Gentlemen Broncos (PG-13, 2009)

common sense media says

Indie comedy is too gross, cringe-inducing to be funny.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that although this comedy from the folks behind Napoleon Dynamite -- which co-stars Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement -- is pretty light on sexuality and swearing (particularly for a PG-13 movie), it's quite uncomfortable to watch. There's an off-putting amount of bodily parts, functions, and fluids -- such as yeast, gonads, vomit, and feces. In one scene, a kiss takes place immediately after a guy throws up, and the "evidence" is on both kissers' faces afterward. Consequently, some families may not feel that the humor is appropriate, despite the relatively mild language (one "apes--t") and mostly cartoonish violence.

Positive messages: Despite the negative messages from Chevalier and Lonnie, there's at
least one positive take away: that unethical behavior will eventually be
caught. There's also a loving relationship between a mother and son.
Positive role models: Chevalier is a greedy character who makes artists (in this case, authors) seem like they only care about sales and not about artistic integrity. Many of the other characters are unsympathetic and unlikable.
Violence: The sci-fi scenes feature cartoonish violence -- like guns that appear out of animals' eyes/backsides, killer Cyclops, and explosive vomit. Several fictional characters die or are blown up, but it's not graphic and no corpses are visible. Darts hit Ben's mom in the breast (technically, it hits her gel insert), as well as another character. Although it's not violent, there's a gross scene in which a snake poops (a lot) and various images of "gonads" (in jars, being thrown around, stepped on, sewn on, etc).
Sex: Tabatha flirts with Ben, and they end up kissing briefly (immediately after he vomits, so it's pretty disturbing). Several discussions about Chevalier's fictional Harpies saga, in which the women have incredibly large breasts that can shoot "mammary cannons" and the like.
Language: One "apes--t," but otherwise fairly tame: "nads," "darn you" "dang," "freak," and "crap."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Gentlemen Broncos

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families who've seen Napoleon Dynamite and/or Nacho Libre can talk about how this movie compares to the director's previous films. What do his characters have in common?
  • Is the movie's scatalogical humor funny or off-putting? How does it compare to other movies in which this kind of humor is equally prevalent?
  • How does the movie depict the sci-fi genre and culture/fans? Do you think it's an accurate portrayal?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Ben Purvis (Michael Angarano) is a sweet, home-schooled teenager who writes offbeat sci-fi stories (which come to life on screen starring his fictional protagonist, Bronco, played by Sam Rockwell). At a writing conference for Utah teens, Ben meets his literary hero, Ronald Chevalier (Jemaine Clement), a best-selling author who hasn't written anything decent in years and needs a manuscript to save his publishing contract. Chevalier reads Ben's story, "Yeast Lords: The Bronco Years," and steals it; meanwhile, an unaware Ben allows fellow workshop attendees Tabatha (Halley Feiffer) and Lonnie (Hector Jimenez) to "adapt" his story into an amateur film. As Chevalier's plagiarized version goes to print and the homemade film veers away from his vision, Ben grows disillusioned with his talent and his life as the only son of a modest-nightdress designer (Jennifer Coolidge).

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Third time is definitely not a charm for director Jared Hess, whose adorably infectious debut film Napoleon Dynamite was the breakout hit of 2004 and whose sophomore effort Nacho Libre at least featured a spandexed Jack Black as a Mexican wrestler. GENTLEMEN BRONCOS, however, doesn't have many redeeming qualities save for Clement (half of the hilarious Kiwi duo Flight of the Conchords), who steals every scene he's in with his pompous accent and ridiculous commentary about his expertise in sci-fi (like how to name a character -- by adding "anous" or "inus" as a suffix). He's the only character worth following, which is a considerable problem since he's not the protagonist.

Angarano's Ben is melancholy, long-suffering, and just plain boring to watch. His mother, Judith, is loving but clueless and has no friends except for Dusty (Mike White), a slightly creepy, python-carrying "Big Brother" who makes eyes at his mom. And then there's the completely unlikable duo of Tabatha and Lonnie, who are awkward and unfunny. Admittedly, the movie does have some laughs, mostly thanks to Clement, but there are so many cringe-inducing scenes -- the fictional Bronco's obsession with gonads, Dusty's python having the largest reptilian bowel movement ever captured on film, Ben's mom being hit with a dart in the breast, Tabatha squirting lotion on her hands and demanding Ben for a massage -- that several moviegoers left halfway through the absurdity. And who can blame them?

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Fox Searchlight
Director: Jared Hess
Cast: Jemaine Clement, Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Angarano
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: November 6, 2009
DVD release: March 2, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: some crude humor

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

bookreaderforever
teen, 15 years old
 
My favorite movie!!!
This is my favorite movie! It's rated PG-13, and I wouldn't show it to anyone under 10 years of age. But if your a teenager, I would consider checking it out.

ace333
kid, 12 years old
 
good for teens
this movie is very crude it doesnt have a good message dumb movie!

tessiegirl
teen, 17 years old
 
The stupidest movie i have ever watched....do not rent.
A teenage boy writes a Sci-Fi book which is based on a main character who is missing one testicle....non humorously. Going on from that, there are women with lasers in thier boobs, amd deer with lasers coming out of thier eyes. enough said, This movie is THE worst movie i have ever seen. It makes NO sense is poorly made and the humor is stupid. I couldn't even make it through the whole movie without turning it off. it is ridiculous. I would stare at the screen in awe of how retaded it was. I seriuosly think it jkills brain cells. I would not reccomend this movie to anyone, at any age. I am 16 and the humor was not funny for me. My little brother is 12 and he usually likes this kind of movies, but even he was begging to turn it off. It is weird, disgusting, and stupid. Renting or buying this movie is a waste of time.


kid, 12 years old
 
iffy for 2-12


teen, 14 years old
 
iffy for 2-12


kid, 11 years old
 
iffy for 2-12

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