The true story of the formation of the Texas Rangers provides the backdrop for this youth-oriented Western. In 1875, after the Civil War, Leander McNelly (
Dylan McDermott) organizes the Texas Rangers to battle the outlaws terrorizing Texas, notably crime kingpin John King Fisher (
Alfred Molina). With a team of experienced gunmen (
Robert Patrick and
Randy Travis) and enthusiastic but green recruits (
James Van Der Beek,
Usher Raymond, and
Ashton Kutcher), McNelly and his Rangers bring law and order to the wild Texas plains; McNelly must also keep order among his charges when two rangers fall in love with the same woman, Caroline Dukes (
Rachael Leigh Cook).
Tom Skerritt and
Vincent Spano are also featured in the supporting cast; the screenplay, adapted from a script by
John Milius, was at one time set to be filmed by
Sam Peckinpah, shortly before the legendary Western director's death in 1984. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide