The Cherokee Kid is a 1996 Western-comedy television film featuring the talents of Sinbad, James Coburn, Burt Reynolds, and Gregory Hines. Paris Barclay directed the movie that centers on Isaiah Turner, a young man turning into the brutal family avenger “Cherokee Kid,” and weaves humor, action, and sentiment into the narrative. Combining the traits of the typical Westerns and adding a comedic bend, The Cherokee Kid is an endearing yet potent story of hope, perseverance, and individual growth.
Plot Summary
This is the story of Isaiah Turner (Sinbad), a young man whose family lost their land to a ruthless businessman in Cyrus B. Bloomington (played by Coburn). After his land is commandeered, he is raised by his elder brother and quite uneducated but with natural instincts for law and justice. Upon realizing the betrayal his family has been subjected to, he now goes on a mission to hunt down Columbus and get even with him for what he did to his family.
All the same, Isaiah has no understanding of an outlaw’s life. In a quest to master the ways of outlaws, he searches for notorious gunmen. In this capacity, he looks up to and learns from legendary characters such as Otter Bob (Gregory Hines), a master of survival of the American Indians and The Undertaker (Burt Reynolds), who is more than just a gunslinger. With their help, Isaiah acquires the skills and the bravery he desires and customizes himself to be “The Cherokee Kid” intending to bring down Bloomington while undergoing a series of escapades in the Wild West.
Themes
The themes at play in The Cherokee Kid are justice, family, and the influence of a mentor. Like in many Western films, revenge is also a driving force in the journey of Isaiah, although here, it takes a back seat to explorative self-journey and the importance of not giving up. In his embodiment of the Cherokee Kid, he focuses on the overpowered reformist who stands for a community’s unity and what it takes to emerge victorious while sticking to one’s principles.
Performances Sinbad gives a fun and wholesome aspect to Isaiah portraying him, humour and charm is mixed with times of heartfelt sincerity. He also distributes comic relief in a small dose which is seen in many Westerns, making Isaiah’s changeover both funny and believable. The supporting characters include the beautiful Selena Scott, James Coburn as the vile Bloomington and Burt Reynolds as the crude yet wise Undertaker who lend a comedic twist to familiar western characters. And of course Gregory Hines as Otter Bob should be noted, who infused the story with a lot of comedy, intelligence and love. Tone and Style The film The Cherokee Kid has a Western theme and deals with absurdity quite well in a way that doesn’t feel forced. It is quite clear want the picture’s tone aims for as it is fun and light hearted, and the action sequences are more apprentice rather than intense so a mass audience can enjoy it. The artist depicts the nature beautifully showing vastness and untamed wildness of the Western world – the music almost completes the picture by making one think of the golden age western genre drama but with a comical bent.
Reception
As with many television movies, The Cherokee Kid was successful as it was entertaining and offered viewers a different interpretation of the western genre. Sinbad performed well during the comedic scenes, and fans were excited to watch the film because of the blend of comedy and adventure in the movie, the film was expected to do better at the box office but has still carved a niche for itself among the nostalgic fans of westerns with humor.
Overall Impressions
The Cherokee Kid is a fun American Western comedy film that has some laughter and some emotion. Its some light hearted Western that tries to parody the genre all the while creating a warm and funny feel to the movie. It has a good cast, engaging characters and an entertaining plot and is sure to be liked by comedy, as well as western, fans.
Suggested Audience
Blazing Saddles and Maverick were great movies and this film fits the same audience perfectly. This is a great film if you like Sinbad, or if you are looking for a great Western film that appeals to younger audiences and was filled with fun and action. The Cherokee Kid tries to change things up a bit and offers something new to the genre and as such would appeal to audiences of all ages.
