Geoff Murphy’s “Younger Weapons II” (1990) is healthier than the movie that got here earlier than it and has maintained such a positive reception that reviews of a a lot delayed “Younger Weapons III” within the works has longtime followers intrigued.
Extra importantly, let me be clear about this: “Younger Weapons II” is a good western and worthy of rediscovery for individuals who solely bear in mind it for a sure Jon Bon Jovi music (extra on that later).
An aged “Brushy Invoice” Roberts (Emilio Estevez, successfully hidden beneath tons of convincing make-up and sporting a workable “previous man” voice) meets with an lawyer (a younger Bradley Whitford) in 1950 and divulges that he’s really Billy the Child.
Regardless of historical past telling us that Pat Garrett killed Billy the Child, “Brushy Invoice” tells the story by which we get the “actual” story, which can or is probably not true.
We flashback to 1879 and see that Billy the Child (Estevez, fantastic and boisterous) remains to be on the run along with his Regulators gang, which incorporates returning outlaws Doc Spurlock (Kiefer Sutherland) and Jose Chavez y Chavez (Lou Diamond Phillips).
The brand new Regulators embody Hendry (Alan Ruck in an unfocused flip), “Arkansas” Dave Rudabaugh (Christian Slater, stealing scenes left and proper), and the terminally boyish Tom O’Folliard (Balthazar Getty, proper after his breakout flip in “Lord of the Flies”).
Additionally on Billy’s group is his longtime buddy Pat Garrett (William Peterson, post- “To Dwell and Die in L.A.” and “Manhunter”), who finally adjustments sides, accepts a ton of cash, will get a haircut, dons a badge and seeks to both arrest or kill Billy.
How true is “Younger Weapons II” to historical past? Who cares? I do know a couple of historians and schoolteachers who could also be horrified by that however severely, it’s the story of Billy the Child. The mythmaking, revisionism and issue in separating the person from the legend has at all times been an issue.
Younger Weapons II (1990) pic.twitter.com/QS9J2VX4IX
— Retro Vault HD (@retrovaultHD) September 15, 2025
For many who need the story advised as “true” to historical past as attainable, I extremely advocate Michael Wallis’ absorbing “Billy the Child: The Infinite Journey,” which was revealed in 2007. You may as well go to Salida, Colorado, the place two buildings maintain competing sights: one previous west museum has Billy the Child’s grave, whereas the opposite shows his gun.
Each areas are nice visits for historical past buffs and definitely worth the drive.
So far as “Younger Weapons II” is anxious, crucial location hooked up to the movie needs to be Previous Tucson Studios in Tucson, Arizona. I made a go to on the market in 1993, a couple of days earlier than I noticed “Tombstone” (1993) on opening weekend and was surprised to see the distinct, rundown outside areas and buildings I noticed had been utilized for a lot of that movie.
Likewise, after I revisited “Younger Weapons II,” I acknowledged so many areas as being units that after stood in Previous Tucson Studios. It’s a becoming connection, as “Younger Weapons II” could not have a agency grip on western historical past however is a potent instance of the western movie style as a method of shaping legends and tall tales.
At one cut-off date, in the course of the early years of cinema establishing itself as a brand new attraction, the 2 genres that had been the preferred had been musicals and westerns. It’s no marvel that everybody from Tom Combine to John Wayne turned film gods in the best way they embodied a lifetime of survival and discovery.
Estevez and his younger Teen Beat Journal-worthy co-stars had been by no means in the identical league because the likes of Wayne or Clint Eastwood. They didn’t should be.
If “Younger Weapons” (1988) was about participating a younger teen viewers with a really previous style (mission completed, because it was a large hit), then “Younger Weapons II” is concerning the nature of the Western as mythmaking, in addition to an ensemble piece that enables the actors to allow us to in on the nice time they’re clearly having.
Estevez’s greatest dramatic work might be “The Warfare at House” (1996) or “The Breakfast Membership” (1985) however his tackle Billy the Child, as exuberant and emotionally unstable, with an itchy set off finger that goes off inside seconds, is a pleasure to observe.
Sutherland and Phillips are additionally stable and intense of their returning roles, although Peterson’s terrific tackle Garrett facilities the movie. There’s additionally an awesome single scene cameo from James Coburn, a pleasant reference to Coburn’s having performed Garrett in “Pat Garrett and Billy the Child” (1973).
Did Murphy suppose his movie had a shot at competing with “Pat Garett and Billy the Child,” not to mention “Excessive Midday” (1952) or “The Good, the Unhealthy and the Ugly” (1966)? In fact not. Nevertheless, movie buffs who know their westerns can be fast to recall that the style didn’t at all times cater to Oscar voters and cinephiles.
The style is overloaded with rousing, center of the street B-films that make up what they lack in price range or status with sheer showmanship. “Younger Weapons II” is quite a bit like that. To present it a giant praise, I’d say it’s each bit as participating (although not fairly as completed) as James Mangold’s “3:10 to Yuma” (2007).
A phrase about Jon Bon Jovi’s Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe profitable, ubiquitous #1 hit single “Blaze of Glory”: it contains the lyrics “Lord I by no means drew first, however I drew first blood, I’m a satan’s son, name me younger gun.” It’s not poetry and neither is “Younger Weapons II” however Bon Jovi clearly understands this story and relishes the possibility to spin the story of Billy the Child as a lot as Murphy and Estevez.
“Younger Weapons II” shouldn’t be pretentious or good (it really might have benefitted from, of all issues, being just a little longer) however it will get a lot proper concerning the energy of making and sustaining a legend. It doesn’t matter if “Brushy Invoice” Roberts actually was Billy the Child or not.
It makes for an awesome story.
Murphy’s movie sports activities grand cinematography by “Mad Max” vet Dean Semler, an exciting rating by Alan Silvestri and sufficient nice scenes to make up for the parts which are simply okay. The knife combat between Slater and Phillips is absolutely one thing, as are the ultimate moments with Sutherland and Phillips.
“Younger Weapons” (not a foul film however smaller and much much less engrossing than this one) and “Younger Weapons II” deserve credit score for serving to maintain westerns (so-called “horse operas”) alive. Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven” (1992) and George P. Cosmatos’ “Tombstone” (1993) get all of the credit score for revitalizing Westerns within the Nineties.
Billy the Child and his Regulators bought there first.