Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Amusing buddy comedy has drinking, gunfire, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Accidental Texan
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In ACCIDENTAL TEXAN, Erwin Vandeveer (Rudy Pankow) is driving home to Los Angeles after getting fired from the New Orleans set of the movie that was meant to be his "big break." When Erwin's car breaks down in a small Texas field and he doesn't have enough money to pay for repairs, a veteran oil driller named Merle (Thomas Haden Church) realizes that an actor may be just what his business needs to pull it out of debt.
Is It Any Good?
As films about oil drilling go, this one is more fun and more family-friendly than most, as well as perhaps the teeniest bit educational. It isn't Giant, Three Days of the Condor, There Will Be Blood, Deepwater Horizon, or Killers of the Flower Moon, but Accidental Texan does have attention to detail when it comes to oil drilling and working on a rig. And characters' conversations about geology—and even marketing!—may be enough to pique kids' interest.
This underdog story about taking on the "fat cats" is really about two unlikely partners—one at the beginning of his career, the other at the end—who are essentially trying to save themselves. Erwin and Merle are both as stuck as Erwin's Prius, unable to figure out why they can't move forward to get what they want. Sometimes, you need to push to succeed in anything, even if its not the thing, to get out of the muck and back into life. While the movie's story is focused on the reality of the men's situation, several plot beats are scoff-worthy. And while the cinematography is gorgeous, the energy spent on capturing beautiful visuals wasn't equal to that used on the audio: The bad mics can be distracting. Still, with the acting talent of Church and Bruce Dern and Pankow's charm, it's all good enough to entertain for a couple of hours.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why underdog stories like Accidental Texan can be so compelling to watch. Why does comedy work when it's "punching up" rather than "punching down"?
What are the hallmarks of a buddy comedy? Does Accidental Texan fit into the genre? How does it compare to others you've seen?
How do Merle, Erwin, and Faye demonstrate perseverance and teamwork? Why are these important life skills?
Does the movie make drinking look fun or appealing? Why does that matter?
The female screenwriter says she wanted to make the male-centric story more female friendly—and that Chocolate Lizards, the source novel, was raunchier, used harder language, and had fewer female characters. Do you think her changes did indeed make the movie more appealing to women? Do you think a male screenwriter would have made the same changes?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 8, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : April 23, 2024
- Cast : Thomas Haden Church , Rudy Pankow , Carrie-Anne Moss , Bruce Dern
- Director : Mark Lambert Bristol
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Roadside Attractions
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong language and brief violence
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate