“Last Train to Fortune” is a small, old fashioned Western with a sweet heart. The story follows mismatched pair Cecil Peachtree (Malcolm McDowell), a proper British schoolteacher, and Jedidiah Dooley (James Paxton), a rough-edged outlaw.
Cecil is headed to the frontier town of Fortune to become the new schoolmaster, but his plans go sideways when he crosses paths with Dooley. Before long, the two are stuck relying on each other as they make their way across the Old West. There are horse chases, saloon trouble, bar fights, an escape from jail, and plenty of the usual Western mischief along the way.
The best thing about the movie is the relationship between Cecil and Dooley. Cecil believes in books, education, manners, and rules. Dooley has considerably more practical experience with guns, criminals, and staying alive. At first, they seem to have nothing to learn from each other. Eventually, though, it becomes clear that they each possess a kind of knowledge the other lacks.
That gives the movie a nice little idea at its center, that intelligence isn’t limited to the classroom and experience isn’t something you can learn from a book. Cecil’s book smarts help him make sense of the world while Dooley’s instincts keep them alive when things get ugly. Their differences become an advantage rather than a problem. It’s a tale as old as time, but it’s one that also remains relevant.
My favorite part of the story is that both men are looking for a second chance. Cecil wants to start over as a schoolmaster, while Dooley is interested in discovering whether he can be something other than an outlaw. His decision to protect someone instead of simply taking advantage of them gives his character a modest but meaningful arc.
Unfortunately, the movie’s ambitions are bigger than its budget. It has the unmistakable feel of a shoestring indie production, and there are moments when that charm works in its favor and other times when it doesn’t. The editing is clunky, the pacing wanders, and the humor is so broad that it lands with a thud. A few scenes and lines feel downright corny, and the performances occasionally have to work above their pay grade when it comes to the mediocre writing.
Still, there’s something likeable about the movie’s sincerity. It isn’t trying to reinvent the Western or overwhelm you with style, but director Adam Rifkin is telling a simple story about two very different men discovering that they might actually need each other. The message about education, friendship, and the possibility of changing course later in life is straightforward (and maybe even a little old fashioned) but there’s nothing wrong with that.
“Last Train to Fortune” isn’t a polished Western, and it definitely has its rough edges. But if you can get past the uneven pacing and occasionally awkward humor, there’s a decent little movie underneath it all. It’s easy to digest, occasionally charming, and ultimately more interested in kindness and second chances than gunfights. Sometimes a modest movie with a good heart is enough.
By: Louisa Moore
