Tolerable father son adventure comedy but really nothing special our outstanding.
A father tries to reunite and connect to his son by going with him on a hunting trip, which is not only showing him about his profession but also a family tradition, but of course the young boy doesnt really care for that.
Yeah the story is noting new or special at all nor is it very inspired. The film however has good qualities in the acting department. Josh Brolin was great and took his role very seriously. Good performance. Also Montana Jordan was pretty good as his son. Danny McBride tolerable as the sidekick. The film had beautiful images and a very nice cinematography.
But besides that it fell rather flat and even at the rather short running time often appeared to be overlong and boring.
The father son thing was predictable and something we saw in dozens of variations hundreds of times on screen already. Still it was not a complete waste of time, but probably could have been much better.
51 Reviews
Funnier than others reviewed
luluslounge25 September 2018
Weird tone
bgar-8093229 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This movie feels like they didn't know what they wanted it to be. It's a divorced father who has a hunting show taking his like 13 year old son on his first hunting trip with the dad's best friend and camera man. You'd think it'd be goofy or serious but it kinda mixes them and throws in random plot lines that are pointless such as the camera man's (Danny Mcbride) wife has group sex with black men. What does that add to the story? Josh Brolin was excellent throughout which is the only reason I gave it as good a score as I did. The kid was rough. They could have made a good drama with this type of plot without the random plot lines that make no sense and everyone would be praising Brolin. Weird movie honestly.
Not as bad as people say...
sebt10111 July 2018
It's your traditional father-son comedy where he wants to reconnect post-divorce. I've gone deer hunting before so I could relate to some aspects of it. The comedy aspect of it is average. Overall, it's an enjoyable film to watch if you want to kill time and eat dinner. The acting overall was pretty decent with Brolin playing the stereotypical country Dad trying to convert his son (a suburban kid) to his outdoor lifestyle.
Overall, I could relate to this so I enjoyed it and got a few good chuckles out of it.
Overall, I could relate to this so I enjoyed it and got a few good chuckles out of it.
A Good Shot For Hill, Despite Little Meat On The Bones
marsincrucio8 July 2018
Jody Hill has locked onto an incredible comedic formula that basically consists of Danny McBride saying terrible, unfiltered things in front of children. It's great. It works. I'm still not tired of it even after two series runs on HBO.
The problem here is that this film straddles the line between PG-13 and R, leaving the tone of the movie too much for the family-friendly crowd and too little for McBride fans. It's possible more content was filmed and later cut to slide under R as the run time is only around 80 min.
Plot and pacing hit all the right beats. The setups were a bit obvious, but the payoffs were rushed through, which actually sort of compensated because at least there were no repeat beats.
Despite struggling to find a tone, this film works as a whole. Satire hits home. Casting was a blank check. Performance sold the characters, and I swear whoever Jody uses for music department is spying on my Spotify recently played.
The problem here is that this film straddles the line between PG-13 and R, leaving the tone of the movie too much for the family-friendly crowd and too little for McBride fans. It's possible more content was filmed and later cut to slide under R as the run time is only around 80 min.
Plot and pacing hit all the right beats. The setups were a bit obvious, but the payoffs were rushed through, which actually sort of compensated because at least there were no repeat beats.
Despite struggling to find a tone, this film works as a whole. Satire hits home. Casting was a blank check. Performance sold the characters, and I swear whoever Jody uses for music department is spying on my Spotify recently played.
Not Terrible, but Definitely not a Must-Watch
Jared_Andrews17 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The greatest problem with 'The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter' is that it's a comedy, but it's not funny. While it has the rhythm and beats of a typical comedy, nothing funny is ever done or said.
The film begins with a mockumentary intro of Josh Brolin playing Buck Ferguson (the summer of Brolin continues! sort of), a man attempting prove through his series of DVDs that he's the world's greatest hunter.
Actually, the first ten minutes are promising. The film is self-aware and mildly amusing. Sadly, the remaining 70 minutes fail to deliver on the early promise.
It tells a typical fathers, sons and legacies story that has been done many times before and often done much better. Buck, along with his friend and cameraman Don, takes his 12-year-old son Jaden on their first big hunting trip together. Buck, who hasn't seen Jaden as much since the divorce, hopes to capture a loving father-son story on video and simultaneously help his son fall in love with hunting.
Neither of these efforts is particularly successful because Jaden is preoccupied by his girlfriend and his cell phone (darn kids these days!). A frustrated Buck lashes out at Jaden and Don, damaging both relationships and putting a serious damper on the trip.
But this is a movie, so if you manage to watch this whole thing (it's only about 80 minutes) you'll see Buck attempt to redeem himself and mend the relationships with the two most important people in his life.
