User reviews

While "Bottle Rocket" is certainly best categorised as comedy this might mislead those expecting the typical composition of one-liners, facetious mocking and exaggerated situational comic of mainstream Hollywood productions.

Instead the humour derives from the quirky, yet lovable characters, their perspective on life and approach in dealing with the challenges of society.

The quiet matter-of-fact absurdity present throughout the film will evoke a constant smile rather than burst-out-laughter. This is typical of all Wilson/Anderson collaborations (Rushmore, The Royal Tenebaums) where strong characterisation enables the viewer to develop understanding and affection for the protagonists as the story slowly unravels. In "Bottle Rocket" this is supported by strong performances, especially that of Owen Wilson, who proves his actor potential in an atypical role.

Though not flawless, (there is a lack of narrative urgency at times), this movie leaves the viewer ultimately entertained and charmed.

In the off-the-wall comedy "Bottle Rocket", Owen Wilson makes a scintillating debut as the creative force behind this tale of one man's struggle to realize his dream of becoming a crook in spite of his many shortcomings: sensitivity, compassion, empathy, and just plain niceness. Luke Wilson plays straight man to real life brother Owen in this camp, light-hearted, and easy to watch little film about the "gang who couldn't think straight". A fun watch for just about anyone into droll humorous subtleties.

The drifting, meaningless "hang-out" nature of this quirky, engaging crime/road/comedy flick is often fun and entertaining, and often far too meandering for its own good. Ultimately, what "Bottle Rocket" is about is confusion in both path and purpose, and this is clearly reflected in the spontaneity and energy of its central characters, their actions and their interactions. The film is perhaps overly reliant on its everyday dialogue and naturalistic, if not observably detached, relationships that give the film a documentary-like tone that perhaps doesn't work as an environment for typically Anderson-esque characters to inhabit. But this is Wes Anderson before Wes Anderson, which should be considered. As a debut feature, it's pretty darn good. Another potential problem is that the characters don't necessarily undergo any explicit character development over the course of the plot, but this isn't an overly serious issue as the stance can be taken that the whole point is that they don't learn and must continue to drift; on top of this, the greatest part of this otherwise average film is the fact that the characters don't actually need development, they are engaging and interesting enough to keep us hooked for a full 80 minutes with their dreams and moral callousness.

I was watching the Roger Ebert movie show when he was giving his best films of the decade of the 1990's with movie director Martin Scorsese. Scorsese picked Bottle Rocket as his seventh favorite movie of the decade. From that point forward, I had to search out and find this movie. Boy, am I glad that I did.

The movie Bottle Rocket is a joy. It is a caper comedy in one respect, but also an interesting look at how the bad brother can talk the good brother into doing the wrong thing. The second idea sets up some great comedy bits. Owen Wilson as the bad brother, Dignan, is absolutely hilarious. From this point forward, I will always be interested in seeing him in a movie. His brother Luke Wilson as the good, yet naive brother, is also very charming. James Caan shows up in the second half of the movie and is fantastic. The writer/director, Wes Anderson (Rushmore), does a great job of telling an off-beat story and gives his characters great lines to say.

All in all, Bottle Rocket was a pleasant surprise that I had never heard of. Thank you Martin Scorsese.

The first and weakest of Wes Anderson's films, Bottle Rocket, is by no means a weak film. Co-written by then credited Owen C. Wilson, the screenplay is very intelligent and shows how the screen writing duo (Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson) has evolved. Starring the Wilson brothers, Owen and Luke Wilson, this small-budget comedy has what most large budget comedies lack, a perfect mix of drama and comedy. The film, about two friends that both were patients at a mental ward, portrays how innocent fun can sometimes hurt people. Rocket never becomes over-dramatic or slapstick in its comedy. It is clear that Anderson was experimenting with his style, and would not perfect it until his next film, Rushmore. The characters are clearly dysfunctional and like to take unnecessary risks at their own expense to make the script move along. This is not a fault in the script, but a blessing as this keeps the comedy and serious moments perfectly balanced. The cinematography is sometimes amateur with its unnecessary close-ups and wide angle panning. The soundtrack, done by Mark Mothersbaugh is excellent and just proves why he has worked an all of the subsequent films with Anderson. It seems Anderson and Wilson have an enormous talent when writing dialog for unusual, anomalous characters. This film is a testament to the fact that a good script, and a working knowledge of film work can create an original and enjoyable film.

