Classically told 1980s-adjusted pop-western about the legendary anti-hero Billy the Kid and his notorious posse. The film is full of archtypes and not overly concerned with historical accuracy, but it has enough charm offensives to capture you in a combination of sentimental moralizing and feel-good-scenes. Lead actor Emilio Estevez is so full of his characters boyish mischievousness that he completely smothers the dramatic potential in some scenes. But then again, the drama isn't necessarily what's most important, as the 'brat-packers' enter the western genre. It's interesting to se how the ostensibly emotional aspects of the story is switched on and off according to need in order to drive the plot forward. As if director Christopher Cain tries to give us half-and-half of sentimentality and coolness - without ever considering weaving the two together. Still, Young Guns works shamelessly well on its own, self-defined level, and it lets its abundance of bubbling boyish carelessness overshadow whatever doubt we had that it would not.