[Kill The Critic] The Independent Entertainment Blog [Film-Theatre-Comedy]

Before and After (2005 and 2007): The Wendell Baker Story is coming to theaters - again - and it's already on DVD. So does this mean a re-release of the DVD?

The Wendell Baker Story: It's Not Déjà Vu or A Time Warp, It's A Re-Premiere





3 out of 5 Time Machines

After catching a glimpse of a vaguely familiar movie poster online which prominently features Luke Wilson, I had to do a little digging. And when I found two versions about the same movie, I knew it wasn't déjà vu. I remembered that I had enjoyed attending the world premiere of "The Wendell Baker Story" at The Paramount Theatre at SXSW 2005. After I noted the flashing movie banner while browsing two of my favorite mega-blogs, The Chronic and The Austinist, I wondered if I was experiencing a time warp. Instead of a time warp I discovered that this overlooked indie film is getting second life. The premise of this story, a comedy principally shot in Austin, TX and throughout the state three years ago, is simple one: A good-natured conman Wendell Baker (screenwriter, co-director and hottie Luke Wilson) loses his freedom and his girlfriend Doreen (hottie Eva Mendes) in an illegal identity scam. The likable ex-con Wendell has paid his debt to society and when released attempts to win his girlfriend back with the help of his old partner Reyes Morales (Jacob Vargas) while working at a retirement home, run by the corrupt Neil King (UT-Austin alumnus and hottie older brother Owen Wilson). The best part of the movie is the supporting cast and the eccentric wit they bring to a movie that could easily be relegated to the so-so date movie category. But when you have actors like Eddie Griffin playing McTeague, King's right-hand man, and Seymour Cassel, Kris Kristofferson, and Harry Dean Stanton portraying oppressed retirees, you know you've got a movie worth watching. Oh- and Will Ferrell shows up in this one, too.

The Wendell Baker Story
(99 min., Rated PG-13, dir. Andrew Wilson & Luke Wilson)
Cinemark Barton Creek Cinema
2224 Walsh Tarlton at Loop 360
and
Regal Arbor Cinema at Great Hills
9828 Great Hills Trail
Austin, TX