In all honesty, the plot is awfully muddled I couldn't even figure out what it is about, and it keeps going off at a tangent frequently with all its twists and turns until it becomes almost entirely obfuscated by the end. But seeing whip pans, dolly-tracking shots, overheads of perfectly placed props and profile shots among others that would later become Wes Anderson's visual trademarks is oddly satisfying and special in its own way. Sure they seem half-ripe and lacking in the tantalizing aesthetic quality that define the look of Anderson's films, but they are all there and as effectively and perfectly employed as in the auteur's most acclaimed efforts. And the same can be said about the hodgepodge of evocative music choices. Madcap and slapstick moments are present as well. What truly piqued my attention, and gripped me throughout the hour-and-half runtime, are the warmth of friendship between the lead duo (played by Luke and Owen Wilson) and spirit of camaraderie between the three pals that, alongside the plotline revolving around Anthony's romance with a hotel chambermaid, give the movie a feel that's at once tender, free-wheeling and delightfully charming tending to make one think of John Hughes. Whilst the attempts at making a caper story with a light-hearted approach are worthy of appreciation, I think it's fair to say that it is the weakest link here. Still, Bottle Rocket is a small-scale joyride and a confident debut for one of the most idiosyncratic filmmakers working today.

This movie is really a lot less funny that what I would expect from a funny guy like Owen Wilson... it has few funny jokes, most of the material just falls flat. The gags are also a bit lame, half of the time. It also seems to throw in to much love drama for a supposed comedy. The plot is OK, but the movie goes at such a slow pace that I almost fell asleep out of boredom. It barely entertains at all, using mostly used material. The acting is OK, but nothing special. The humor seems tired and worn out, it rarely gets as much as a smile out of me. It does have a few mildly amusing scenes though, among others, several of the robbery scenes had me laughing a little, at least. The whole romance thing never works when it's worked into the movie as clumsily as it is here. It also seemed so misplaced in this film; it might have worked had it been done with just a little bit more seriousness, in fact, the whole film would have had to have been more serious. Either that, or the romance had to be dumbed down. It just doesn't work well here. I recommend this to fans of Owen Wilson who really love his films, otherwise you probably won't like it much. I know I didn't. 6/10

In anything. But man was he great in this movie. I mean it was such a good performance. This movie is director Wes Anderson's (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic) feature directorial debut. It's about a group of misfit friends that decide to take up a life of crime. The group includes Anthony (Luke Wilson) just got out of the nut house and is searching for himself. Dignan (Owen Wilson, co-wrote the movie with Anderson) is the confident but bumbling ringleader who wants to be notorious but doesn't know how to execute a plan to save his life. And Bob (Robert Musgrave) the driver/look out who just wants a little recognition. The movie follows their misadventures of them robbing a bookstore, going on the lamb, Anthony falling in love with a Motel maid who instills joy back in his life, and Dignan's 'big score' that involves his former employer. The subtle humor and deliveries by the actors make the movie stand out in it's own little version comedy. The characters are losers, but lovable. You can't help but cheer them on even though what they do is illegal. I highly recommend this cool little film. It's an excellent introduction into the wonderful films of Wes Anderson.

RATING: **** out of ****

I have seen several of Wes Anderson's films and think they certainly are NOT for all tastes. Some I really liked--such as "The Royal Tannenbaums" and "Moonrise Kingdom". Some I did not like--such as "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou". But one thing these films all have in common is a very slow (glacially slow) pace and very, very quirky characters and dialog. Because of that, it might be worth seeing this film simply because there ain't anything like it! The film has a plot but doesn't really get to it until the last quarter of the film! Up until then, the plot just meanders very slowly and mostly consists of the Wilson brothers (Owen and Luke) doing lots of seemingly irrelevant things up until they go on a heist (such as a long and directionless road trip). This lack of direction certainly will annoy most viewers though the acting was quite nice. Eventually, the heist does take place and the film improves SIGNIFICANTLY. I liked how incredibly inept and stupid the robbery turned out to be. But, again, at times it also seemed to meander.

So did I like the film? Well, I am not sure. SOME of it I liked and much of it seemed in need of editing. At least it gave me a chance to see Anderson's and the Wilson brothers' first full-length film.

By the way, "Bottle Rocket" was originally a short film (1994). If you watch it, you can see a lot of the later feature and it is interesting to see how the short morphed into the full-length film.

I find it really hard to explain to people why I think Wes Anderson movies are so great. There's an air about them that's so wonderful and I always feel really great after I've watched them. When I tried to explain my friend said, "a bit like the Big Lebowski?" and I think that's the closest you can come to describing Bottle Rocket and Wes Anderson movies as a whole they're that sort of brand of movie.

Bottle Rocket is the story of three guys who live in the suburbs who are trying to become criminals and not making a very good job of it. The film starts with Anthony (Luke Wilson) coming out of a voluntary rehab type place and instantly joining his friend Dignan in his very poor attempts to become some sort of criminal. They are joined by their friend Bob, because he has a car, and start by robbing a library. The film really emerges from that moment and takes you on this up beat, weird (but wonderful) adventure.

Owen and Luke Wilson are really good together, with Owen Wilson probably stealing the show as the completely useless but very endearing Dignan. Bob, played by Robert Musgrave, is also excellent in his role as the lovable loser. The soundtrack is perfect, everything comes and goes at exactly the right moment.

This was probably one of the funniest films i've seen in a while too. If you like the Big Lebowski you will love this film (my favourite is probably "Anthony wake up, Bob's stolen his car"). It also feels a lot longer than it is and whilst that's usually bad, in this case it was fantastic. At 30 minutes I looked to see how long I'd been watching it for and was amazed at how engrossed I was but also how much happens but yet the film manages to feel really slow and relaxed.

Though I've said Dignan was endearing I guess the movie as a whole is endearing, its such a lovely film, I really don't see how you couldn't like it. Some how this just misses out on being a real classic on a level with Big Lebowski, maybe its because not as many people have seen it or something, either way its definitely in my top ten or top five or something. A must see, go and watch it!

Even though I'm just not a Wes Anderson fan I was liking this movie at first. However it soon started to become obvious that the movie wasn't heading anywhere and all of its 'jokes' and its light laid back kind of atmosphere was starting to get old and annoying after a while.

I like quirky but Wes Anderson is simply always overdoing things. He thinks it is enough to give a character a funny name and let him stare or walk. This still works for about 30 minutes (which much have been the reason I liked the shorter and earlier 1994 version of "Bottle Rocket" way better) but it starts to get old pretty soon. Especially when nothing else is really happening in its script with its story and characters.

This really disappointed me. It's one of those movies that tries to be as simple and realistic as possible, like independent movies often tend to do. Like a random slice of life, except with the problem that it just isn't that interesting to follow for 90 minutes long. It attempts to make even its most crazy events look realistic, which is a part of Wes Anderson his sort of comedy but I would had liked to get some more substance in this case. I just got nothing out of watching this movie.

This really feels like a movie that got made by a bunch of student buddies, who went out to shoot a movie. In some way that also really was the case with this movie actually. Wes Anderson, as well as the Owen brothers (who strangely enough don't play brothers in this movie) were basically fresh out of school when they did this movie and it was their first full length production. In that regard you perhaps have to give some respect and credits to this movie. It paved the way for their careers and it's also somewhat fun to see how they haven't really deviated away from their own style, ever since.

Good for its first 30 minutes or so but after that it starts to run out of steam fast.

6/10

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This was Wes Anderssons directors debut. And you can really already recognize his artistic style, even if much smaller budget then his later films. This film also has this very family like tone, that I think comes from that almost everybody involved are real good friends, doing this together, trying to make their first movie, and also that the two leads are actual real brothers playing brothers.

The film is about a bunch of guys that thinks that the life of crime is the way to go. But they're very far from any tough hard boild gangsters. They're thieves sure, but they kind of give you the sense they actually couldn't hurt a fly. It's a comedy but also with this sad tone, that I actually think is Wes Anderssons trade mark by now. And it's a really nice thing, something rare you don't see from any other movies, not in the same way at least. It gives you this really warm feeling. To me, what this movie is saying, is that we all try to be something we're not sometimes, we all have issues, we're all failures on some level and we all have insecurities, but... that's okey!

The movie is also very funny. And well paced, even if perhaps a bit slow, I think it works well here. Some nice songs are included in the soundtrack also. And Owen and Luke plays their roles perfectly. Luke really seem depressed, it's actually a really good portrait of a chronically depressed person. Owen does the thing he does also beautifully, being this really optimistic enthusiastic guy but that's actually kind of sad and lonely inside, just brilliant peformens.

I adore this little movie. So nice.

Martin Scorsese actually said this is one of his favorite movies, that he watch multiple times. Kind of fun fact.

