As Mr. Burns would say, "Excellent!" (and not really a spoiler review, but I don't want to be blacklisted)

Rating: 9/10 (23 January 2009)

I give this movie a 9, only because, as some other posters have noted, there are a few deficiencies in acting. But Clint carries the movie, so it is easy enough to overlook any other problems with it. It is so nice to see a movie that appeals to adults like myself (I'm 52). I get so mad at the R-rated comedies that I keep vowing never to see one again. This movie is R-rated only for the profanity, and as such, could easily be seen by anyone over the age of 10 (because they will have already heard all the words in school). What is nice about seeing a movie like this in a crowded theater (my wife and I had to sit almost in the front of the theater because we got there right before it started) is you get the mass laughs and other responses. There are PLENTY of laughs in this movie! The racist lead character is funny to view, because we have all probably known someone like him in our past; usually it's not mean-spirited, just ignorant. Clint's character's ignorance is corrected as the movie progresses, and at the end, unless you are as cold-hearted as he appears to be at the start, you will cry! This is a great movie because it tells a great story, and has a pretty good lesson. It reminded me a little of the Paul Newman movie, "Nobody's Fool" (a movie, which unfortunately was forced to be R-rated by the producers by a stupid quick nude scene, because they didn't think G-rated movies made money) This movie pretty much had to have the profanity (unless they bleeped it out, which I guess would seem awkward) to reflect some of the low-life characters who abound these days. That is the only caution I would see for children, is that they would get a false impression of how most people talk to each other by viewing this film. All around though, well worth seeing.