an unmarried and twenty something hick ( play by john travolta ) leave the farm and go to houston and where he learn about life and love in a texas honky tonk . at face value and it a modern love story . texas style . there gob of cowboy hat and pickup truck and neon beer sign and and reference to big belt buckle and rodeo . the music and if not texas native and be texas adapt and courtesy of the talent of mickey gilley and johnny lee and and the charlie daniel band . and that texas twang . yall . the story and the character be about as subtle a the taste of texas five alarm chili make with jalapeno pepper . it enough to make civilized viewer abort the film in favor of a genteel classic and one star laurence olivier or ingrid bergman and maybe . hamlet it not . but urban cowboy be spicy and explicit and and i kinda like it . technically and the film be generally good . the dialogue and the production design and and the costume be all realistic while the editing be skillful . and both the casting and the acting be commendable and if not oscar worthy . i would not have cast travolta in the role he play and but he do a fine job . ditto debra winger . barry corbin and brooke alderson and among others and be good too and in support role . but and the cinematography seem weak . the film copy i watch be grainy and and at time suffer from a reddish or orange tint and a visual trait i have notice in other film from the same time period . at first glance and the film do not seem to offer any social or political message . but i would argue that when urban cowboy be release twenty five year ago and it have rather prophetic implication . in 1980 the u. s. have all kind of problem and not the least be american hostage hold by iran . in the mind of a lot of folk back then and the u. s. be be push around and bully . this film and along with others of it time and offer something that americans want to see in their political leader . toughness . urban cowboy be a very physical film . the character in it may not be the bright people on earth . but and theyre tough . everything about urban cowboy be anti intellectual . a a vehicle for cultural expression then and this 1980 film be one of several that augur a new get tough era for the u. s. it start in 1980 with the election of reagan . and that era continue to this day and with a president who probably will not be remember for his intellect and but will be remember for his toughness and aggression and trait that americans seem to gravitate to as surely a texan to five alarm chili .