The Wendell Baker Story

A family affair from the Wilson brothers—Luke (writer, co-director, star), Owen (costar), and Andrew (co-director)—The Wendell Baker Story features Luke as the titular Texas scam artist, who studies hotel management while in prison for forging illegal immigration documents and, after being paroled, lands a job at a rundown retirement home where a wily head nurse (Owen) is running a Medicare-fraud scheme at the expense of the patients. Good-natured Wendell naturally joins forces with the oldsters, who in turn help him win back his girlfriend (who left Wendell when he went to jail). The film shuffles along towards its predictably happy ending in the rambling, enervated, slightly scattershot fashion that the Wilsons have cultivated on screen, an approach that works in fairly short spurts but proves more than a little deadening over the long haul. Harry Dean Stanton, Seymour Cassel, and Kris Kristofferson contribute charming moments in supporting roles, and Will Ferrell will please his fans in a brief turn as a wild-eyed grocery store manager, but their efforts can't offset the fact that this episodic movie ultimately ends up feeling half-baked. Not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by filmmakers Andrew and Luke Wilson, an “Afternoon at Luke's with Harry Dean Stanton and Seymore Cassel” featurette with the costars (22 min.), “Making Wendell Baker: On Location with the Wilsons” (14 min.), eight bonus scenes (10 min.), a three-minute photo montage, a performance of “Live Forever” performed by Billy Joe Shaver, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing film.] (F. Swietek)