Wildside (1985) User Reviews

Unknown and Under-appreciated

[Gislef · 8/10 · 17 December 1998]

This short-lived series is probably best known for bringing together stars Howard Rollins Jr. and Meg Ryan. A pity, because despite its brief, six-episode run, it's actually a pretty entertaining action-adventure/Western/parody. In tone it's not dissimilar to the subsequent Adventures of Brisco County Jr., Outlaws, and The Magnificent Seven - the idea of a team of cowboy weapon/specialists isn't unique, but Wildside does it pretty well. There's also a nice fleshing out of the characters, and a fair amount of background - there's _lots_ of supporting characters in this series. Catch it if you can.

In fairness, the show hasn't aged particularly well. it's certainly the neatest Wild West town existent, and the outdoor filming is a bit smudgy: they occasionally forget to clean the camera lens. Terry Funk tends to mumble, and Meg Ryan's character comes across a a bit of ditz and there's very little chemistry between her and J. Eddie Peck. Still, everyone seems to having fun, which counts for something, and you've got the star power of William Smith, Howard Rollins, and John D'Aquino (late of "Cory in the House") chugging away, and clearly it both borrowed from previous shows (the first episode has a hidden cache of Confederate gold, just like a "Wild Wild West" episode), while inspiring future ones: Parks Ritchey is basically Pete Horton years later in "Adventures of Brisco County Jr."

So hopefully they'll release a cleaned up copy of it some day for DVD. If they do, catch it.

Wish this was on DVD

[riewrites1 · 10/10 · 29 January 2012]

Every now and then I check to see if this has been put on DVD, because I think my VHS tapes have deteriorated to the point of "non-watchability". If Amazon had all six available, I'd still put in an order, even though I don't think I have a working VHS any more. I am sure I would wear a DVD out as well. I loved this series so much. Even though it ran 6 weeks more than 25 years ago, I still remember with great fondness all the characters from this series, and to make that kind of impression is truly a gift. This was an amazing series. I wish it had been longer, but I loved the way that each episode featured one of the main characters, so you got a solid handle on all of them. I think if it had been allowed to grow, this series would be a classic to everybody. If you ever get a chance to watch it, do so!

Good cast, bad history, still fun.

[vanillafluffy · 23 May 2004]

This short-lived series was a quirky cross between "Wild, Wild West" and "The A-Team". Set in California in the 1880's, five adventurers (each with a special weapons proficiency) keep their home town safe from villainy.

The cast is dandy and has good chemistry. The characters are more than cardboard cutouts--witness the father and son dynamic between the older gunfighter and his son, who is still trying to prove himself, or the superstitious knife expert who leaves payment for his funeral with the spinster undertaker every time the team embarks on a mission. Meg Ryan as the young hero's love interest is a bit of an anachronism, (And she wears the same blue and white dress in every single scene/episode, so obviously this was in her pre-star power days!), but as usual, she's spirited and spunky.

The history portion of the series is decidedly hit-or-miss--the episode about a troop of pillaging Crimean War veterans is completely absurd--but it's basically good clean fun.

An American Classic!

[Yokam · 10/10 · 23 June 2001]

Tom Greene's "Wildside" totally takes its place as not only one of the top ten best Westerns of all times... but as one of the all time classics... a top ten in ANY category! I've already talked about this in the "Amazon" website review, but I wanted to let loose here in IMDB for those who may not get there. I talk about Wildside as if it were a feature film, since when I first saw it on TV as a Mini-Series, I was totally taken by the depth of emotion, the smart dialogue, quirky, totally original characters, the humor, and best of all, the production values. I kept forgetting when talking to people about Wildside, that I didn't see it on the big screen... since everything about the six hours of delightful entertainment is larger than life... and so very cinematic. From the very first scene, all done without dialogue were "Hatchet's" gang blow up a safe at a bank... and show how totally mean they really are (you just have to watch what they do to the little boy's goldfish!), you know you're watching an intelligent, well-crafted piece of work that knows when to go for the laughs, when to go for the heart, and when to go for the throat! Many of the actors went on to superstardom... like Meg Ryan, and Howard Rollins and James Cromwell to name just a few that I remember, but honestly I don't think I've ever seen any of them do better work than right here. Especially Meg. There are also just great classic actors, like William Smith (playing a really wonderful good guy, which I don't think he's ever done then or since... and it's amazing how much he reminds me of "Hipshot Percussion" from the old "Rick O'Shay" western cartoon strip!) and Buck Taylor and Geoffrey Lewis, and that Indian from "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest"... and many great faces that you've seen now and then... all of them showing off the kinds of characterizations and acting ability that you just don't see in TV. I guess because they are all true hero's... with 3D backstories, and motivations that make everything they do totally understandable. One of the best of all the characters is played by actress Robin Hoff, who I haven't seen before or since, in one of the most brilliant parts I've ever seen on TV... playing the town's undertaker as if she was the head of the Varsity High School Cheerleading Squad! Total inspiration! And her love scenes in her funeral parlor with the sexy gaucho, played by John DiAquino, are pure genius! Anyone who has ideas of being an actor, a writer or a director should study Wildside... it doesn't get any better. Why this was only a Mini-Series is anyone's guess. I could see it on the air for as long as, let's say Gunsmoke or Bonanza. One other point... you don't have to be a western fan to love this show. Though in my opinion it's the most successful and faithful western every put on the small screen, it is more about people and situations than about guns and horses. There is one episode in which Howard Rollins is about to propose to the love-of-his-life, only to discover the next morning that she has died, and therefore so shocked with grief that he can not accept the fact that it was "natural causes", and instead goes off on an almost suicidal search for "the killer" (not realizing that the "killer" is simply life's fate). If ever there was a more magnificent tone-poem about love and grief and forgiveness and acceptance... I can't find it. The scene with Howard and Meg Ryan, where she tries to explain the realities of life to him is by far the most brilliant acted, directed and written moments of truth you will ever experience. And if you're not a babbling puddle of tears with a lump in your throat the size of Monument Valley at the end of that episode, where Howard says good-bye to his dead love, talking to the trees and stars... then you must be dead yourself! Am I going overboard with my praise? I don't think so. See for yourself. The test of a classic is one that once you start looking at it, you can't stop watching, and even if you have it on video, even if you've just seen it, if your "flipping around the TV, and it's on again, you sit and watch it, and can't STOP watching it (i.e.: "The Godfather I & 2). Wildside is such a piece. And once you've experienced it, you'll find that the characters all stay with you like great old friends (I espeically LOVE legendary wrestler Terry Funk as one of the "Wildside" five! Tell me if you've ever seen such a huggable teddy bear!)Special note should be paid also to the attention to detail and close-up work. And very special attention should be made to the art direction and to Ozzie Smith's camera work. Watch it and tell me when you've seen anything this good!

Simply an awesome series before it's time!!

[bret_rogers · 25 January 2001]

Sometimes I dont understand why the networks do what they do. This series just arrived 10 years too early. In this series we have two of the potientally most appealing co-stars. Meg Ryan as a reporter and Terry Funk as a Whip-weilding cowboy. With the star power of Meg Ryan and good looks and the former WWF and WCW Superstar Terry Funk, one could only see a hit. Someday I wish an all 80's Channel would come out and we could see this great series again.