Bottle Rocket MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -2

Anthony Adams (Luke Wilson) has just been released from a voluntary mental hospital when he meets up with his dim-witted friend Dignan (Owen Wilson). Dignan has always dreamed of being a big-time criminal and Anthony, unsure of what he wants to do, goes along with Dignan's plans. Their first step is to rob a house which we later discover is the home of Anthony's parents. A stickler for detail, Dignan soon has bigger ideas and decides to rob a bookstore and add a third member to the group Bob (Robert Musgrave), the only one of the three with a car. After a successful bookstore robbery, the three hide out in a cheap roadside motel. Here, Anthony meets the girl of his dreams, Inez (Lumi Cavazos), who works there as a maid. Tensions start splitting up this dream-team of thievery, but not before they plan one last heist. BOTTLE ROCKET is a frequently funny look at a group of young men who have no direction and nothing better to do than rob bookstores and shoot off massive quantities of fireworks. The tongue in cheek dialogue and moronic behavior of the three team up to create a unique movie that will please the generation X'ers.

These three thieves have a simple friendship, unmarred for the most part by cynicism and competition. Unfortunately, their friendship centers around stealing and robbing, which they do in a kind of Robin Hood way. Their thieving activities are portrayed as funny and cool and, as likeable as the characters are, their activities cannot be condoned. Add to this lots of vulgar language, some fighting violence and implied sex, and what could have been a great movie turns out to be another Hollywood disaster. The three friends' unique relationship is overshadowed by these more blatant elements. The message that friendship must include participation in the same immoral behavior these men resort to is discouraging. When will we see a movie with the same quirky qualities of Adam, Dignan and Bob but without foul language, violence and overt sexuality? Most likely, not anytime soon and certainly not in BOTTLE ROCKET.

Preview Reviewer: Greg Wilson
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232