The Wendell Baker Story 2005

David Edelstein, New York Magazine/Vulture: The Wilsons can't even tell a been-there-done-that story of a con artist who gets his comeuppance without calling it The Wendell Baker Story, as if the character belongs, by virtue of his Wilsonian pedigree, on a pedestal. Read more

Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times: As much as it looks like an enjoyable project to work on and a blast for all involved, the feeling you get watching The Wendell Baker Story is that you probably had to be there. Read more

Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle: Given Luke Wilson's affability, it's also irresistibly charming. You may not buy the film's plot, but you'll invest in him as a man whose heart is always in the right place. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: The Wendell Baker Story just feels like an attempt to rebottle the postmodern fizz of Wes Anderson's Bottle Rocket. I wish instead they'd put a stopper in it. Read more

Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News: The movie undercuts whatever good graces it has generated with a feel-good ending that is just stunningly stupid. It's hard to be hip when your finale is so square. Read more

John Anderson, Newsday: The Wendell Baker Story, although good-natured, tries too hard to replicate the squirreliness of a Wes Anderson film, while declining to partake of its sadness and irony. Read more

Anthony Lane, New Yorker: The Wilsons' venture was shot in Austin, the global center of slackerology, and has barely summoned the energy to leave the place. Read more

Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger: Wendell Baker isn't perfect. The slacker humor grows cloying at times. Still, there's an undeniable charm to the Texas tale as it celebrates nonconformity and redemption. Read more

Bob Mondello, NPR.org: Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: A shiny shell of a movie, TWBS is pretty to look at, and occasionally fun to watch. But ultimately, it's an exercise in futility -- for the participants, who can do so much more, and the audience, which deserves so much better. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: Though the Wilsons are no threat to the Coens as filmmakers, The Wendell Baker Story is still a pleasingly human-scaled alternative to the big, soulless Hollywood blockbusters. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: A little of the Wilsons goes a long way. Read more

Mark Holcomb, Time Out: Here's something satisfying: '70s-cinema fetishism with the courage of its convictions. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: Though the first Wilson brothers' effort, Bottle Rocket, is far superior, the trio of brothers working together creates a light and enjoyable comic romp. Read more

Joe Leydon, Variety: At once insouciantly laid back and beguilingly loony. Read more

J. Hoberman, Village Voice: Low-key to comatose, Wendell Baker might have been improved were it shot in 16mm black and white. Read more