Lady Lawman (2021)

Ryan Jasso is Francis Miller, a young woman whose husband and father were killed by outlaws near Indian Territory.

So when Marshal Buck Johnson (Jack Jecmenek) offers her a job tracking outlaws, she jumps at the chance, hoping to earn a badge so she can bring her husband’s killer to justice.

Johnson and colleague Ernesto Martinez (Ernest Martinez, no, that’s not a typo) are on the trail of a flamboyant black bandit and former slave owner named Richard Andrews (Carlos Leos).

But his gang has split up and even the lawmen’s new tracker isn’t sure which direction Andrews traveled.

When they catch up with part of the gang, Miller finds herself shocked at the marshals’ method of dispensing justice.

They don’t exactly believe in bringin’ ’em back alive, preferring to execute even those outlaws willing to surrender.

Miller finally gets her chance to earn a badge by tracking down and capturing Andrews’ sidekick, a man named Webb (director Brett Mauser).

In the process, she proves to Johnson that it’s possible to collect a reward on a man without killing him.

But will Francis Miller remember her own lesson when she comes face to face with the man carrying the musical watch that once belonged to her husband?

Review:

Welcome back to the low-budget world of aging, overweight actors portraying deadly cowboys though they can barely climb aboard a horse. And to the world of poorly choreographed action scenes.

In one such scene, outlaw Webb backs out of a business he’s just robbed. He turns in the direction of marshals Johnson and Martinez and tracker Miller and begins firing.

Do they spring into action to catch the bandit? Do they duck for cover? Do they even cringe?

Nope, they calmly debate whether the man is really Webb. Then Johnson challenges Miller to earn a badge by tracking him down. Oh, boy.

Ryan Jasso deserves better, turning in a spunky performance in the lead role, based on the true-life story of Deputy Marshal F.M. Miller.

And Carlos Leos does a decent job of creating a villain viewers can’t help but hate.

Unfortunately, they’re saddled with a script that lacks any sort of energy or edge, with the possible exception of the climatic gun battle.

Directed by:
Brett William Mauser

Cast:
Ryan Jasso … Francis Miller
Jack Jecmenek … Buck Johnson
Carlos Leos … Richard Andrews
Ernest Martinez … Ernesto Martinez
Kody Nace … Nate
Matthew Jasso … Rodrigo
Charles Riley … Walker
Elizabeth McCullough … Katherine
Monice Lee Perez … Rose
Mike McCullough … Tommy
Brett Mauser … Webb

Runtime: 95 min.

Memorable lines:

Francis Miller: “Belle Starr made a name for herself. And she didn’t have nearly the charm and charisma I do. Good looks neither.”
Her mother: “Go ahead. Make jokes. But it will be those lawless devils who have the last laugh.”

Bartender: “Would you like eggs and steak with that or would you like a slice of that pig?”
Francis Miller: “Think I had enough pig tonight.”

Buck Johnson, after Francis Miller has watched him gun down a defenseless outlaw: “What is it you think we do out here, Miller? You think we’re heroes? We’re not. We’re law. We bring law and dispose of the lawless. If you can’t handle that, you take your pretty little butt back to Paris right now.”

Enzo Martinez: “People say this is God’s country. Maybe it used to be. No more. There’s way too many evil men out here now.”

Outlaw: “How do you still smell so sweet after being out here so long?”
Francis Miller, tied to a tree as his captive: “How can you smell anything over your own stench?”
Outlaw: “You don’t like my stench now, just wait til we get nice and sweaty together.”

Nate: “So what made you want to put on a badge?”
Francis Miller: “Fame and glory. What else?”
Nate: “I thought it might be to find the damned bastard who shot your husband.”

Buck Johnson to Francis Miller, having refrained from killing Andrews on sight: “I reckon your soft-hearted ways are starting to soak into my hard edge.”

Elizabeth McCullough as Katherine, Francis Miller’s concerned mother in Lady Lawman (2021)

Monica Lee Perez as Rose, a rancher’s daughter Martinez is sweet on in Lady Lawman (2021)