User Reviews

Fun movie. Definitely made me giggle a few times. The story can feel a little slow at times but that’s ok.

While not yet establishing his visual style, Wes Anderson manages to showcase his signature humor and writing with his debut feature. Bottle Rocket is fun and engaging from start to finish.

An absolute classic. It's one of the films in the Criterion Collection and it surely deserves to be.

As a guy who already watch some later on Wes Anderson movie, like Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and he's recent one The French Dispatch, and i personally did not see Bottle Rocket any better than those movie even though the score that i give for Bottle Rocket is the same with The Grand Budapest Hotel and The French Dispatch, i did like those two better than this, Moonrise Kingdom is just on another level, still so far my favorite from Wes Anderson, Bottle Rocket started as just a decent robbery movie that later on become more than that, we have some good friendship story and element, we also have a good romance story that i like, the movie is perform pretty well by all the cast, the movie also fills with great music, the movie did not take too long, and overall i like it, it's still a good directorial debut from someone who i already watch his later movie, it's good.

Three criminals in the sixteenth are participating in unsuccessful ventures. They are waiting for the big shot that seems to come thanks to the expert Mr. Henry. A witty but rather anonymous comedy that leaves little desire to get it back again.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

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.

Where it started for a number of creative talents. Solid but not that great. Wes Anderson's first and weakest effort.

Bottle Rocket is a great look at proto-Wes Anderson, and you'll see a lot of his techniques that became his trademark. It's a fun movie, and even in 1996 you can tell Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson were headed for great things. This is a must-see for fans of Wes Anderson, and fans of indie film.

Love Wes Anderson, but this didn't do much for me. Of course, the directing was excellent and the acting was ok, but the story just never really "grabbed me" at all. Now, it isn't a trainwreck by any means, but it's also anything but a good movie. Feels unfinished and lacking in key plot elements that, oh I don't know, make it interesting.

BOTTLE ROCKET was a critical success when it was released in 1996 and launched the careers of a creative team that know comedy can be talky, subtle, character driven, and even heartbreaking at times. It's not the best Anderson-Wilson endeavor, but as the first it establishes central elements visible in all their films.

Throughout Anderson's directorial debut, "Bottle Rocket," you can definitely sense him trying to come into his proverbial own, but it is still an outrageous and occasionally deep comedic drama.

Bottle Rocket is Wes Anderson

Bottle Rocket is Wes Anderson's first and weakest offering. The film isn't anywhere near bad, it's just that Anderson's skills as a director are only budding here instead of blooming (as they would be on the following Rushmore). Likewise, the writing is likable and features the same lightness of touch as the later films but isn't in the same league as The Royal Tenenbaums. Still, if you are a big Wes Anderson fan, Bottle Rocket makes for intriguing viewing.

The movie's cinematography is impressive as well as the performance of the actors if you realize this was a student movie. But Wes Anderson's "Bottle Rocket" doesn't really have any twists or thrills in its plot; you'll be watching a 91 minute movie will interest, but no more than that level.

The usual fare from Wes Anderson. This one has the same tone, the same themes as all his later films. Which is not neccessarily a bad thing. There are some good jokes here, and pretty high production values for an 'indie'. The film that started the Wilson brother's careers (Owen and Luke) and they do well in this. worth a look, especially for Wes Anderson fans