Blu-ray Review – Rooster Cogburn

Although it is, in fact, a sequel to 1969's "True Grit," 1975's "Rooster Cogburn" is perhaps most notable for its pairing of John Wayne (reprising a role that won him his only Academy Award) and Katharine Hepburn — two Hollywood legends who somehow avoided each other for the majority of their careers. I'm not sure what's weirder: seeing Wayne play old and silly or watching Hepburn play a gun-totin' western hero, but the chemistry is interesting. Stepping away from the harder edges of "True Grit," this delayed follow-up plays it safe with established genre elements, a broad villain, and picturesque locations. However, remaining at the core of all the comfort are two surprisingly engaged performances from Wayne and Hepburn, who put in a professional effort with pushover screenwriting, making their characters sincere and active in ways their age (both were 67 years old during the shoot) and veteran status wouldn't traditionally invite. As western escapism, "Rooster Cogburn" scratches the itch, providing a satisfying adventure with headstrong characters, making good use of the cast's abilities. Yet, as a feature that arrives after "True Grit," the film remains easy to digest, which might cause Wayne purists some discomfort as The Duke trades iron stares for light comedy in this approachable movie. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com