Movie Review: ¡Three Amigos! (1986)

★★★★★

Three Amigos is goofy in all the right ways. Singing, sombreros, and a lot of heart, what more do you need?

Evan D.

Florida

Some comedies are content with a few clever lines. Three Amigos! goes all in on a ridiculous premise, a barrage of gags, and the irresistible chemistry of Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short.

As a reviewer for BoxReview.com, I think the real secret to why this movie still gets laughs is its blend of deadpan absurdity and pure-hearted charm. It’s a spoof, yes, but it’s also a love letter to old Western adventures, silent films, and the power of looking ridiculous together.

The Premise: From Hollywood to Santo Poco

Lucky Day (Steve Martin), Dusty Bottoms (Chevy Chase), and Ned Nederlander (Martin Short) are silent-era Western stars whose careers are on the decline. Fired from their studio, they receive what they think is an invitation to perform in Mexico, only it’s actually a desperate call for help from the villagers of Santo Poco, who are being terrorized by the outlaw El Guapo (Alfonso Arau).

Thinking it’s a staged performance, the trio arrives ready to “act” only to realize the bullets are real, the danger is genuine, and their costumes aren’t going to save them.

Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short: Comedy Chemistry in Overdrive

Each Amigo brings their own comedic flavor:

• Steve Martin plays Lucky as the self-appointed leader, equal parts clueless and confident.

• Chevy Chase leans into Dusty’s dim-witted charm, delivering his lines with that signature laid-back obliviousness.

• Martin Short’s Ned is wide-eyed, eager, and hilariously earnest, often stealing scenes with his physical comedy.

What’s often overlooked is how well they don’t step on each other’s toes. Each gets their moments without overshadowing the others, a rarity in ensemble comedies.

Alfonso Arau’s El Guapo: The Villain You Can’t Hate

El Guapo is the kind of bad guy who’s just as funny as the heroes. Arau plays him with a mix of genuine menace and comedic bravado. His obsession with “plethora” and his grand birthday party preparations make him oddly endearing, even while he’s plotting mayhem.

Underappreciated Element: The Silent Film Satire

The Amigos’ exaggerated acting style isn’t just for laughs; it’s a deliberate nod to the silent film era’s over-the-top performances. Watching them “perform” for what they think is an audience, complete with theatrical poses and exaggerated line delivery, is a little masterclass in physical comedy.

The Humor: From Wordplay to Surreal Gags

Three Amigos! throws every kind of comedy at the audience:

• Slapstick (the Amigos practicing their “show” in the desert)

• Wordplay (“Do you know what a plethora is?”)

• Musical absurdity (the “My Little Buttercup” scene is pure gold)

• Surreal touches (the talking turtle and singing bush, which feel like they wandered in from a Looney Tunes short)

The result is a movie where you never quite know what kind of joke is coming next, and that unpredictability is part of its charm.

The Santo Poco Villagers: The Heart of the Story

Beneath all the absurdity, the villagers give the film a genuine heart. Once the Amigos realize they’re in real danger, their bond with the villagers transforms the story from a Hollywood spoof into a classic underdog tale.

The training montage where the Amigos teach the villagers to defend themselves using sewing skills is both ridiculous and uplifting, showing that heroism doesn’t always come from the fastest gun.

The Music: Randy Newman’s Playful Touch

Randy Newman’s songs and score give Three Amigos! its whimsical tone. The title theme is an earworm, “My Little Buttercup” is a highlight, and even the incidental music pokes fun at traditional Western scores while clearly loving the genre.

Themes: Pretend Heroes Becoming Real Ones

At its core, Three Amigos! is about people who play heroes for a living having to actually be heroes. The arc from self-absorbed actors to men who put themselves in harm’s way feels satisfying, even in a film this silly.

It’s also a gentle jab at Hollywood’s tendency to romanticize danger from a safe distance and a celebration of what happens when you step into the real thing.

The Visual Style: A Comedy That Looks Like a Western

Director John Landis doesn’t shoot this like a throwaway comedy. The cinematography captures wide desert landscapes, classic Western framing, and colorful costumes that make the absurd moments pop even more.

This visual authenticity makes the gags funnier; the more seriously the movie looks, the more the comedy stands out.

Why Three Amigos! Still Works Today

The humor is broad but warm, never mean-spirited. The pacing is brisk, the set pieces memorable, and the chemistry between the leads remains electric.

It’s also surprisingly family-friendly for an '80s comedy, with most of its laughs coming from goofiness rather than crude humor. That’s one reason it’s stayed a comfort watch for so many people.

Final Thoughts

Three Amigos! is a perfect example of how a film can be both a parody and a celebration of the genre it’s spoofing. It’s silly, quotable, and endlessly rewatchable, with just enough heart to make you care about the outcome.

If you’ve never seen it, it’s worth it for “My Little Buttercup” alone. And if you have, you already know it’s the kind of comedy that feels like a good friend showing up to make you laugh.