It continually surprises me that _Bottle Rocket_ is almost universally considered to be among Wes Anderson’s weakest films. Seeing the rating below 70% on this site was genuinely upsetting. And because there weren't any reviews of the film, I felt it was my responsibility as a fan to try and champion it, however inadequately. People often criticize Anderson’s movies for being overly precious or affected. Yet, surprisingly, _Bottle Rocket_, which largely avoids those issues, is frequently dismissed. A part of the "problem" seems to be that there's a subtlety to the humor and storytelling that surpasses anything else in Anderson's work. It isn't as broadly quirky as _Moonrise Kingdom_, nor does it have the visual flair—relatively speaking—of _Rushmore_ or _Life Aquatic_. It’s something more than that – at least, that’s how I see it. It’s a film with very little at stake, which is something I consistently value in fiction. It's simply about a group of not-very-bright people who aspire to be criminals. The reason? They aren't particularly intelligent and they have names like Dignan and Applejack, and that’s funny. If you want a complex plot, watch _The Royal Tenenbaums_. If you want to laugh at Owen Wilson wearing a yellow jumpsuit and riding around on a small motorcycle, _Bottle Rocket_ delivers. Luke Wilson's Anthony is, ostensibly, the central figure of this film. His struggle with his unspecified mental health condition really connects with me because I’m also… unconventional. But Owen Wilson is truly the main draw here; he brings a quiet energy to Dignan that always makes me smile. Just watch him go. I honestly don't think Wes Anderson has ever created a better character, though I realize I may be the only person who feels that way. I’m not sure what more I can say to get people to appreciate this movie. It is good! It’s fun and charming and sweet! It embodies Wes Anderson without being overly so. You understand? I would have assumed more people would find value in that. If this film were made today, Timothée Chalamet would almost certainly be cast as one of the leads, so let's be thankful it exists permanently preserved in 1996.

Source on TMDB