The Wendell Baker Story (2005)

I'll tell you why so serious

A different way of telling a story

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

"The Wendell Baker Story" has a couple of giggles, but you would expect a lot more from a cast like this. Seymour Cassel and Harry Dean Stanton provide the most interesting characters, with their small parts. Kris Kristofferson is also quite good, but the Wilsons and Eva Mendes are totally unappealing. The movie really tries to accomplish way too much, and the chop shop editing is downright annoying. Is it a comedy, or a romance, or a drama? I give up and so will you, because in the end, it all adds up to very little. Skip this one and you won't be missing much, other than a pretty fair soundtrack. ............................................ MERK

Most people know Owen Wilson. Many people know Luke Wilson. Few people are probably familiar with Andrew Wilson. He's the hand with the BB in it in The Royal Tenenbaums. He pops up from time to time in Anderson movies and other movies with the Wilsons in them. But maybe he's a bit more camera shy and doesn't want to be an image on the screen, so for the most part he hasn't followed the same path as his brothers. Now, apparently, he's directing. Cool! This is probably the hardest type of movie to review. Simply stated, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it, but it isn't very good. The imagery is nice. The story is pleasant, but predictable. The humor I get, but it's kind of slow and isn't really memorable. Character development feels added as an after-thought, but at least it's there. It honestly feels like O Brother Where Art Thou? meets My Name is Earl without the skill of the former or the humor of the latter. It's a very non-specific movie, which is why I feel very non-specific about it.I'd state that as an entertainment medium, it's worth a rental, but that it probably won't be on shelves for long. In the meantime, Luke and Andrew Wilson show enough skill in directing that perhaps either or both of them can go on to make some much more interesting movies in the future. For now, though, I wouldn't really recommend this movie to anyone in particular as it doesn't really feel like it has much personality.--PolarisDiB

I'm supposed to like "The Wendell Baker Story". From having lived in the Austin area for the last 27 years and in Austin proper for the last 11, I recognized most of the locales in the film. Plus, I went to the University of Texas at the same time the Wilson brothers did (along with Matthew McConaughey & Renee Zellweger). I will freely admit that I like brother Owen's screenplays directed by Wes Anderson ("Bottle Rocket", "Rushmore", "The Royal Tennenbaums"). And Luke Wilson--as both writer and director--attempts to emulate the Owen/Wes style in this movie. Unfortunately, his skills as a writer don't match his brother's, and as a director he seems grossly incompetent. And as lead actor, he--as always--gets by on his good looks and Texas accent rather than any discernible talent.The story is about Wendell Baker (Luke Wilson), a huckster who gets arrested for forging fake id's for illegal aliens. After he gets out of jail, he finds that his girlfriend Doreen (Eva Mendes) has dumped him and most of his friends want nothing more to do with him. While Wendell was in jail, he studied the hotel business, and that lands him a job in a retirement home run by the evil Neil King (Owen Wilson) and his henchman McTeague (Eddie Griffin). It's not much of a spoiler to say that Wendell saves the day, wins back Doreen and makes a few quirky friends along the way. But I won't give any details as to how this is accomplished.Like "Rushmore", this is very much a story about a misfit who doesn't get that he's a misfit. Also, like Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson, the film is peppered with really great--if somewhat obscure--songs from a bygone era. But whereas Owen and Wes opt for British pop music from the 1960's, Luke prefers Texas Outlaw country music from the 1970's. He even casts Kris Kristofferson in a key role and Billy Joe Shaver in a small role. Between the two of them, they wrote nearly half the country hits between 1969 and 1980.Also unlike Owen Wilson, whose characters are funny, quirky and sad, Wilson's characters are merely quirky. And unlike Wes Anderson, Luke doesn't know how to properly set up a shot or light an indoor set. Most of the indoor scenes are dramatically under-lit. Often, the sun coming through a window will render a character's arm or stomach visible, but the head will be shrouded in darkness. This would work well if this were a film noir, but given that this is supposed to be a feel-good comedy, I have to assume this was not intentional. It is a real problem in the scenes that Owen and Luke have together, since the only physical difference between the two is their hair color.I also need to say that the acting--except for the notable exception of Will Ferrell making the most of a small part--is mediocre at best. Luke Wilson has always been one of the blandest actors in Hollywood. Owen is a talented actor, but not here. Eddie Griffin is truly awful. Although Eva Mendes is pretty to look at, she's not much of an actress. And it's really saying something when I mention that Luke can't wring a good performance out of Harry Dean Stanton or Seymour Cassel.There are things that I liked about this movie. I have already mentioned the soundtrack and Will Ferrell's performance. I also give Wilson props for filming in North Central Austin (where I once lived and still frequent) instead of the usual haunts of UT, downtown and South Austin (seen in "Slacker", "The Life of David Gale" and "Grindhouse") where I rarely have any reason for going.Overall, I would have to say this movie was done by an enthusiastic but talentless amateur trying too hard to step out of his more-talented brother's shadow. But for Will Ferrell, I would have given this 5 out of 10. But Ferrell is so good, I will give it an extra star.

