“Bottle Rocket” is a delightful picture that is not quite a comedy and not really a drama. It marked the directorial debut of Wes Anderson (“Rushmore”), who has gone on to make a real name for himself with a very unique style of filmmaking.

In “Bottle Rocket”, Anthony (Luke Wilson “Idiocracy”, “Old School”) leaves a voluntary mental health facility and his brother (Owen Wilson “Shanghai Noon”, “Behind Enemy Lines”) has their future planned out. The two recruit their friend Bob (Robert Musgrave) to be a getaway driver in a robbery. The guys then go on the run and things start going wrong.

I’m not a big fan of the Wilson brothers but I have to say, I actually did not mind them in this movie. Luke Wilson is good as Alexander and Owen Wilson is fine as Dignan. You know you are doing something right when you can make a film where Owen Wilson does not cause you problems. James Caan (“The Godfather”) plays Mr. Henry and he is pretty good and I wish he had more screen time. Lumi Cavazos plays Inez, a housekeeper at a motel that attracts the attention of Alexander. Despite a language barrier, the pair fall in love and the romance is rather sweet.

I can see a lot of people not liking this film as they will feel they did not get it but I think that’s the point. Like some of Woody Allen’s best films, it does not comfortably sit in one particular genre and instead presents a more realistic view of life. In some respects, I would also compare the film to Coen brothers films such as “The Big Lebowski”. Some of the scenes in “Bottle Rocket” are very amusing and I recommend this film because I do like the style. I’m interested in seeing more from the director.