The Frisco Kid: More Than Just a Silly Bromance?

Okay, confession time: I just rewatched "The Frisco Kid" (1979) and I'm kinda obsessed. Like, yes, it's a super cheesy, borderline ridiculous movie about a Polish rabbi (Gene Wilder, bless him) trying to make it to San Francisco in the Wild West, and he gets taken for a ride (literally and figuratively). But hear me out! What if it's actually a subtle commentary on cultural assimilation and the immigrant experience in America? Think about it. Rabbi Avram is completely naive. He doesn't understand the language, the customs, or even the basic dangers of his new world. He's constantly being swindled, underestimated, and treated like an outsider. Then he meets Tommy Lillard (Harrison Ford, peak charming scoundrel), and THAT'S where the magic happens. Tommy, despite being a bank robber (oops, spoiler?), becomes his reluctant guide, protecting him and teaching him how to navigate this crazy new world. It's essentially a reverse-Pygmalion story. Instead of teaching someone how not to be themselves, they learn from each other. I especially love the scene where Avram tries to explain the Ten Commandments to the Native Americans. He's so earnest and sincere, even though they clearly don't understand a word he's saying. It highlights the disconnect between cultures and the well intentioned but bungled attempts at unity. Also Tommy teaching him to shoot a gun? Hilarious, but also a metaphor for adapting and embracing new skills, even if they're not what you expected. So, yeah, it's got its corny moments (that bear!), but I think "The Frisco Kid" is smarter than it lets on. Is it a perfect movie? Absolutely not. But it's a surprisingly sweet and thought-provoking bromance with a message that still resonates today. Plus, young Harrison Ford? Come ON.