THE WENDELL BAKER STORY (2007) *** ½ Luke Wilson, Eva Mendes, Seymour Cassel, Harry Dean Stanton, Owen Wilson, Eddie Griffin, Kris Kristofferson, Jacob Vargas, Angela Alvarado, Azura Skye, Heather Kafka, Will Ferrell. (Dirs: Andrew & Luke Wilson) Wilson Brothers' Shine in Odd-ball Shaggy Dog TaleLuke Wilson proves to be a triple threat as star, co-writer & co-director of this Wilson siblings affair of the heart with fellow bros Andrew as co-scripter & helmsman and Owen co- starring in this breezy, charming and off-beat goofy shaggy dog tale about the titular anti- hero (played with low-key affable trademark cool and charm to spare by brother Luke), a sardonic, laconic self-proclaimed entrepreneur cum con man whose latest scheme to win over his long-suffering gorgeous girlfriend Doreen (luscious Mendes) involves his partner- in-crime Reyes (Vargas) in an identification card scheme filching unsuspecting illegal Mexicans that ultimately gets his sorry ass incarcerated.While on the inside the unflappable Baker acclimates rather well to the point of blowing off Doreen's visits for a con scrimmage game of football prompting her to return all his jailhouse missives. Getting the drift Baker reads Conrad Hilton's book on business and he has a revelation of going square and fair once and for all by dreaming of running his own hotel some day. After several attempts of gaining parole Baker finally gets out and winds up an orderly in a sunny retirement run by the unscrupulous Neil King (bro Owen having a field day as a vile weasel), who has been running a racket with his toady McTeague (comic Griffin) by stealing all the pension/Social Security checks from their clientele and making the old folks' lives truly miserable. Wendell eventually gets wind of the nefarious criminal activities at hand and determined to not be framed for King's plans of just that, ingratiates himself with a couple of good-natured codgers Boyd and Skip (veteran great character actors Cassel and Stanton, stealing the movie in each scene they inhabit), who are equally hoping for payback for the bastard King and oily McTeague. Inspired Wendell also tries to regain the respect and love of Doreen who has hooked up with the local grocery store manager Dave Bix (a hilarious Ferrell) who is hell bent on having Baker out of her life once and for all.Desperately Baker goes to his new elderly amigos who are won over with his plight and they find a purposed in their lives : get even with King and get Baker back with Doreen.The Wilson lads should be beaming with pride in this nifty, nutty sleeper indie they've been pedaling for a few years now and finally got on the big screen. Luke has crafted a fun loving character with a heart of gold : Hunter S. Thompson meets Andy Griffith is the best way to sum up the wily yet well-meaning Wendell Baker, a good ol' boy who isn't aware of the damage he has inflicted until it's too late but does his damndest to make things right not unlike fellow fictional redneck Earl Hickey of TV's "MY NAME IS EARL".The game cast does a splendid job and the tone of the film has the feel of another pair of sibling auteurs : the Coen Brothers with their ear for dialogue amidst chicanery and miscreant mischief. Also on hand is crusty Kristofferson as a fellow dweller who has a few secrets up his sleeve.I liked the overall feeling of the entire film with its cheeky protagonist and the odd-balls he meets along in his life's journey and I trust any viewer will do just that: enjoy.