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Movie review: Beer for my Horses

If you think “Beer for my Horses” is a movie just for rednecks who like watching cowboys sling guns at the OK Corral, think again (and if you don’t know what the OK Corral was, just stop listening now). “Beer for my Horses” is an action-comedy that has something for everyone. This movie comes alive with a cast of country music stars and a comedian who sings about “Titties and Beer.”

Country music sensation Toby Keith stars alongside stand-up comedian Rodney Carrington, both of whom wrote the screenplay for the movie. Rocker Ted Nugent also stars in this made for CMT (that’s Country Music Television for any of you city slickers) and DVD release in 2008.
The director of “Beer for my Horses,” Michael Salomon, has a long record with CMT. He has directed numerous music videos, including ones for rock band Metallica.

“Beer for my Horses” characters Rack Racklin (Keith), Lonnie Luther Feldman (Carrington), and Skunk (Nugent) play small town deputies who run into big time trouble when a drug cartel abducts Racklin’s girlfriend. On their way to Mexico, the trio runs into a traveling circus that is led by none other than Willie Nelson, who coincidently sang a duet with Keith called ‘Beer for the Horses’ in 2002. David Allan Coe, who sang the songs ‘If that ain’t country, I’ll kiss your ass’ and ‘Take this job and shove it,’ stars as a gypsy in the traveling convoy.

The convoy teaches the deputies about danger and how it is just an illusion. But when danger becomes a reality, it must be met with an illusion. This lesson comes in handy when the deputy trio is up against the drug cartel.

“Beer for my Horses” is a combination of edge of your seat anticipation, unpredictable characters, redneck pick ups with 45 inch tires (those are really big tires, again for you city slickers), a hooker (or a good Christian woman) named Harveyetta, and a rendition of ‘Shout’ in an interstate rest stop that will have you roaring in laughter.

The movie also debuts some of Keith’s latest music, which mirrors his music from the 1990s, pure country and twang. Carrington’s buttery smooth voice is also showcased during his duet with a group of thugs and his famous comedic songs that play throughout the movie.

The odd duck in the cast, Ted Nugent, shows off his machine gun shooting, archery shooting and rock slinging skills as he takes down one law breaking person after another. Although his presence in the movie is silent (literally, he doesn’t say a word until the very end), his role is unmistakably brilliant.

Since most of the cast specializes in music or comedic stand up, the actors deliver convincing performances. Carrington’s facial expressions, which are funny even on a bad day, are even more hilarious as he tries to learn Spanish and dance and sing with thugs. On the other hand, this is Keith’s fourth made for CMT movie. In 2006, he starred in the drama “Broken Bridges.”

“Beer for my Horses” is a sure fire comedy that plays into the average hard-working individuals psyche. So pay attention all you city slickers, you may be entertained by this action-comedy movie that you thought only rednecks like me would enjoy. As we would say in the country, “this movie is just neater than a skeeter’s peeter on a hot summer’s day.”