Rather like JJ Abrams’ ‘Super 8’, the movie is on firm enough ground when dealing with the relationships between people, but the sci-fi element is far from compelling and sometimes downright silly. It’s odd (but accurate) to realise that a movie called ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ goes downhill when the two groups come head to head. “I don’t know much about boats,” he drawls at one stage, “but I would say that one’s upside down.” Sam Rockwell shines as Doc, the saloon-keeper who’s the butt of everyone’s jokes but brings a quiet wisdom to bear on strange situations. The strength of the performances means we continue to be entertained despite the proliferation of stock characters. Noting Lonergan’s wound, a parson brings a straightforward world view to bear on the situation, commenting: “Only two kinds of men get shot – criminals and victims.” Ford’s war veteran-turned-rancher echoes ‘Mad Dog’ Tannen when he tells an employee: “Nobody calls me Colonel. “Palms to heaven, friend” is a nicely archaic way of saying ‘hands up’. Some of the best lines come in the strong first act.

The abduction of local townspeople by aliens prompts a posse to go off in hot pursuit – including Lonergan, whose futuristic ‘watch’ appears to be the humans’ best weapon. After initially shaping up as a perfectly decent western, the arrival of spaceships reminds us that the central conceit flagged in the trailer isn’t misleading. Jon Favreau’s new picture is a does-exactly-what-it-says-on-the-tin effort, and while it’s nonsense, it is at least enjoyable nonsense. Ella (Olivia Wilde) seems to know more about Craig’s character (identified from a ‘Wanted’ poster as one Jake Lonergan) than he does. Helping to curtail local hothead Percy (Paul Dano from ‘There Will Be Blood’) looks like a mistake on the gunslinger’s part, as it emerges that the youngster’s father is a powerful rancher (Harrison Ford) used to getting his own way. This is a Jason Bourne-esque creature who’s used to fighting the law – and winning. When we first encounter him, he awakens to find a mysterious metallic clamp on his wrist. Unlike McFly, Craig’s initially unidentified outlaw is clearly well able to defend himself, even if he can’t remember anything – including his name. You hear? Nobody calls me ‘Mad Dog’, especially not some duded-up, egg-suckin’ gutter trash!” Old-timers scattered when Michael J Fox’s character addressed notorious gunman Buford Tannen by his nickname.

McFly’s 1950s poncho and request for ice water met with derision in a 1885 Hill Valley bar during ‘Back To The Future Part III’. WATCHING Daniel Craig’s Man With No Name get into bother in a saloon during ‘Cowboys & Aliens’, I couldn’t help think of Marty McFly. Harrison Ford (left) and Daniel Craig star in ‘Cowboys & Aliens’.

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