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Bandits
MGM


7.6

based on 32 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 18 votes
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FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for some sexual content, language and violence

Starring Bruce Willis, Cate Blanchett, Billy Bob Thornton, Troy Garity, and January Jones

When the suave, irresistible Joe (Willis), and his hypochondriac partner Terry (Thornton) escape from prison, they cut a swath from Oregon through California, robbing banks in order to finance their scheme for a new and somewhat legitimate life south of the border. (MGM)

GENRE(S):	Romance
WRITTEN BY:	Harley Peyton
DIRECTED BY:	Barry Levinson
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: April 2, 2002 Video: April 2, 2002 Theatrical: October 12, 2001
RUNNING TIME:	203 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

Billy Bob Thornton and Cate Blanchett each picked up Golden Globe nominations for their performances.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

Levinson's quirky caper is rich with laughs.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

As for Billy Bob, they all steal the money, but he steals the show.

New Times (L.A.) Robert Wilonsky

Delightful almost in spite of itself.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

An amusing tale of larceny triumphant, Bandits is an entertainment with a rogue's imagination.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

Almost every scene has something to chuckle over.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

The main reason to see Bandits is celebrity actors riffing with each other. That's not a bad reason, though. These two actors are also skillful comedians.

Time Richard Schickel

Works as a sweetly loony ensemble piece, a sort of cracked romance that's typical of director Barry Levinson at his shrewd but unpretentious best.

USA Today Claudia Puig

It's a rare romantic comedy/road picture that's not only flat-out funny, but also presents complex and well-developed characters.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Taken as a whole, Bandits is a success, a two-hour entertainment that floats along, stumbling into various genres, discovering its moments.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

Billy Bob Thornton, wearing a succession of toupees, wigs, fake facial hair, and funny hats, and twitching more than a horse's behind, is the best reason to see Bandits.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

For sheer escapist fun, the proudly ridiculous Bandits fills the bill.

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

The picture is written and acted as a lark and a romp.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

The film is such a good-natured and easygoing ride that it's ultimately very hard to resist.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Good value for the money, a funny, character-driven action comedy with three disparate stars -- who have great chemistry together.

Variety Todd McCarthy

The disparate but highly skilled leading trio of Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton and Cate Blanchett keeps this road movie engaging even when it veers giddily onto the shoulder.

Village Voice Dennis Lim

Neither sardonic nor slapstick enough, Bandits is framed as a flashback -- which merely heightens the general feeling of inevitability.

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

Bandits isn't much more than a pleasant dawdle, one made extra-likable by Thornton and Blanchett, whose ace performances keep the film zipping along even at its most predictable.

Boston Globe Jay Carr

Isn't awful, but neither is it the tangy entertainment it could have been.

TV Guide Tanya L. Edwards

Overall the mix of comedy and action is smooth and utterly enjoyable.

Slate David Edelstein

Levinson must think he's on safe ground morally by keeping Bandits bloodless, as if the absence of carnage somehow makes kidnapping and armed robbery wholesome.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

So determined to be clever and whimsical that it neglects to be anything else.

The New York Times A.O. Scott

Guilty of behaving like a petty thievery corporation; it steals from so many other sources that we're forced to realize that it has little of its own to offer. As such, it can't help but fail to meet expectations, given the talents involved.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

Mined for comedy and milked for drama, though what results is diminished by the very framing device contrived to punch it up.

Film Threat Heather Wadowski

The action-comedy could have easily been a delightful romp thanks to its A-list cast and well-written script, but poor editing causes Bandits to be just another hum-ho movie.

New York Magazine Peter Rainer

What we're getting in this movie isn't necessarily better; it's just more.

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

The picture's strength is comedy -- but the love and crime stories too often drag, falter or just plain frustrate.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

A comedy that might have made Butch and Sundance jump off a cliff.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

What started as cute becomes cloying and bloated. Charm should never feel like it weighs a ton.

LA Weekly Ella Taylor

Too long, too slow, too self-consciously chatty and too much at the mercy of a slim premise that doesn't wear well under endless repetition.

Salon.com Charles Taylor

Nothing is more dispiriting than forced high spirits. Bandits keeps reminding you of what a good time you should be having. You leave with a feeling of being swindled, and that's the only genuine thing about it.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

Long before this interminable film reaches its bogus finale, you'll realize that the people in it aren't real.

Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard

This self-consciously kooky road movie about an unusual trio of bank robbers aims for Hal Ashby misanthropy, but hasn't a single emotionally grounded or plausible moment to justify its purely cinematic eccentricities.

The average user rating for this movie is 7.6 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mike gave it a7:
Very intresting movie, but the last 30 mins gets too boring. Overall I recommend it.

Jonathan F. gave it a7:
If Bandits didn't have those great actors in it, I doubt if this movie would ever succeed. Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thorton seem to act amusingly together, and make a very nice "Odd" couple (i.e. Jack Lemon & Walter Mathow) :) It is another "we are nice criminals" movie. They rob banks but with a notion that it's actually not a crime. They are very polite, and aren't really able to hurt people. Although the story is a bit idiotic and unreliable, it is still very funny and amusing. One might enjoy it, just for fun. No analyzing is required in this movie. 7 out of 10.

raVen gave it a 9:
The thing about this film is that it accomplishes high quality popcorn movie entertainment while never assuming its audience is stupid. This, in large part, is due to the presence and prowess of Billy Bob Thornton. The dialogue shoots, studders, and spills out of him as if straight from the source. He has so many funny lines without the luxury of a setup it's really something to behold, and I loved the nod to Oregon's in-state college rivalry. The ending is revealed slowly and early, but it retains surprise. Willis' concrete-esque expressions actually help, as they provide a backdrop on which Thornton's antics can work best. Blanchett blends seamlessly. Everyone else is great in support, and I can't find a way to not like this movie.

Pat C. gave it a 5:
Slick flick about lovable characters who help themselves to wealth that others acquired honestly. OK, so the underlying premise totally sucks. Since when did that make pretension any less enjoyable. Thornton is great, Willis is, well, Willis. Blanchette cuts quite the character as a recruited housewive - man, that lady can play anything.

Steve K. gave it a 0:
This must be the most boring movie Ive ever seen. Is this a comedy?? Comedies should make you laugh, right? Well this movie wont. Waste of money. Dont even rent it.

[Anonymous] gave it a 10:
Great plot, amazing actors (especially Billy Bob Thornton), and a new twist every minute. Had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. This movie is awesome.

Matthew B. gave it a 9:
Hilarious! "Beavers and ducks" made me laugh so hard I cried.

Bandits MGM

Bandits
MGM