The heist film genre came back in a big way thanks to Quentin Tarantino's 1992 indie-landmark film Reservoir Dogs. In 1995, Bryan Singer released The Usual Suspects to great reviews as films of crime capers and heists came back to the forefront. Often using catchy one-liners, kinetic editing, and dramatic suspense, the genre was breaking new ground with some old rules. Around the same year when The Usual Suspects came out, another heist film of sorts came out but unlike the character study of Singer's landmark film, this little-known heist film was more humorous with a sense of charm and optimism. From an unknown filmmaker from Austin, Texas named Wes Anderson and his college roommate and actor Owen Wilson came a hilarious, quirky caper film called Bottle Rocket.

Written by Anderson and Wilson with Anderson serving as a director, Bottle Rocket is about three guys from Texas who try to build their way up after a little heist into the big times. While hiding in a hotel, problems emerge along with personal directions while it leads up to an even bigger heist with help from a local crime boss. Starring Owen Wilson and his siblings, younger brother Luke and older brother Andrew along with Robert Musgrave, and the legendary James Caan, Bottle Rocket is a funny, heartwarming crime caper film that hits all the right notes while marking the debut of one of the premier new American auteur filmmakers for the next several years.

In a voluntary, psychiatric hospital, a young man named Anthony (Luke Wilson) is set to leave the hospital where his friend Dignan (Owen Wilson) is waiting outside for him to escape. Since Dignan doesn’t know that Anthony is free to leave, Anthony tells his doctor that he's sneaking out just so Dignan can see. The two leave on bus where Dignan tells his plans for a small robbery he wants to do so he can work with big time local crime boss Mr. Henry (James Caan). Dignan has a huge plan while they meet with their friend Bob Mapplethorpe (Robert Musgrave) to plan the heist. Anthony stops by only to meet up with his little sister Grace (Shea Fowler) who is disgusted with her brother's involvement with Dignan. After stopping at Bob’s house where they got harassed by his brother John aka Future Man (Andrew Wilson) and his friend Clay (Brian Tenenbaum) while Anthony talks to Future Man's girlfriend Stacy Sinclair (Jenni Tooley) about Anthony's hospital stay.

With Dignan leading the charge and Bob being the driver, Dignan and Andrew make their first heist in a bookstore where they steal a lot of cash, which was enough to pull a successful heist. The trio drives all the way to a small motel in the middle of Texas to lay low where Anthony falls for a Paraguay-born maid named Inez (Lumi Cavazos). Bob meanwhile, has learned that his brother has been arrested for being accused of a drug dealer even though he and his brother do have a marijuana field grown in their backyard. Bob secretly leaves to Dignan's surprise while he and Anthony continue to lay low while Anthony's romance with Inez blossoms. With the police still trying to find out what’s going on, Anthony and Dignan decides to leave but not before Anthony leaves something for Inez while Inez through a translator wanted to tell Dignan that she loves Anthony.

Dignan learns that Anthony left some money to Inez as he is angry that their plans to go into the big time heist business is shattered and he might not work for Mr. Henry. Dignan and Anthony go their separate ways where Anthony reunites with Bob as the two worked on several jobs while helping to pay Future Man's legal fees. Then one day, Anthony sees Dignan who offers his old friend for a job. The job is to work directly with Mr. Henry for a huge heist with a couple of Henry's associates, Applejack (Jim Ponds) and Kumar (Kumar Pallana). Anthony isn't sure until Mr. Henry tells him a story and after a while, Anthony is officially in if Bob is involved and Dignan organizes the heist. With planning for the heist with Dignan leading the charge with Anthony, Bob, Applejack, and Kumar involved, everyone gets ready but something goes wrong where Dignan wonders what happens and who screwed up?

While some of the film's quirkiness and eccentric characters might be odd to caper-film purists, Bottle Rocket succeeds in its charm and optimism. The credit goes to director Wes Anderson for his slacker-like approach about a few dreamers wanting to have what everyone wants. The film's directing style is often filled with great tracking shots and hand-held camera shots for certain movements, especially in the running scenes that would become a trademark with many of Anderson's film work. Complemented by the colorful cinematography of Robert Yeoman and production designer David Wasco for giving the film a unique, quirky look. Anderson's script that was written with Owen Wilson is filled with great one liners and a hilarious structure of how a heist is build up while in the second act, we see more of the humanity of Dignan and Anthony, notably the romance of Anthony of Inez. The structure works thanks to a nicely paced editing style from David Mortiz. The film also has a wonderful approach to music thanks to some jazz-like numbers and score pieces from Marks Mothersbaugh of Devo and a soundtrack filled with Mexican songs and tracks by Love and the Rolling Stones.

Then there's the film's wonderful cast that is filled with great small, standout performances like Jenni Tooley as flirty Stacy Sinclair, Jim Ponds as crime honcho Applejack, and Shea Fowler as Anthony's cynical little sister. Even some of the Anderson small company regulars like Brian Tenenbaum, Dipak Pallana, Stephen Dignan, and Andrew Wilson (who also serves as associate producer) each make a memorable performance in their brief time but no one brought more laughs than Kumar Pallana as a dim-witted safecracker. Lumi Cavazos is a real standout as the shy, beautiful Inez in an understated performance even though she didn't have to speak English throughout the film as she has wonderful, heartwarming scenes with the Wilson brothers.

James Caan is hilarious as Mr. Henry with his wisecracks and wisdom on heists and crime while having a great scene with Andrew Wilson proving that he's still a bad*ss. Robert Musgrave gives a wonderful performance as the cautious Bob Mapplethorpe who is often at odds with Dignan while having some great comedic scenes as he serves as the conscience of sorts of the trio. Luke Wilson is the film's most charming and likeable performance as the anguished Anthony with his hopes for a better life while trying to have something for people in his family to be proud of. Luke is the film's heart while his older brother Owen is the movie's best performance. Owen brings a charm and optimism that is so refreshing as a dreamer who doesn't quit even though he is naive and somewhat of an idiot. Yet, Owen's intense performance proves to be so entrancing, you can't help but root for him in a performance that serves as a breakthrough for him and his brother as they carry a natural chemistry together.

While Bottle Rocket didn't get great reviews or good box office numbers when it came out in 1995, the film did receive a great word-of-mouth commentary from a small group of filmgoers as the film became a hit on video. The movie helped gain Wes Anderson a Best New Filmmaker award at the 1996 MTV Movie Awards while Luke and Owen Wilson became big time actors. Since its release and the recent success of Anderson's later films, 1998's Rushmore and 2001's The Royal Tenenbaums, Bottle Rocket has remained a cult favorite with fans. Anyone who enjoys a caper film with loads of laughs and a lot of heart will find Bottle Rocket enjoyable while it's a nice introduction into the world of Wes Anderson.

Wes Anderson Reviews: Rushmore - The Royal Tenenbaums - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou - Hotel Chevalier/The Darjeeling Limted - Fantastic Mr. Fox

Wes Anderson Soundtracks: (Bottle Rocket) - (Rushmore) - (The Royal Tenenbaums) - (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou) - (The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions featuring Seu Jorge) - (The Darjeeling Limited) - (Fantastic Mr. Fox)

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older