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Parents' Guide to

The Highwaymen

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Retired Rangers track Bonnie & Clyde; some violent images.

Movie R 2019 132 minutes
The Highwaymen Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Allison C.
Allison C. Parent
May 1, 2019
age 16+

No character development or anything beyond "the chase"

I think people might just be nostalgic for movies like this, but there is not much redeeming or interesting about this search for Bonnie & Clyde. No character development of the Highwaymen, just references to their past - but no real depth. Is it a chase? is that it? what about the politics that are just shadowed - the power of the Texas Rangers to kill with immunity? So so disappointing and a waste of my time. :(

This title has:

Too much violence
JERSEY CRUSH
JERSEY CRUSH Adult
April 22, 2019
age 14+
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE HIGHWAYMEN, a movie based on actual events, pays tribute to Frank Hamer (Kevin Costner) and Maney Gault (Woody Harrelson), the two aging Texas Rangers who were called upon to bring their skills and resourcefulness to the manhunt for the legendary Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. The infamous couple had evaded capture time and again. More than a thousand law enforcement officers, including members of the FBI, were assigned to the case in 1934, when Governor Miriam "Ma" Ferguson (Kathy Bates), the first female governor in Texas, elicited the services of Hamer and Gault. The Rangers had been disbanded, were scorned and mocked, so Ferguson's assignment of the two men was hardly taken seriously, despite their well-earned reputation for effectiveness. Hamer and Gault, aware that their age and physicality didn't inspire trust, were challenged, particularly by the FBI, as they carefully ran down leads that others had overlooked. Fortunately, youth and agility aren't all that matter in such a demanding assignment, and Hamer's and Gault's successful efforts became the stuff of legends, as well.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (5 ):

Straightforward storytelling and solid performances by Costner and Harrelson make for a fine, though far less dynamic, partner to 1967's dazzling, classic Bonnie and Clyde. The Highwaymen is part police procedural, part myth-buster, and part buddy tale. The movie looks great; both cinematographer John Schwartzman and the production design team enhance director John Lee Hancock's vision of time and place; everything about the film feels authentic. Regrettably, in maintaining that accuracy, there's not a lot to surprise audiences. Hamer and Gault's machinations -- traversing Texas and venturing across its borders to focus on the villains' natural predilection for "going home" -- are smart but not always dramatic. And Hamer's stoicism doesn't allow for a spirited relationship with his partner. Still, it's an admirable movie that gives a very honest look at the flip side of a legendary historical event.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the fact that Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, sociopathic killers, were very early "media celebrities" with thousands of "fans." What role do you think the Great Depression played in their story being romanticized? Find out more about why they tapped into the spirit of the time in which they lived. In today's culture of media superstars, how do you think they would be perceived?

  • The filmmakers chose to shoot the climactic sequence on the actual stretch of road upon which Bonnie and Clyde were killed by law enforcement. Why would they make that effort? How do you think it impacted the actors who were playing the parts? How does authenticity enrich the moviemaking and moviegoing experiences?

  • How does The Highwaymen emphasize such character strengths as perseverance, teamwork, and courage?

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