GENTLEMEN BRONCOS
RYAN: I knew basically nothing about “Gentlemen Broncos” other than it was directed by the same guy who did “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Nacho Libre.” I thought it had no one famous in it and figured it was lame until I watched the trailer and saw that it has Sam Rockwell and is about a science fiction writer, which intrigued me.
CAROLINE: It has a few recognizable actors: Jemaine from “Flight of the Conchords,” Jennifer Coolidge and the kid who played Jack’s son on “Will & Grace.” I had no interest in it other than the cast, which was basically the only good thing about this movie.
RYAN: We were lucky enough to attend a small premiere of sorts and we sat behind Sam Rockwell who was there canoodling with Leslie Bibb, who must be his girlfriend. Billy Crudup, who’s hot, was there too. I guess they’re all buds.
CAROLINE: The first fifteen minutes of the movie was very funny and I chortled several times… but then it just got odd. Knowing what I know about Jared Hess’s previous films, I knew we were in for something random. But this was kind of beyond.
RYAN: I completely agree. I liked it for twenty minutes, but after that I so didn’t care. I wasn’t engaged at all. The only good part was watching Sam Rockwell’s reactions to himself on screen. And watching him make out with Leslie Bibb.
CAROLINE: There are a few scenes with Sam that if I didn’t know it was him, I would never have figured it out. He’s almost unrecognizable. He and Jemaine are hilarious, but the movie isn’t. As it went on, it got more and more random and less and less funny. I don’t think I understand the mind of Jared Hess. And maybe I don’t want to.
RYAN: I don’t watch “Flight of the Conchords,” but Jemaine was a total scene stealer. He was brilliant, even just the way he spoke. The voice he found for this character was fab!
CAROLINE: I loved it! He does an English accent but also puts on this random deep voice that’s totally patronizing. It was awesome. But half the movie is an enactment of a sci-fi story, and it’s almost like a B-movie. I know it’s supposed to be like that, but it was just kind of silly.
RYAN: I know that the goal is to be silly, so I can appreciate that, but what’s the point of watching a bunch of unattractive, awkward nerds run around? This movie also had several gross-out moments that I didn’t need to see, like projectile vomiting, regular vomiting and poop jokes. We never like that in a movie.
CAROLINE: I’m not sure who’s going to be interested in seeing this.
RYAN: Young boys, I guess.
CAROLINE: Not too young though. It’s not appropriate for kids. I don’t know where Jared Hess’s ideas come from, but they’re just weird.
RYAN: I did like the girls in the movie; Jennifer Coolidge, of course, and the other random girl from the sci-fi convention. There are some funny moments for sure, but they’re few and far between. Even though it’s a short movie, you were still asking me what time it was.
CAROLINE: Luckily when I asked you that, the movie only had two minutes left.
— BOTTOM LINE —
CAROLINE: I don’t want to totally diss this movie because I really like the cast and I appreciate original ideas, but it just didn’t work for me. I was bored and I couldn’t find anything to relate to in it. I didn’t get it. The best word to describe it is “random.”
RYAN: It pays homage to cheesy sci-fi movies and novels which is fun. But it’s not something I can recommend seeing in the theater.
— RATING —
