Bottle Rocket (Blu-ray Disc, 2008, Criterion Collection / Special Edition)

Oh Wes Anderson, am I the only person in the world that does not "get" your films? It seems that reviewers fawn over your artsy little movies, and the wacky characters that inhabit them, and I keep watching them in the hope that one day, I will grow to like them like the masses do.... but I guess I am just too dumb to understand your hidden meanings, or appreciate the quirky music that plays in the background. Oh Wes, what is wrong with me?

This is Wes Anderson's directorial debut starring the Wilson brothers (Owen and Luke) and like all of his other live action movies, I found it boring and overrated. I didn't like The Royal Tennenbaums (average) Rushmore (meh) or The Darjeeling Limited (horrible) However I loved "The Fantastic Mr Fox" (go figure) In this one, Owen play Dignan a guy who plans a robbery with his friend Anthony (Luke) and his not so good friend Bob. Dignan (like his name suggests) is not a sane person, he is not right in the head, although in a spot of irony, it was Anthony who was released from a mental hospital after suffering a nervous breakdown. Dignan however thinks he is perfectly sane.

So Dignan, Anthony and Bob perform a small robbery to impress a "Mr Big" type character and then go on the run. Anthony falls in love with a maid who can't speak English called Inez, Bob goes back home to his bullying older brother and Dignan... well, he's Dignan. Wild and wacky Dignan. Quirky Dignan, outrageous Dignan. Dignan is the sort of character that is made for a Wes Anderson movie...

I just didn't like this movie much, sorry. The characters (mainly Dignan) were annoying, the plot was too whimsical, but the main problem was that it was a Wes Anderson movie, and if you don't like his kind of movies (because they are all sort of similar) then you won't like this one either. Criterion has a major boner for this guy as all of his movies have been released on their label... except for "Fantastic Mr Fox"... the one I liked.. (go figure)

Do you like the Royal Tennenbaums? Or, The Darjeeling Limited?... The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou? or even Rushmore?

Well, Bottle Rocket was Wes Anderson's First. so if you didn't like any of these, than this movie isn't for you.

If Meet the Spartans, Scary Movie 4, Austin Powers, Undercover Brother or anything with Mr. Bean tops your list of great comedies, than this movie isn't for you either.


Bob: Why is there tape on your nose?
Dignan: Exactly!

The movie was great, expected no less from a Criterion film. It was funny and entertaining throughout the movie. Highly recommend this movie for Criterion Collectors.