“There are two kinds of people in this world, Jack. Runners or gunners, which one are you?”
I have to be honest; when I first saw the preview for this movie and saw Stephen Amell in that crazy wig, I expected this movie to be a car wreck. However, like all car wrecks, you can’t look away, so I accepted the fact that I would have to watch Calamity Jane, just to see how much of a car wreck it would be. Funny enough, it was not one at all. I mean, I’m still not over that crazy wig, and there were a few periods of inactivity that could have been skipped, but despite that, Calamity Jane actually turned to be an enjoyable movie experience. As expected, the major thing that it has going for it is the main reason that drew me to it: the opportunity for an Arrow reunion courtesy of Emily Bett Rickards and Stephen Amell. Throwing Wynonna Earp’s Tim Rozon into the mix was just a bonus (speaking of Wynonna Earp, be sure to also check out our review for the continuation movie).
Broken into five chapters, the film tells a fictionalized version of the legend of Calamity Jane and the death of Wild Bill Hickok (Amell). The first chapter, in which Hickok’s death at the hands of Jack McCall, is very similar to the known facts, such as Hickok being forced to take a seat with his back to the door rather than facing the door. Historians indicate that Hickok preferred to face the door and calling out this detail is a subtle and good addition. McCall shoots Hickok in the back after losing to him in poker. Given that this is a sensationalized retelling, some creative is license is taken and expected, such as Hickok antagonizing McCall, which caused the shooting instead of it being a perceived slight. According to my research, after cleaning McCall, Hickok offered enough money to buy himself breakfast. McCall allegedly took it as an insult, and that ultimately led him to shoot Hickok in the back. I think that version would have been a more interesting approach, because it would have portrayed Hickok slightly better and added more fuel for Calamity Jane’s revenge.
In chapters two and three, particularly in two, the film calls into question Calamity Jane’s motivation for revenge, essentially questioning if it is worth undertaking. During these chapters the story meanders a bit, but Rickards’ performance keeps things flowing along as she remains steadfast in her belief that Hickok should be avenged even if she is the only person capable of seeing the good in her dearly departed love. During these chapters, Rickards’ Jane is the focal point and shows herself to be the heart of the film.
In chapter four, Jane is a force to be reckoned with as she hunts McCall and does battle with anyone standing in her way. I thought this would be where the film would conclude. I expected that Jane would get her revenge. However, the film drags that out a bit longer as obstacles arise to prolong the story. Personally, I’m not sure much was gained by prolonging the story. It might have been better to combine the last two chapters and do away with subplot involving McCall’s brother and his future plans. I’m just not sure it added anything to the overall story. In the previous chapters it was very clear that this was going to be a revenge story; this deviation just takes away from that. Introducing the brother and his reluctant willingness to shelter his brother was perfectly fine and worked with the story, but I could have done without the gold subplot.
I wondered what would become of the cast of Arrow after it wrapped up in 2020. Not so much for Amell; I fully expected he would land on his feet, which he did with follow-up series such as Heels (unfairly cancelled just as things were getting really good) and the upcoming Suits: LA. And David Ramsey managed to remain a staple in the Arrowverse until the very end. However, I wasn’t sure what would become of Rickards. I shouldn’t have been surprised; I mean, I’m pretty sure the character Felicity Smoak was originally only intended only to be a minor character, but her portrayal led to the character becoming as central character, and with Calamity Jane she has established herself as being able to lead a film. I expect and enthusiastically await seeing much more of Ms. Rickards in the future.
