THE genre of science fiction collides with the western in the blockbuster “Cowboys and Aliens”.

In the old west, Jake (Daniel Craig) wakes in the desert with his memory erased and a strange bracelet attached to his arm. He tries to jog his memory by visiting the town of Absolution, but it’s attacked by aliens, who kidnap many of the locals. Jake becomes an unlikely hero and puts together a posse to mount a rescue.

The action is exciting but it’s mostly an unhappy marriage. The characters are dull, which is disappointing considering the talent involved (Craig, Harrison Ford, Paul Dano and Sam Rockwell).

A whopping eight screenwriters worked on the script and it’s littered with cheesy dialogue and too many clichés. The special effects work against the film and look out of place in the western setting.

“Cowboys and Aliens” is a disappointment, which is a shame because it’s one of a few films this year that isn’t a remake or reboot. It’s a completely original idea bungled and, unfortunately, that gives the Hollywood executives another reason to green-light more rehashed versions of cinema classics.

At cinemas everywhere

[box]Reviewer Cameron Williams has a movie website at popcornjunkie.wordpress.com
Regular film reviewer Dougal Macdonald is on leave[/box]