Written and directed by the Zellner Bros — David and Nathan, the former two years his sibling’s senior —Damsel(2018) should be commonly cited as one of the funniest westerns ever made. It stars Robert Pattinson alongside Mia Wasikowska, with this Wild West comedy marking their second of three collaborations. Other cast members include Robert Forster and Russell Mael, along with David Zellner, who frequently appears in movies that he personally directs.
Each of those names provides hilarious efforts against a beautiful Wild West backdrop, particularlyRobert Pattinson. This may be his most underrated performance — it’s easily his funniest — and as a whole,Damselholds up as a well-made western by a pair of talented filmmakers. All that said: Before delving intoDamselin its entirety, it’s worth noting a brief history of the popular comedy western.
A Brief History of Comedy Westerns
Comedy westerns have been around since Hollywood’s Golden Age thanks to movies such asWay Out West(1937). It starred a famous duo called Laurel and Hardy, and even today,Way Out Westis commonly regarded as one of thefunniest movies the genre’s ever seen. Nothing compared toBlazing Saddles(1974), though. It’s arguably the most popular comedy in the history of westerns, and it’s easy to see why.
Collaborators like Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder were the perfect fit for a comedy western, butBlazing Saddlesis far from the only movie worth noting. Other famous examples includeThree Amigos(1986),City Slickers(1991), andMaverick(1994), while a more underrated illustration of the comedy western would be a movie likeDead Man(1995).
Popularity aside, each of those movies holds up wonderfully today, and the subgenre has continued to flourish in more recent years thanks to films from all over the world.
15 Underrated Comedy Westerns That Don’t Get Enough Attention
Westerns don’t always have to be serious or dramatic films. Here are 15 Western comedy films that may have flown under your radar.
At the twenty-first century’s turn,Shanghai Noon(2000) resonated fondly with critics, and in that same decade,The Good, the Bad and the Weird(2008) graced audiences from South Korea. International co-productions include films likeLes Dalton(2004) andBandidas(2006), while back in Hollywood, the famous Michael Jai White made audiences laugh withOutlaw Johnny Black(2023).
That’s a lot of titles, and none of them even account forDamselwith Robert Pattinson, which unfortunatelywent beneath the radarupon its release in theaters. Sure, some hardcore western fans have come to recognize its quality, but again: The Zellner Bros created an all-time great western comedy withDamsel, and overall, they deserve far more respect for their work.
A witty script was seen into perfect fruition by some confident direction, as the Zellners led actors like Robert Pattinson to underrated greatness.
Pattinson’s Previous Experience With Westerns
Before being cast inDamsel, superstar actor Robert Pattinson co-starred inThe Rover(2014), a dystopian neo-western. He played Reynolds, whose brother stole the car of the movie’s hardened protagonist — Eric, who’s portrayed by Guy Pearce. On their journey to find the car thief, Eric and Reynolds experience some shocking plot points while traversing a memorable setting.
Though rather unknown,The Roveris among the finest movies of its year, thanks in large part to the efforts of an Australian director named David Michôd. He co-wrote the script alongside frequent collaborator Joel Edgerton, a fellow Aussie who helped Michôd make an unforgettable western. It’s a technical triumph, witha brilliant performance from Pattinson.
Twilight Star Reveals How Robert Pattinson Really Felt About Those Sparkles
It’s been 12 years since the conclusion of The Twilight Saga, but people are still talking about those controversial sparkles.
He built a great rapport in that dystopian western with Australian actor Guy Pearce, who would later star inBrimstone(2016). Oddly enough, Robert Pattinson was in talks to appear in that underrated entry, along with another Aussie named Mia Wasikowska. They eventually left theBrimstoneproduction, but just a couple of years later, Pattinson and Wasikowska reunited for a western.
They’re frequent collaborators, thoughDamselis the only film of theirs classified as a comedy. Or a western, for that matter. Both of Pattinson’s forays into the genre are highly underrated, withDamselaccruing under half a million dollars at the worldwide box office. Pretty poor numbers, and it’s not like the movie made waves with critics. Probably should have, though.
Why Damsel by the Zellner Bros Stands Out
Its plot follows a wealthy frontiersman named Samuel Alabaster, who plans to propose to his love interest Penelope. Those are Pattinson and Wasikowska’s respective characters, while expected to officiate their wedding is David Zellner’s persona, named Parson Henry.
After setting out to find Penelope, the duo of Samuel and Parson face an unexpected setback that brings them closer together. From there, the protagonist reveals that Penelope has actually been kidnapped, and that their quest is about more than proposing — it’s alsoa rescue mission.
Twists unfold from there in highly memorable fashion, and once its final frame fades out,Damselwill resonate with some truly memorable characters. Their engaging dialogue is punctuated by the sweet tones of The Octopus Project, an experimental band who have scored nearly every movie by the Zellners. Also contributing to the music was actually Robert Pattinson, who’s spoken aboutDamselon numerous occasions. In another instance, he referred to its style as slapstick comedy.
Every Western Movie and TV Show Starring Timothy Olyphant, Ranked
With quite a few roles in westerns, Timothy Olyphant should be celebrated as one of the genre’s greatest actors.
Classification aside, it’s a legitimately hilarious film thanks to a witty script from the Zellner Bros, along with some genius tactics of continuity editing that enhance the jokes in timing.
But of course, a movie is nothing without its cast, and the perfect group was assembled to seeDamselcome to life. This is among the funniest performances from everyone involved, not just Robert Pattinson, though again: His exaggerated country accent and dynamic facial expressions provide the film with a resonant sense of ongoing humor.
Cult classic status should be inevitable forDamsel, and Pattinson’s performance ought to put fans on note with regard to his comedic prowess. Though this isn’t a western for everyone, the Zellner Bros nonetheless crafted a high-quality flick that should’ve resonated with a much wider audience, withDamselstill failing to boast the name value that it truly deserves. Here’s hoping viewers remedy their mistake.