I wouldn't say this is the best comedy with Owen Wilson but for his debut it isn't bad. It's not hilarious, far from that, but the clumsy crime relationship with his brother Luke Wilson is entertaining to watch. The story that Owen Wilson wrote with his friend Wes Anderson is a bit goofy, never saw such amateurs as bandits, but it's watchable. I didn't get bored and that's already something, but I wasn't overwhelmed either. In fact I'm glad I watched Bottle Rocket but it's only going to be for one time, no need to watch it again as for that it's not good enough.

In this debut feature of the writing team of Anderson and Owen Wilson, friends go on a crime spree. This started as a short and it does feel like too little material stretched too thin. Many good comedies are quirky. Quirky can be good. Quirky can be funny. Quirky doesn't work if it has to work by itself. It's obvious from the situations and the characters that this is meant to be a comedy, but there's hardly a chuckle to be had here. It's quirk without humor. At least the actors are trying hard. Whatever his failings as a writer, Owen Wilson brings a lot of energy to his role, and brother Luke is likable here, but it's not enough. It's light-hearted, but it's also lame.

Movies about obscure characters doing obscure things can be pretty hit or miss. The key is tying that obscurity into something that people can understand and relate to. With "Bottle Rocket," Wes Anderson (in his very first cinematic credits) establishes that he understands this must be done and he does it with relationships. While "Bottle Rocket" may not be all that poignant or satisfy the tastes of all movie watchers, it certainly does offer its own style of entertainment. For those familiar with Anderson's more mainstream work, this is a film that brings some insight into how he established himself as a revered director.

Let's not forget the Wilson brothers either. Both Owen and Luke can thank this film for being a great resume starter. It highlights the very talents that they took with them all the way to the bank in the last ten years.

Luke is Anthony Adams, a lovable, naive guy who finds himself in trouble thanks to those around him, namely Owen's character Dignan, the quirky, high-aimer who takes things to a comically serious level. You see attributes of these characters echo in nearly every role they've played since this film gave them a spotlight. Together, the two are small time crooks who consider themselves professionals and set out with their friend Bob only to further reveal to the viewer that they have no talent whatsoever.

There's not a whole lot driving this plot. While part of that is the point, more could actually happen to make things interesting. Instead, this is mostly focused on how the characters all deal with their collective ineptitude. They argue like most friends argue, only most friends aren't amateur thieves. Like Anderson's films after this, the characters all wrestle between a group or family mentality and their individual desires. It's very easy to see for anyone who has seen most of Anderson's work. Fortunately for him, these characters and dilemmas only get stronger and more interesting as his career progresses.

The film is also not much of a comedy. While Anderson never has done traditional comedy, the laughs come at the expense of some of the strange characters. They're not nearly strange enough to be consistently funny. Instead, the characters and the whole film is likable, but that's about where it stops. It never gets beyond likable. At least likable is better than bad and this film is definitely leaves a good taste in your mouth.

"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 believe 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.

You know what, Bottle Rocket is a really nice movie. It's got plenty of good comedy and a fun, disjointed story. Nice.

A brilliant comedy, and yet cleverly subdued. This portrait of small-time criminal is made masterful by the performances of Owen C. Wilson and Luke Wilson. Owen's Dignan dreams of glory as an outlaw are almost noble. He may have his inadequacies, but at least he is determined. While Luke's Anthony lacks that kind of determination, what he has is at least a sense of his inadequacies that Dignan lacks. But, while these two are never meant for great things, they can still achieve all their dreams if they just keep them small. Dignan is content with a life of small robberies. What he maintains is great pride for that. And Anthony find happiness in love from an unlikely woman. To find romance with the woman he does is much too quirky to have ever happened in a Hollywood movie. Yet this film plays it perfectly. And so, what makes this film so unique is that it is not so self -involved and moody like most independent films can be. And while it has a bright appeal, it is more eccentric than campy like most mainstream comedies can be. This is truly a unique comedy and I get the feeling that one day, the lines of hipness will be drawn between who has seen this movie and who hasn't.

Bottle rocket is a coming-of-age type of film, into the beggining of adulthood and taking control of your life. one of the friends have problems to grow up, the other seems he already did. this is the confrontation throughout the whole film: two guys that, at this point, are going into different paths. Then yeah, dignan has crazy ideas the whole time and there's bob that also has problems with family. the movie follows three guys with issues and feeling dettached from society to try making something big.

i like wes anderson movies i can't tell otherwise: but i'm not a devote fan either. The movies i saw from him have a very distinct tone and humor - and i can't relate to that all the time. inhere i think we can already see some wes anderson future stuff: you already have the different colors throughout the scenes, the bright lights he usually uses for his films, some cuts, the dialogue that has a certain level of absurdity, into all collide in the final assault which is probably the most enjoyable part of this.

