The Wendell Baker Story

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What’s the Story?

Crude charmer Wendell (Luke Wilson) finally gets his comeuppance when one of his scams finally lands him in prison. But Wendell is so ingratiating that turns jail into a big frat party, football scrimmages and all. But when his long-suffering girlfriend, Doreen (Eva Mendes), finally dumps him, devil-may-care Wendell finally, well, cares. Once paroled, he vows to start over and run his own hotel someday. But he must start at the bottom at Shady Grove, a retirement home (mis)managed by nefariously inept head nurse Neil King (Owen). In King and his mean sidekick, McTeague (Eddie Griffin), Wendell has finally met his match. But with the help of three hell-raising retirees (Harry Dean Stanton, Seymour Cassel, and Kris Kristofferson), Wendell finally gets to play a real hero -- and, yes, maybe get the girl back, too.

Is It Any Good?

With an impressive cast of characters and a likeable lead, Wilson manages to make Wendell Baker Story into a jaunty comedy. It's best when it's effortlessly irreverent -- as when Wendell and Dave cross swords over Doreen, or when Cassel's character tries to pick up a girl by dropping the "G" word ("G-spot"). And Will Ferrell is hilariously brilliant as Doreen's new boyfriend.

But unfortunately, it races inexorably toward a corny second half that loses the energy established in the first 15 minutes. In the movie business, there's a thin line between quirky and trying too hard. Fun as it may be, The Wendell Baker Story unfortunately lands squarely on the latter side.