On the acting side, Brolin is fine, while the kid is a rough watch, though better writing certainly would have helped him. The bright spot is Danny McBride as Don. He's the heart of the movie-the most likable and relatable character. He's also the only one who succeeds in providing any sort of comedy.
It's not a spoiler to say this is: the ending is interesting. I don't mind an ambiguous ending, and I think this one is worth pondering.
The film begins with a mockumentary intro of Josh Brolin playing Buck Ferguson (the summer of Brolin continues! sort of), a man attempting prove through his series of DVDs that he's the world's greatest hunter.
Actually, the first ten minutes are promising. The film is self-aware and mildly amusing. Sadly, the remaining 70 minutes fail to deliver on the early promise.
It tells a typical fathers, sons and legacies story that has been done many times before and often done much better. Buck, along with his friend and cameraman Don, takes his 12-year-old son Jaden on their first big hunting trip together. Buck, who hasn't seen Jaden as much since the divorce, hopes to capture a loving father-son story on video and simultaneously help his son fall in love with hunting.
Neither of these efforts is particularly successful because Jaden is preoccupied by his girlfriend and his cell phone (darn kids these days!). A frustrated Buck lashes out at Jaden and Don, damaging both relationships and putting a serious damper on the trip.
But this is a movie, so if you manage to watch this whole thing (it's only about 80 minutes) you'll see Buck attempt to redeem himself and mend the relationships with the two most important people in his life.
On the acting side, Brolin is fine, while the kid is a rough watch, though better writing certainly would have helped him. The bright spot is Danny McBride as Don. He's the heart of the movie-the most likable and relatable character. He's also the only one who succeeds in providing any sort of comedy.
It's not a spoiler to say this is: the ending is interesting. I don't mind an ambiguous ending, and I think this one is worth pondering.
Is What It Is
ArthurJimbo7 July 2018
Ive read that this is disappointing. The film is not funny. Its a blown opportunity. I never really looked at it while watching as a film that was aimed to be funny. There is some comedic relief, however. This film doesnt have to say more in my opinion. The man lost his family. A family was lampooned by life and the changes that transpire over time. I do not see how it needed to be any different in the story-telling.
Its incomplete? It missed an opportunity? No. In my view it speaks of some universal truths involving a specific relationship between a man and his son. A man and his once upon a time wife.
And, at the end, while I would not have not conducted myself the same as an individual, Brolin and the director choose to not sway the character and the through-line of who he is. And they do this despite it not being the most popular way to go with regard to massaging a wider audience. Good movie. Maybe not astounding. Although, whats so astounding about a broken family, anyway?
Decent movie with hard truths that does not sway or throw in half assd scenes to utterly ruin true to life nature.
Its incomplete? It missed an opportunity? No. In my view it speaks of some universal truths involving a specific relationship between a man and his son. A man and his once upon a time wife.
And, at the end, while I would not have not conducted myself the same as an individual, Brolin and the director choose to not sway the character and the through-line of who he is. And they do this despite it not being the most popular way to go with regard to massaging a wider audience. Good movie. Maybe not astounding. Although, whats so astounding about a broken family, anyway?
Decent movie with hard truths that does not sway or throw in half assd scenes to utterly ruin true to life nature.
Disappointing mockery of hunters
fbreedon13 September 2023
I am an avid deer hunter and was intrigued by the trailer. I was incredibly disappointed with the execution of the film. The filmmakers had a potentially beautiful concept: a father and son coming of age story, set in a beautiful nature envirommnment on the background of hunting. Instead they chose to make a mockery of "redneck" hunters, and the hunting lifestyle. The film was full of crass jokes based on ignorant stereotypes. Considering hunting is largely embraced by people with conservative values, It felt like just another not so veiled liberal attack on something they don't like based on their closed minded opinions. With just a little effort and open mindedness this could have been an incredible movie.
Good decent father and son movie
smith-miq15 July 2018
Not actually that bad
Jessicanu9411 July 2018
Suprising
slapshotgoon15 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I thought the movie was quite good. If your looking for an action packed movie look elsewhere. A father son bonding type movie in a hunting setting. The layout is actually pretty true to a hunting type predicament. A dad tries to reconnect with his son and show him the beuty of the natural world, and what he does for a living, while the son doesn't really want any of it but tries at some points. Danny McBride played a good, sometimes vulgar but, not over the top comedic relief. At some points in the film the acting feels forced, but when you look at the whole of the movie, it actually would be that way in real life because of the situation the characters are in. Ex alcoholic dad who is never there trying to reconnect with his son. All in all it's a good coming of age, father/son bonding, nature vs. technology type movie. It's also a great movie for a hunter especially slightly older one. They will say it hits the nail on the head.
Amedy (coming to age comedy)
jgreed-4980717 July 2018
the kid acted good
louiethepitt24 July 2018
This spoiled kid reminds me why I simply don't want to have children...wow...other than that the movie leads nowhere... good scenery but the story just drags and gets very weird sexually to the point of Pedophilia at some moment between an adult and the little spoiled kid... I regret watching this hoping it was gonna be funny and about nature...and it was about dysfunctional people and borderline pedophilia...the opposite of funny.
Beautiful scenery
Gordon-1121 July 2018
This film tells the story of a hunter who takes his son for a hunting trip for bonding.
The film features stunning scenery, and a lot of believable human interactions. It is a good film describing bonding. The boy is quite convincing as a spoiled kid, and the father makes a lot of effort to bond with the son. I enjoyed watching it.
The film features stunning scenery, and a lot of believable human interactions. It is a good film describing bonding. The boy is quite convincing as a spoiled kid, and the father makes a lot of effort to bond with the son. I enjoyed watching it.
Growing up (or is it old?)
kosmasp17 December 2018
Certain things seem to be in the way of growing up, of coming of age. Being on the doorway to adulthood, but either being afraid of taking that step or not having the courage to open the door. Question of why - as in don't you like what you see on the other side or can't you see what is there and you're afraid of even exploring? - is important.
Father and son bonding - or are they? Also a third wheel who seems to be reaching the son more than the father himself. Danny McBride is that "third wheel" and he shows off that he can be more than just funny. So the acting is really good, the story has gravitas and the character moments are there. Some might still feel that this is "boring" or "dragging". All in the eye of the beholder ...
Father and son bonding - or are they? Also a third wheel who seems to be reaching the son more than the father himself. Danny McBride is that "third wheel" and he shows off that he can be more than just funny. So the acting is really good, the story has gravitas and the character moments are there. Some might still feel that this is "boring" or "dragging". All in the eye of the beholder ...
A strange movie indeed.
jeonitsoc8 July 2018
A nice movie, filled with silly moments of stupidity. A man chases his dreams of reuniting his family, but he's blinded by his egoism. This movie doesn't have a morale, no real grow in characters; they are stupid but have dreams, they chase these dreams and fail, and everything is ok with that, and everything will go on as if nothing has ever happened. Don will probably lose more than he showed. Adorable silly comedy.
Brolin is no comedian...
brightcoconuts6 July 2018
Man, that was embarrassing and excruciating at the same time. I love Josh Brolin as an actor, especially in 'no country for old men' and essentially he is playing the same character except that he is trying to be funny and whoa, what a collosal failure - I haven't seen such a sever lack of comedic timing in awhile. He just couldn't be funny. It is like they spent that whole time out there in the woods not searching for 'atypical' whitetail (which is quite a funny line, but Brolin again couldn't pull it off) but searching for comedic timing and even McBride, who can sometimes be one of the funniest men on the planet, was tripping all over Brolins awkwardness in this genre, The sad truth is that Brolin was alot funnier in No Country, not trying to be....and maybe that is the secret with him as an actor ( or for anyone for that matter) is not to try to be funny.
In Brolin's defense there is probably a wide gap between the Coen brothers directing and writing than Bell's. On the other hand, you just can't teach comedic timing, you either have it or you don't....
In Brolin's defense there is probably a wide gap between the Coen brothers directing and writing than Bell's. On the other hand, you just can't teach comedic timing, you either have it or you don't....
Legacy
harry-pompis24 August 2019
This film is very organic, the dialog is just natural just American hunters talking with their heart it will probably warm yours, and the story is very simple no outstanding shots or cinematography you will be thinking by the middle of it that it's just another Netflix filler with nothing else to offer but a couple hours of good ol couch entertainment, and although it is true that this is not one of those movies that will have you cracking up every 2 seconds or on the edge of your sit for the action sequences; It does offer something that not every movie offers. A not so obvious message for the audience, and a moral that is not just evident like other movies. It's definitely not the best acting job by Brolin or the funniest McBride movie kids method acting is outstanding though I hope they give him a chance on Hollywood if he keeps it up like this he is going to end up big I hope he stays away from Netflix productions from now on, he was put toe to toe in the wild with two experienced good actors and manage it to keep up with them...
