MovieChat Forums > Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009) Discussion > People from Wyoming

People from Wyoming

posted 14 years ago by travisp11
17 replies | jump to latest

I know that a lot of people rip on this film saying it portrays people from Wyoming as backwards, rednecks or "hicks". I live in central Nebraska and have family in Wyoming, Montana and Colorado and I felt the movie had a pretty accurate depiction of people that live "out west". I could relate to a lot of what was in the movie and I see our "culture" as one that is hard-working, honest, and a slower pace of life. Out where I live, there are a lot of people who hunt, go to rodeos, are decked out in "western wear" and are some of the greatest people around. They care. One of the reasons why I like this movie is because it shows anyone watching it as a great place to be. Oh, yeah, the part with the pickup truck and the keys in it...totally true. It is amazing how quick someone is loan a pickup truck if you need one or even leave their vehicles unlocked, running while they run into the gas station to get their morning coffee.

[–] mimosveta 14 years ago

I can tell you that if it was me instead of Morgans, I'd beg that killer to end my agony rather than live with those hideous ppl.
God, how they were unacceptable of quirky habits new yorkers had and were looking at them as if they are worthless, just horrible.

___
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo211/muceybbds/la_confid_mag_27_we nn1569656.jpg

[–] CowboyDan44 14 years ago

And the New Yorkers aren't quirky? The woman thought that there was such a thing as a skim cow.

[–] Defenseman13 13 years ago

The fact that you're talking about Hollywood in relation to real life is scary in itself and open for some jokes.

This movie was filmed entirely in New Mexico, FYI.

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm2339870/

[–] travisp11 14 years ago

I think that the way the New Yorkers were treated can be typical of the older, conservative, narrow minded crowd that you still tend to find in the much smaller town like the one from the movie. Overall, the younger generation isn't so uptight about accepting other people. I think a lot of it depends on where you are. In the city I am located in we have a pretty large "melting pot" of cultures and people. This is mainly due to a large factory in town that employs a good percentage of the population. Also, it has taken time for a local acceptance of those that have moved to our community but all that I have seen in the time that I have been here is a fairly peaceful mixing of cultures and people. I think a lot of this depends on the time a given population has been in one location and also, the size of the city plays a big role. If you were to go to some of the larger cities in Wyoming I think the idea of the "city slicker" is something that would be a lot more accepted.

[–] alteanime 14 years ago

cool,the USA is a beautiful country!
still, the storyline was boring for me,but has its funny moments!;)

[–] beecool53 14 years ago

Hello All, Um, not that it really matters...but if anyone checks out the "filming locations", you'll see that this film was filmed in either New York City, or several places in "New Mexico", which is two states South of Wyoming. But, in New Mexico there's wide open spaces and down-to-earth folks also... so again, it doesn't matter. Just a mention.

[–] Dallas_Cowboys_Fan 14 years ago

I live in Wyoming, have lived here my whole life, and thought it was pretty accurate. We aren't as dumb as some of the people in the film, but oh well. I thought it needed more wind in the outdoor scenes.

"You sir, too sir, how about a shave?"
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[–] dav0002-2 13 years ago

Travis, it doesn't show anyone who watches it as a great place to be. It may show some people it would be a great place for them to live. But there are tons of other people that see it that it's not a place they would ever want to be. Me for example. No way I could ever live in a place like that.

[–] xsquid1 13 years ago

I live in neither place, but if I had to choose I would choose there over nuevo york hands down.

[–] oldsalt61 13 years ago

Keep in mind that the MOVIE doesn't work without friction between the Morgan's and their temporary hosts and neighbors. That is what forces them to look to each other for support and that forces them to deal with their relationship issues.

[–] todd-197 13 years ago

I have lived in NYC, Chicago and Dallas and of the three Chicago was the most like a small town. People there were courteous, but they wanted to know which precinct did you live. NY'ers once they know you work with them or live in the same building are very welcoming. Everyone it seems like is new to Dallas and move there from another town or state.

Small towns don't like aliens and that it true in any state.

[–] DeathByTelevision 13 years ago

I posted about this in another thread, but this movie got it ALL wrong. I grew up in Wyoming, and this is not Wyoming. For one thing, people are conservative there, but it's not a redneck type of conservative. They aren't ignorant or hateful. They're just fierecly independent, but they let people do their own thing.

And you might see a few more cowboy hats, and you might have a tougher time finding a Bloomingdale's, but you also won't find yourself in the land of the ignorant. Give me a break. Anyone really familiar with Wyoming knows its qualities make it a place most people long for.

The writer/director of this movie doesn't have a clue. Lazy, condescending, BAD filmmaking.

[–] Traianus 13 years ago

I posted about this in another thread, but this movie got it ALL wrong. I grew up in Wyoming, and this is not Wyoming. For one thing, people are conservative there, but it's not a redneck type of conservative. They aren't ignorant or hateful. They're just fierecly independent, but they let people do their own thing.

I agree with some of that, not all of it - and I say that as someone who's lived there.

For one thing, Wyoming is a diverse place - more than outsiders might think. There are definitely SOME redneck-type conservatives. Some ARE ignorant; many are not. One will find some very intelligent, well-informed people who live in Wyoming - both among those whose families have lived there for generations and among those who have just moved there. But GENERALLY, you are correct about them letting people do their own thing. The biggest general characteristic of people living in Wyoming, I would agree, is that they are fiercely independent. Most people I've met who live there are very hardworking and loyal to their communities.

I didn't meet a single person who was hostile to outsiders. Most people are quite friendly and glad to meet you and have you there and even curious about where you're from - that was my experience anyway.

You're also right in that you might find a few people wearing cowboy hats, but not really all that many, depending on which part of Wyoming you're in.

I don't think the writers or directors were clueless at all. They DID exaggerate some features of the state, and I think did that mostly to make the film appealing mainly to Easterners (or those who like "duck out of water" films, a la Crocodile Dundee) or big city people who might have some curiosity about the West.

[–] DeathByTelevision 9 years ago

They exaggerated some features? You can't truly agree with most everything I said and not see the portrayal as clueless. I mean, I suppose since Wyoming is easily the least populated state in the union, most will never know the difference, but this isn't a comedic riff on a sliver of truth. It's lazy and offensive, and again, this is coming from someone who, if we're going for easy labels, would be labeled as a liberal east-coaster.

[–] nutsberryfarm 10 years ago

it's much more relaxing too.

today's special: shrimp ceviche!

[–] shannon77 13 years ago

I love to eat beef, but I would be courteous to someone who was Vegan and not expect them to eat something that would make them ill..I thought that was rude..

Everyday I learn something new!

[–] mloessel 13 years ago

It would be easy to watch this movie and think Hollywood has done another innacurate portrayal of western states like Wyoming. You would be wrong in your assesment. I've been in small towns and the pace is much slower then a larger metropolitan city. It has to be slower. And slower is not bad it is what it is. In 'Did You Hear About The Morgans?' you have an enstranged couple from New York being relocated, rather suddenly, to the small town of Ray, Wyoming. I like that Hollywood didn't take any liberties in the portrayal of a rural community. The depiction was honest and I saw nothing out the ordinary.