Hitching a ride on the current cowboy bandwagon Paul Hogan is Lightning Jack Kane, allegedly the meanest, fastest gun in the West. Unfortunately this reputation is all in Jack's mind and he can't seem to get his picture on a wanted poster much less a price on his head. After failing to carry out a bank robbery on his own with no lookout, the customers keep coming through the door Jack finds himself a partner in the shape of the mute Ben Doyle (Gooding Jr.) and the duo spend the rest of the film trying to improve their outlaw image.
Writing one half of the film's double act as a mute was an adventurous move which would have paid off had Hogan's script been snappier. But with Ben unable to provide quick-witted retorts in the best buddy movie tradition, the majority of Jack's lines fall flat. And while Gooding's facial contortions make his a fairly amusing performance to watch, their relationship means Hogan gets centre stage, grabbing the best (and indeed the only) lines for himself.
The story also suffers from a distinct lack of excitement: when Jack and Ben are pursued by Comanche, the chase ends with the Indians getting bored and giving up, rather than with any thrilling heroics. It's a shame too that D'Angelo has to put up with a rather lame role as Jack's saloon sweetheart, always ready with a soothing bedside manner. After the abysmal Almost An Angel, Hogan clearly needed a boost. Unfortunately this isn't it. Perhaps next time he should let someone else write the script.