When you think 80's movies with an ensemble cast, the first movies to spring to people's minds are those by John Hughes, which include classics like Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club. One of the movies few ever think about, or even remember, is Young Guns which, for the day, also managed to bring together an impressive cast made up of some of Hollywood's leading young talents, including Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips and Dermot Mulroney.

In 1878, a British rancher named John Tunstall hires six young rebels to perform as "regulators" on his ranch in Lincoln County, New Mexico. In addition to having them help to protect his ranch from a group outlaws known as the Santa Fe Ring, John also decides to civilize the boys. Tunstall is soon killed by a rival ranch owner, Murphy. After seeking the "civilized" solution (which goes nowhere since the Sheriff is one of Murphy's men), the Regulators, led by Billy the Kid (Estevez), declare war on the Santa Fe Ring and Murphy.

Young Guns is more or less an enjoyable western that admittedly had more to do with the movies' cast than anything else. Were it not for the cast, Young Guns really wouldn't be as entertaining as it is. Still, even though the movie puts up with short bouts of campy writing or predictable scenes, the cast turns in a great performance. Eztevez and Sutherland are great in their roles as Billy the Kid and "Doc" Scurlock. Young Guns is at its best during gunfights, which for their day were actually pretty good. They don't compare to what audiences are used to seeing today, but they're still enjoyable.

Also included on the UMD release is commentary by three of the movie's stars as well as a documentary on the life of Billy the Kid. Of the two added features, the documentary is easily the most enjoyable, especially when viewed after watching the movie. Even though the movie takes certain liberties, a few of its events are loosely based on real life happenings in the life of Billy the Kid. Events such as the Regulators being deputized and the Lincoln County war (which makes up the movie's climax) were real things that happened; adding some much needed "firm ground" to the movie's plot.

Overall, Young Guns is better suited for fans of the movie's stars or 80's movies in general. Western fans should also find it enjoyable as long as they don't expect something on par with Unforgiven or The Wild Bunch.