The Wendell Baker Story
May 10th, 2007
Proving once again the infinite mutability of the coming-of-age tale, The Wendell Baker Story, written by Luke and co-directed by Luke and Andrew Wilson, grafts a number of borderline absurd conceits onto a ramshackle story about a small-time con-man trying to make his way in the world. In the dappled sunlight of Austin, Texas, Wendell Baker (Luke Wilson) sells fake IDs to immigrants and fails to appreciate his gorgeous girlfriend Doreen (Eva Mendes)–until he gets busted and shipped off to Huntsville Prison, where he comes across a copy of Conrad Hilton’s autobiography and decides to go into the hotel business.
But the “hotel” Wendell is sent to by his parole board is a retirement home under the command of a sadistic head nurse played by brother Owen. The inmates include Kris Kristofferson, Harry Dean Stanton, and Seymour Cassel as horny old men hiding a secret or two. With their help, Wendell has to thwart evil schemes and win back Doreen. Their adventures are thoroughly ridiculous and enjoyable, but like Doreen, we can see right through Wendell’s goofy charm. The Wendell Baker Story is silly but lovable, occasionally very funny, and no dumber than most movies at the multiplex. It’d be fascinating to see what the Wilsons might come up with if they really tried. Opens May 18.
The Wendell Baker Story. Andrew Wilson and Luke Wilson, 2005. ***
- The Wendell Baker Story at Rotten Tomatoes
- The trailer:
Idiocracy
January 8th, 2007
In Mike Judge’s much delayed follow-up to Office Space, Luke Wilson wakes up in a future where everybody’s gone stupid. What’s supposed to serve as scathing critique of the dumbing-down of American culture provides the background for a few good jokes and a lot of obvious ones–I couldn’t help but feel I’d gotten a little dumber from watching this. The Wikipedia entry mentions the release issues; Fox buried the film. Idiocracy rates a surprisingly high 65% a Rotten Tomatoes. If you’re still curious, you can get it on DVD starting tomorrow.
Idiocracy. Mike Judge, 2006. *
[tags]mike judge, 1 star, comedy, luke wilson, maya rudolph, film[/tags]