while i can understand the context i found it harder to relate with the characters. the peculiar (didn't want to say weird, lol) people that usually hang around his films are not my type of archetypes. i see his films more as a work of craft or art that i can appreciate but find harder to totally relate with it. which is fine we can't identify ourselves to everything we see.

still, bottle rocket while having flaws in terms of narrative structure and even some dialogues (i think the tone improved after) it's a nice film with more than it meets the eye and some funny things going on. i didn't love it, but i can understand why some people do. for me is a cool movie and a very important one being the beggining of the career of anderson - and if you like him or these type of comedy dramas with absurd in the middle - you probably gonna like this. i hope you do it's a good movie after all.

I love this movie. It makes me smile and just feel good.

It's about, primarily, a guy named Dignan, played by Owen Wilson, who has a 75 year plan of crime for himself and his friend, Anthony, played by Luke Wilson, and reaping the fruits of crime. He wants to employ such interesting things as explosives, hot-air balloons, and pole-vaulting (!) in his outlandish plans for robbing bookstores and cold-storage facilities. He's happy to fill small baggies with money stolen from a bookstore after closing and takes pride in getting "the best room in the house" and some road-side Motel-6 type motel to reward themselves for a successful heist.

If you like quirky, subtle humor, this one's for you. I give it 9/10!

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.)

This movie is a true gem.

The Brothers Wilson have created a timeless masterpiece of friendship, loyalty and vision. Nevermind that their vision might not be what you'd do. The redeeming values Dignan and Anthony and Bob display far outweigh their faults.

I taped this movie off of IFC years ago, and it's been watched to death... almost literally (it's getting kinda worn... I should find a *new* copy). Anyone I've ever shown this movie to loved it.

James Caan gives his best performance since 'Misery', only this time it's funny.

Watch for the scene where: Bob's driving, they just left Anthony's sister's school (when he returned his mom's earrings)... Bob is going on about his miserable life, and if you watch Anthony in the rear seat, suddenly he straightens up in his seat and says "...ahh that was a stop sign..."

Very Very Very VEWWY good movie.

Anthony (Luke Wilson) is released from a mental institution and hooks up with his friend Dignan (Owen Wilson) who hatches a scheme to rob his former boss Mr Henry (James Caan). Anthony falls for motel maid Inez (Lumi Cavazos).

This is the first big screen attempt for director Wes Anderson. It has flashes of his unique style already. It has the camera work, some quirks and the music. However the story is a rambling mess of aimless people. While the group of friends have some quirks, they're not weird enough to be funny. The Wilson brothers are showing their charismatic banter. It's a charming indie where everybody is trying their best and having a bit of fun.

Two life-clumsy friends Anthony (Luke Wilson) and Dignam (Owen Wilson) venture into a joint bird-brained heist (starting their new career by robbing Dignam's mother). Anthony was recently released from an asylum after a nervous breakdown, but in truth seems to offer more justifiable claims to sanity. Nonetheless, despite reservations, Anthony agrees to assist Dignam in his ploys together with ultra-moronic neighbour and getaway driver Bob (Robert Musgrave). After a semi-successful steal the threesome decide to hide out in a roadside motel until the dust settles. There Anthony falls deeply for the non-English-speaking Mexican maid Inez (Lumi Cavazos), thus necessitating a rewrite to the hapless plans he has already conceived.

The feature length debut is much of the what Wes Anderson has incorporated into his trademark career as the king of quirkiness. Despite several attempts and a watch of every Anderson movie conceivable his critical appeal remains a mystery to myself, and "Bottle Rocket", arguably the most chaotic and purposeless story from the director was an undeniable torment to watch. With the whole middle of the story a misplaced filler, which attempts to expand the same-titled short film into a feature, the whole affair is tiresome, only really catching fire in the first and in the final act. Overall watchable for the first 30 minutes, afterwards the shenanigans at the motel with absolutely no focus derail any construed interest in the premise. Not intent on heading anywhere Anderson basically offers a collage of laid back quirky individuals trying to eek out a laugh, instead increasingly causing the Wilson brothers to become irritatingly overwhelming.

Without much more on offer than odd-balls and oddities this is Wes Anderson's worst movie, which won't win over any of his doubters, who are best to look for other of his works to decide on whether Anderson's trademark quirk-attacks are 'no-no' or 'gung-ho'. For me personally the achingly convention subversive capers, the indulgent humour and the goofy character construction on offer by Anderson are extremely outside of my wavelengths.