Watch Bottle Rocket

Bottle Rocket is a 1996 film directed by Wes Anderson, marking his feature-length debut. The movie features a young, relatively unknown cast, including brothers Luke and Owen Wilson in leading roles, and Ned Dowd in a supporting role. This quirky, offbeat indie comedy follows the misadventures of a trio of small-time crooks as they stumble their way through a series of botched heists and end up on the run from the law.

The film opens with Anthony Adams, a young man fresh out of a mental hospital, reconnecting with his old friend Dignan, played by Owen Wilson. Dignan has big dreams of becoming a career criminal and has enlisted the much more laid-back Anthony to help him pull off a series of small-time heists, with the ultimate goal of pulling off a big score that will set them up for life.

Their first job is a hilariously inept robbery of a local bookstore, in which they steal a meager sum of cash and end up getting chased out by the store's dog. Undaunted, the pair pursue their criminal ambitions, and soon Jim, played by Luke Wilson, Anthony's older brother, joins the team. Jim, who is going through a bit of a mid-life crisis, brings a sense of groundedness to the group and helps reign in Dignan's more outlandish ideas.

As their caper spirals out of control, the gang finds themselves on the run from the law, but they remain determined to achieve their ultimate goal. Along the way, they encounter a motley crew of characters, including a wealthy businessman who hires them to carry out a bizarre and seemingly pointless burglary, a maid at a hotel who catches Anthony's eye, and a brazen thief named Futureman who complicates their plans even further.

Throughout the film, Wes Anderson's signature style and deadpan humor are on display, and the Wilson brothers' charming performances carry the movie. The plot may be thin, but the characters are endearing and the dialogue crackles with wit and off-kilter energy.

Bottle Rocket is a low-budget gem that has become a cult classic over the years, beloved for its quirky humor, charming performances, and unique visual style. It may not be as polished or ambitious as Anderson's later works, but it still remains a delightful watch for anyone who loves quirky indie comedies.

Bottle Rocket is a 1996 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 67.