that seasoned professionals such as Dylan McDermott, Robert Patrick, and Alfred Molina struggle to improve. As for Kutcher’s character, he played George Durham – a compassionate young man who miraculously endured an attack by King Fisher’s marauding gang. Determined to restore order in the chaotic Texas, George aspired to become a Ranger despite being too naive for such a brutal profession. By the movie’s conclusion, he leaves the Rangers behind to live contentedly as a ranch hand with his romantic interest, Caroline Dukes.

In Texas Rangers, Ashton Kutcher didn’t have an opportunity to truly shine as an actor. It appears that his character, George, was developed as a clumsy and childish adult, serving as a naive counterpart to Lincoln Rogers Dunnison, played by Van Der Beek. Despite Kutcher’s efforts, the characterization felt patronizing and limited. However, it’s important to note that the film’s weaknesses primarily lie with the producers, not the cast or crew.

Texas Rangers’ Full Potential Was Undercut by Its Producers

The Film Was Written by One of Hollywood’s Most Polarizing Yet Influential Filmmakers

Despite not receiving credit in the final version, the film “Texas Rangers” was penned by John Milius, who is known for writing “Dirty Harry,” directing “Conan the Barbarian” and “Red Dawn,” as well as co-creating the acclaimed historical drama “Rome.” For Milius, “Texas Rangers” represented a passion project that he worked on for over a decade. Originally conceived as an adaptation of George Durham’s novel “Taming of the Neuces Strip: The Story of McNelly’s Rangers,” Milius became involved in 1990 and penned several drafts for the film.

In my viewpoint, Milius considered his rendition of the Texas Rangers as one of the finest scripts he ever penned. He portrayed the origins of the Texas Rangers and the taming of the Wild West as a “love sonnet” symbolizing America’s promise. Regrettably, Milius’ initial script is now a thing of the past; however, it’s not difficult to envision how his Texas Rangers would have differed from other versions. This is largely due to his renowned works and particularly his conservative ideologies. Essentially, Milius held that violence was both a societal requirement and a rite of passage for men.

He too felt that justice should be taken into one’s own hands due to a perceived lack of concern or collusion from the government and society with those labeled as oppressors. These self-centered and arrogant themes were already present in his work. It wouldn’t be surprising if Milius’ Texas Rangers was just as brutal and self-righteous as Dirty Harry. It’s hard to say whether Milius’ film would have been better or worse than what was released in theaters, but it certainly would have been more intriguing.

Unfortunately, it appears the producers had different plans than what Milius intended. After Milius was replaced by a new director following Weinstein’s acquisition of the script, his original vision for Texas Rangers underwent significant changes. The raw edge that defined the initial concept was softened to such an extent that the final product lost its bite, becoming somewhat bland. Essentially, only the core moral struggle between Captain Leander McNelly’s thirst for retribution and Dunnison’s pursuit of justice remained from Milius’ concepts. Additionally, the script was modified to cater to a younger demographic.

It came as no shock that Milius, justifiably, disliked these modifications. In numerous interviews, he accused the younger generation of being overly pampered and spoiled, allegedly influencing the producers to make these changes. He reserve his criticism for the Weinsteins, whom he accuses of “butchering” his script. He also referred to them as arrogant for presuming to ask him to rewrite his script based on their diluted tastes. In an interview with , he passionately expressed:

[Your Interview Content Here]

John Milius: These individuals lack accountability. They’re prepared to create a movie on any topic if they believe it will generate profits for them.

I believe it would be more appropriate for them to hand Harvey Weinstein over to authorities for trial, rather than considering such extreme actions as giving him to the Taliban or imagining scenarios where I hunt him down. It’s important to uphold justice and let the legal system take its course.

Texas Rangers Didn’t Stand a Chance in 2001 & It Won’t Be Redeemed in 2025

The Film Embodied the Western Genre’s Struggles in the New Millennium

The Texas Rangers’ effort to shine amidst their thin plotline isn’t unexpected, considering the challenging state of Westerns in the 2000s. Although cowboy themes never lost their appeal, Westerns seemed outdated and quaint during that period. This trend had been ongoing since the ’80s. Unfortunately, the fact that Clint Eastwood, who embodied the essence of the Western, seemingly ended the genre with Unforgiven in 1992 didn’t help. Essentially, Texas Ranger wasn’t just arriving fashionably late; it was pursuing trends that people had left behind a while ago.

In the 2000s, filmmakers and studios had a fondness for Westerns, yet struggled to engage their audience. Despite some disappointing performances like Texas Rangers, the Western genre didn’t disappear entirely, but it found itself in direct-to-video and TV movie formats instead. It wasn’t until Quentin Tarantino’s unconventional “Southern” Western, Django Unchained (2012), that the genre reclaimed its past cinematic prominence.

As a cinephile, I must admit that the landscape of the Western genre has shifted dramatically over the years. Instead of the classic cowboy tales straight from dime novels, we’re now witnessing bleak reinterpretations and contemporary updates. The gallant lawmen battling outlaw mobs, like the Texas Rangers in their iconic series, are seemingly a thing of the past. Yet, this evolution can be seen as a testament to the genre’s growth and maturity. It’s time for Westerns to transcend the stereotype of good versus evil at high noon. There are numerous nuanced Western films that demonstrate this, offering complex narratives and deeper explorations of the human condition within this storied setting.

There’s something about the good old days of movies like Texas Rangers, Tombstone, and others that’s hard to forget. The joy of watching chivalrous characters battle undeniable villains on horseback with six-shooters has a certain innocence and nostalgia. However, it’s unfortunate that Texas Rangers falls flat among these timeless tales. Despite not making any major mistakes or being excessively problematic, this film doesn’t leave much of an impression due to its lack of substance. It might be best to pass on watching it.

Texas Rangers is now available to watch and own physically and digitally.

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2025-06-06 03:06