Viva Maria

Even though at first glance it may seem that "Viva Maria!" will be a typical farce, do not be fooled. This film is definitely more thoughtful than it seems. The poster may evoke polished entertainment, on the other hand, the women with a machine gun definitely look promising. Moreover, "Viva Maria!" presents a story that is not just a silly tale with individual jokes spun around it. It is a very good parody that is not afraid to take a jab at the highly popular genre of westerns. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2013/02/viva-maria-1965-60.html (2013.04.09)

For a parody of westerns, it didn't make me laugh as much as I'd hoped. From the very first minute, it's clear that the whole film relies on the powerhouse duo of Bardot and Moreau. Their musical numbers were fantastic, and I'm sure even today, plenty of guys would watch with their jaws dropped and drooling. Viva Maria! has the makings of a wild western comedy, but it seems to have left the humor somewhere along the way. (2023.02.21)

Casting and disrobing Moreau and Bardot in the same film was a brilliant marketing move. Luc Besson later did something similar with Bandidas. In any case, Viva Maria! is an almost too laid-back comedy that spends a needlessly long time wagering on the title characters’ sex appeal. The ladies expose their bodies without any inhibitions and find themselves caught up in the whirlwind of the revolution (probably led by Zapata at that time) only under the pressure of circumstances, not on their own initiative. A similar approach to female heroines leads me to suspect that, without even a hint of artistic ambition, Malle actually wanted the same thing that the absolute majority of viewers would want – to please the eye. 55% (2011.09.17)