This movie I gotta say I almost thought it was a complete waist of my time, sure I had a few laughs, McBride always achieves this. Brolin was just playing the 'Murican we all love, and the kid had this snappy attitude that was pretty fun to watch. I wouldn't say the chemistry between them was great, and the story sure had a lot of holes on it and one could say it was slow at some points. But that last sequence sure put a smile on my face, and only a few times that had happened to me that I get the whole meaning of a movie just two seconds before it ends. Some people are born to be deer hunters, some people are born to be friends some are born to be fathers and some are born to be an aid.
This movie I gotta say I almost thought it was a complete waist of my time, sure I had a few laughs, McBride always achieves this. Brolin was just playing the 'Murican we all love, and the kid had this snappy attitude that was pretty fun to watch. I wouldn't say the chemistry between them was great, and the story sure had a lot of holes on it and one could say it was slow at some points. But that last sequence sure put a smile on my face, and only a few times that had happened to me that I get the whole meaning of a movie just two seconds before it ends. Some people are born to be deer hunters, some people are born to be friends some are born to be fathers and some are born to be an aid.
Filthy pornographic hit piece on White Men, Christians, gun owners, and hunters
reoneill7 August 2018
The movie was tolerable until the co-star, Danny McBride pulls out a dozen photographs of his White, nurse, auto mechanic, girlfriend getting gang banged by a half dozen Black men and shows them to the boy co-star, 12 year old Montana Jordan right there on the screen. Telling him that his girlfriend was turned on by Black men and he took the photos and enjoyed the whole thing. What filthy child abuse this was. What have we come to that this is permitted in a mainstream film. Our civilization is being destroyed by these pigs in Hollywood. The movie also portrays White men as perverted, abusive, gun toting, insensitive, stupid, out of touch, animal killers, and in the worst possible light. This movie is filth and I'm a long way from being a prude. But this movie crossed the line! I turned it off at the point of the pornography being shown to the child. There should be charges against these people.
Worth a watch
leviriddle13 October 2018
What Starts As A Parody Turns Into An Exercise In Futility
PurpleCrayon20147 July 2018
Good Ol' Boy Danny McBride has spent his career telling the stories of the stereotypical Redneck Hillbilly Cracker Ozarkian White Way-except this time his efforts hit the ground with a deafening 'THUD'. This film is dark, depressing, without humor and just a waste of time. The story has been told many times before, the characters have been portrayed many times before-there is nothing unique about The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter, except for the airbed.
Like a home movie of my husbands family.
mcfadyen-katie2 February 2019
For the wife of a North Carolina hunting/fire arms/four-wheeler enthusiast, and the mother of a less than enthusiastic pre-teen child, this was a funny and true to life movie. It may have lacked certain cinematic criteria for those untouched by the subtle nuances and fragility of Carolina mountain men, but for me it was just right. Much like the white tail deer, the emotions of a camouflage clad man only appear at a distance and for a short time, but when they do, it is an awesome thing to behold and all you want to do is, shoot em, stuff em, and hang em on your wall so you can say "Look! They do exist! I saw it with my own eyes and put it on display for all to see." I digress. This movie is so fitting for those represented by it's characters. Just funny enough, just true enough, and beautifully familiar scenery to boot.
These reviews seem unfair!
adamlcb-876474 October 2018
bloody hell
francishooks10 July 2018
First half of the film Danny McBride's character keeps droning on to Brolin's kid about jerking off.
This is all passed off as light-hearted banter.
Later on he's passing him cigarettes and showing him pictures of him and his girlfriend having group sex.
Jeez.
Wrongmo!
This is all passed off as light-hearted banter.
Later on he's passing him cigarettes and showing him pictures of him and his girlfriend having group sex.
Jeez.
Wrongmo!
If you like unrelatable characters and try-hard forced humor, this is for you
leetpaint19 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I started watching this movie on Netflix because Danny McBride is in it, and I loved Eastbound & Down, so I thought this would be pretty funny. It had so much potential to be funny, Danny McBride as a camera guy on a hunting trip with a father and son SOUNDS like hilarity would ensue, but this was garbage. It's boring, the characters aren't relatable to anyone, the jokes are stale and maybe would have been somewhat funny to a general audience in 1998. The redneck protag likes AMERICAN cheese! Not that fancy foreign stuff?? XD SO HILARIOUS! And what's the deal with the kid? His weird attitude doesn't come off as "funny", it's like they are saying he has a weird form of undiagnosed autism or something.
And then just to make the movie stupider and creepy for no reason even in the middle of Hollywood execs and politicians being outed as sexual deviants and pedophiles, they have the camera guy showing porn of his gf to a 12 year old kid. I stopped watching right here. Is that suppose to be funny to anyone? That's pig disgusting. Yeah, this review contains spoilers. It has pedophilia undertones and vomit inducing cuck porn. Avoid this movie.
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