Bottle Rocket

It's a movie about 3 loonies (people who have had mental problems and have been in and out of asylums) trying to be super thieves. They hatch out a plan to rob a store, end up stealing some petty cash and a bunch of books. They behave like they are big criminals and think its best for them to be on the run as they must be wanted by the police when the truth is no one cares about them. So the fun and joke is in that. Its kind of a situational comedy but it could have been a such a blast out comedy if the comedy angle had been taken up full swing. Instead of that the movie tries to be a sad love story, and a poignant character portrait in between the comedy bits. And also the directors and screen writes try to underplay the movie. They underplay the comedy - which is the very essential that this movie could have done a lot with. The movie makes makes try to be so understated and controlled when they could have gone all out at the comedy angle and it would have been hilarious. Instead we get a hotch potch part comedy, part poignant, and part love story. Luke Wilson stars in this film. He went on to star in the hilarious ultra laugh riot film "Idiocracy" a comedy by director Mike Judge - of "office space" fame.

regards, Vikram

"Bottle Rocket (1996), the first feature by Wes Anderson has become a cult favorite, and made the names of Anderson and Wilson's (three brothers, Owen, Luke, and Andrew acted in the picture, and Owen, the self-proclaimed troublemaker co-wrote the script with Anderson) popular, and their fans waiting for more. BR is an offbeat crime/comedy about three friends, Dignan (Owen), Anthony (Luke), and Bob (Robert Musgrave) who tried to pursue the career of the professional criminals. If ever three screw-up characters were less suited for becoming tough guys, thieves or bank robbers, I am yet to see them on the screen. Of all three, Dignan takes the cake - his brazenness, ineptitude, clumsiness and lack of any sense of reality in the combination with the true belief that he was born to become a "made man" (or something like that) and that the local "godfather" Mr. Henry (James Caan in a very funny cameo) would take him and his friends seriously are absolutely adorable. Andrew Wilson, the oldest of three brothers has a small role as Bob's obnoxious older brother. I personally don't think that "Bottle Rocket" is a masterpiece and the best movie of that year but it certainly has got some very funny moments, especially in the beginning (Dignan helps Anthony to run from a mental hospital and soon they pull a job of robbing the local book store; Dignan interviews Bob for a position of a runaway driver) and in the end when three friends are sent by Mr. Henry to the biggest (and the most hilarious) heist that would be the apotheosis of their careers. Owen Wilson's Dignan is a reason enough to see the movie - so hilariously deadly serious about his absurd plans, schemes, and ideas he is.

Wes Anderson is probably one of my favorite quirky directors. With films such as The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Rushmore in his repertoire, I feel the "quirky" title to be appropriate. Best known for Rushmore (1998), Anderson's films have a unique edge to them. Definitely not in-your-face comedy, their impact is much dryer and subtler (I remember the nude gal in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou just being there because some nudity was needed. And I remember Bill Murray driving back and forth over his enemy's bicycle in Rushmore then placing it back in its bike rack and how I knew this would influence the battle yet-to-come).

I'd never heard of BOTTLE ROCKET until somebody pointed it out to me. Having enjoyed Rushmore tremendously, it came highly recommended. And after watching it, I can see why.

This is early Anderson, and a film that helped launch his inimitable movie style. Released in 1996 and starring the newly found Wilson brothers (Luke and Owen), it goes to show that Anderson knew how to pick a good script and good actors to round out a chuckle-fest.

Luke Wilson (My Super Ex-Girlfriend) is no stranger to Anderson films now, having been given the lead role here and later strong supporting roles in The Royal Tenenbaums and Rushmore, Luke can celebrate his strong Anderson film trifecta and proudly point back to his roots in this film. Brother Owen (Cars) is one up on Luke in that he has performed in all of those, plus The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.

Mental health issues abound for Anthony (Luke Wilson) and his buddy Dignan (Owen). In fact, Anthony has just been released from a voluntary psychiatric facility where he was resting after a nervous breakdown. Waiting for him in the bushes (literally) is Dignan, who believes Anthony is escaping from the psych ward instead via his own free will.

The two quickly go back to their old ways. They decide to return to a life of petty thieving and even do dry-runs by "robbing" Anthony's family's home in order to see if they still have their robbing edge. They also decide to take on the strangest heists (from meat packing plants to bookstores). Since neither of them own a car, though, they have to get a driver and they pick Bob Mapplethorpe (Robert Musgrave) simply because ...well ...he has a car. Their first felony occurs at the aforementioned bookstore and they make quick their getaway, leaving town and scurrying across the state. They end up at a motel in the middle of nowheresville and decide to hold up. But the trio quickly turns sour when a pretty young hotel maid name Inez (Lumi Cavazos) catches Anthony's eye. Speaking no English, the Central American goddess fails to realize how messed up yet in love Anthony is with her (partly due to the language barrier and partly do to Anthony's fumbling ways).

Word eventually comes to Bob (the driver) that a family member is in trouble and he has to return to town. Since he has the only car, Anthony and (more importantly) Dignan, flip out, telling him he can't leave. But he does and leaves Anthony and Dignan stranded at the hotel (which is fine with the love-struck Anthony). But Dignan wants to get out of there, so he devises a plan to steal a car and return to their lives of thievery. Not wanting to leave without his newfound love interest, Anthony tries to convince Inez to come with them. A misunderstanding ensues and he and Dignan are back on their debauched road. Eventually they take on a robbery at a meat packing plant and it goes horribly. Risking everything, eventually a choice has to be made about who stays behind -- and takes the risk of capture -- and who goes free.

It is the strange and quirky (there's that word again) that drives this film. Owen Wilson's character (Dignan) is obviously an extreme case of an excessive-compulsive. He plans out items to the nth degree, ensuring that everything is okay decades later. Anthony (Luke) struggles to regain some sense of normalcy in his life but keeps getting dragged back down by his bond with Dignan while being tugged the other direction by Inez.

In the end, all turns out bizarrely well. Dignan ends up where he belongs, Owen gets what he needs, and even Inez finds what she's looking for.

Certainly one of the less known Anderson films, this one still comes highly recommended, just not as highly as his more recent works.

I love Owen and Luke. Every time I watch this movie I enjoy it more and more. I am so glad that I was able to find it.

Definit own if you have any luke or owen wilson films. Two middle class guys with a crazy outlook on life - that need something to do. luke commits himself to a mental hospital - at like 20 because he needs a break from life . . . then him and his friends rob a book store because they didnt want to live a normal life and wanted to gain street credit with this stunt - to get in this gang later - and make crime money. it all gets screwed up - check out punk drunk love ..
xoxo