“Rooster Cogburn” focuses squarely on character-driven storytelling, with John Wayne reprising his grizzled, flawed U.S. Marshal role. Casting aligns with historical setting and personalities, so identity politics play no obvious part. There’s no hint of forced messaging or virtue signaling; the diverse traits are relevant to the Western narrative, not tacked on for effect.

Traditional values like rugged masculinity, bravery, and frontier justice are at the heart of the film. Religion and family, when present, are treated with respect. Gender roles might be challenged a little via Hepburn’s character, but always within plausible bounds of the time period, without ridiculing tradition.

Alternative worldviews aren’t really explored, but neither are they villainized. The antagonists are classic baddies, not thinly veiled stereotypes for modern ideological opponents. There’s no preachiness or deliberate exclusion of dissenting perspectives, just a classic Western with clear lines.