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Gentlemen Broncos
User Score
6.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 29
  3. Negative: 9 out of 29

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  1. RyanGee
    Sep 28, 2010
    2
    Imitation is the sincerest form a flattery. It is apparent that the Hess siblings desiderated to fancy their own works with their newest film Gentlemen Broncos. To qualify, Gentlemen Broncos utilizes the same exact formula of a societal misfit used in both Nacho Libre and Napoleon Dynamite. While those two comedic movies were both equally unique and humorous, Broncos feels stale, farcical, and ultimately, a waste of my time. Gentlemen Broncos is a story of Benjamin(Michael Angarano), a home-schooled misfit, who inspires to become a prominent science fiction writer. Benjamin attends a writing workshop headed by Chevalier (Jemaine Clement), his paragon of an author, who steals his story leaving the characters in tangles of plagiarism and adaptation rights. As a tenacious fan of Hess’s freshman work, Napoleon Dynamite, I ignored the harsh reviews of Broncos, thinking that the reviewers did not appreciate the dry humor that the Hess brothers have popularized. To my dismay, everything negative said about the film was absolutely correct. From the introduction to Benjamin’s bizarre acquaintances, everything seemed as if it was horrible replica of Napoleon Dynamite. Contrarily, Gentleman Broncos used Napoleon’s offbeat aspects in all of the wrong ways. The fantasy sequences, Benjamin’s onscreen stories, were so far-out and grotesque, I found myself skipping these images of “go-nads” and “cyclops.” Another adverse aspect was that the humor throughout the movie was so forced that it took away all of the genius comedic elements that Nacho Libre and Dynamite used brilliantly. Finally there were so many unnecessary moments of puking and physical humor that it seemed that the majority of the movie was crafted by Hess’s immature inner-child. The only redeeming aspect of the movie was Jemaine’s Clement’s performance. He successfully strays away from his character in HBO’s Flight Of The Conchords, and makes a ridiculously humorous character that deserves a film with more quality. Overall, Gentlemen Broncos created so much disappointment that I’ll probably never give Hess another chance. The Napoleon formula has lost all of its brilliance, and persistently using it exposes an untalented director with no more originality.… Expand
  2. Rusty
    Nov 5, 2009
    8
    Funny. But you have to like this style of movie.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. JacksonJ
    Nov 9, 2009
    9
    Hess films make many squirm, as I do occasionally, but I see very redeeming virtues in their uncomfortable depictions of sad life in the rural mountain west. For most filmmakers and movie goers, Hollywood and the Cinema is a larger than life fantasy world. Women like Catherine Zeta-Jones play female leads, Men like George Clooney play male leads, and everything is more glamorous, exciting, and entertaining than real-life. In essence, film becomes an escape from the drab mundane to another more exciting reality. Even films that are supposed to be dramatic, gritty, or depressing are played up with an engaging score, winsome actors, or beautiful scenery. This departure from reality is ferociously combated by the Hess'. Their films appear to be set in black holes that have drawn in kitsch from even the remotest corners of the universe and their characters are costumed with the saddest finds a thrift store could possibly offer, but there is purpose in the uncomfortable ugliness of it all; and if you’d seen my late grandmother’s motor home, you’d be forced to acknowledge their authenticity. The Hess’ seem to embrace these sad surroundings and glory in the disappointments and eccentricities of real people and real circumstances. It may not look pretty, but it feels real. There is sweet triumph in Gentlemen Broncos, triumph magnified sevenfold by the depressing realities surrounding it. The movie sends a message of hope for even the most down and out kid, and it’s a message that doesn’t have the synthetic and packaged feel that makes most of Hollywood’s drivel completely meaningless.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. alisond
    Nov 16, 2009
    10
    Hilarious, zanny, smart and tender. We couldn't stop laughing the whole time and went back again and it was even funnier.
    • 0 of 1 users said yes
  5. RobD
    Nov 7, 2009
    10
    This is right up hess' alley. He does a great job with great cast. It's not intended to be an intellectually stimulating movie and you shouldn't expect to get that from it. It's just plain fun entertaining humor.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  6. BorneoFunction
    Dec 27, 2011
    10
    If this film was an animal it would be a majestic eagle. It tickled me in all the right places and bought me tampons from stores I simply would not expect. 10/10
  7. smullins85
    Jan 20, 2011
    10
    I can't believe how harshly this movie was panned by critics when it came out. This movie is clever, original, and funny. It gets better on subsequent viewings when you start to really notice little things like a candy dish full of bullets or the attire of sci fi fans waiting in line for a book signing. This is the perfect movie to watch when you want to watch a movie and don't know what you are in the mood for.… Expand
  8. JamesGatz
    Jul 2, 2011
    9
    Sucks that the studio crapped its pants at the limited release reviews. This movie is funny, weird, wonderful. If it had gotten a wide release, it probably would have made its money back. Instead it soured Jared Hess' name (unfairly). RyanGee's comments: Jared and Jerusha Hess are married. Not siblings.
  9. t-bombz
    May 14, 2011
    1
    The only scene worth watching is the hidden finale, after the credits have rolled, with Sam Rockwell as Bronco. Watch it on YouTube or something. But for God's sake don't bother with the rest of the movie. It really is as horrible as it's rating shows.
  10. TheSagePenguin
    Aug 15, 2011
    0
    I enjoyed both Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, but Gentlemen Broncos feels more like an inept attempt to capture Hess' style than an effort from Hess himself. if you remove what worked from Napoleon Dynamite (the endearing performances and odd resemblance to reality amidst the bizarre) and pepper in more than a dash of inane bathroom humor just to guarantee a sunk ship, then you get Gentlemen Broncos - a movie trying so hard to be weird and off-beat that nothing feels genuine, and everything comes off contrived. The movie practically shouts its absurdities at its audience, pleading for them to become catchphrases and fads. But what won hearts with Napoleon Dynamite was its spontaneity. In contrast, Gentleman Broncos is cold calculated absurdity. And in this reviewer's opinion, it is flat-out awful. I haven't found myself less entertained in years, and have rarely found myself more insulted as a viewer by a movie smugly assuming own charm. Avoid this.… Expand
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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
28 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 21 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 21
  3. Negative: 13 out of 21
  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    60
    The best part is Jemaine Clement as Benjamin's grandiose genre hero, Dr. Ronald Chevalier. Even if you love him on "Flight of the Conchords," you'll be unprepared for his genius--and charisma.
    Read full review
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Frank Scheck
    40
    Has little to offer besides unrelenting strangeness.
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  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Peter Debruge
    40
    Napoleon Dynamite seems perfectly well-adjusted (not to mention downright charismatic) compared to homeschooled mama's boy Benjamin Purvis in Gentlemen Broncos, the latest oddball character portrait from one-trick helmer Jared Hess.
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