Bottle Rocket (1996)
7/10
The Promise is Evident in this Early Wilson-Anderson Film
30 August 2006
This is not the best Wilson/Anderson film. I mean, "Tenenbaums" or "Life Aquatic" or "Rushmore" are all probably better films. But considering this was the beginning of it all (before Ben Stiller), you can see in each scene that these three men were going to change the way we view comedies in America. (Think about your favorite comedies of the past 10 years and see how many have a Wilson brother.) In this one, two friends go out to become professional bandits. But things don't make it very far as one falls for a Paraguayan woman and their getaway driver gets away. The plot might be thin, but that has never really been the point if you are familiar with the antics of these men. The Wilsons need no plot.

I enjoyed how much Owen Wilson seemed un-Owen. He had a very different sort of character than usual, more aggressive and unstable. It was a nice change. The Inez character was also very nice, someone you could feel bad for yet admire. The scene where Luke Wilson begins to fall for her is endearing and cute in that "puppy dog" way.

Nothing more to say... watch this film. Unless of course you hated "Tenenbaums", "Rushmore" and "Life Aquatic" (and I admit some people don't care for them). If you don't like those, this one will bore you to tears. (By the way, also watch "The Squid and the Whale"... Wes Anderson produced it and he could use a few extra bucks.)
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