Review of Gentlemen Broncos (2009) by Pier B — 24 May 2010

Frankly, I'm baffled by the wave of negative responses this film has garnered. Not that Gentlemen Broncos deserves universal praise-it certainly won't appeal to everyone, and there's plenty of juvenile poo-humor here amidst Hess's characteristic underplayed subtleties. And yet said humor at most points serves to deconstruct the absolute seriousness with which nearly every character interaction plays out. The awkward tension is palpable, not unlike in Napoleon Dynamite, but here the stakes seem higher. Despite the goofiness of Benj's sci-fi novella, which is easy to laugh at due to Sam Rockwell's ham-job, the film's central "protag" himself is admirable for wading through seeming endless oppression, and somehow maintaining a sense of dignity despite the source material. But as we see in the film, Benj's work is no more cheesy (and certainly more heartfelt) than that of his hero-Ronald Chevalier (Jemaine Clement)-who ruthlessly plagiarizes his would-be protégé after reading his submission while teaching at a dubious writer's camp.

In short, Gentlemen Broncos is a genre parody that not only focuses on the material, but the producers of said material. Clearly, Hess is a fan of what he lampoons. How could he know it so well otherwise? Believe it or not, he has both film and literary exemplars who do the same. Chaucer's Tale of Sir Thopas may sound like a snooty example, but nobody knows how to mangle cheap bard-meter like the pilgrim himself and yet still illicit laughter and respect. I would venture a guess that anyone who enjoyed the film probably has a dusty box of science fiction paperbacks in the attic, replete with the kind of artwork that showcases during the credit sequence. And yes, you can care about something deeply (no matter how kitsch or otherwise) and still recognize silly aspects.

From a purely subjective standpoint, it's difficult for me to pin down exactly the appeal of this, or any of Hess's other movies. Maybe it's because nearly every character has a real-life antecedent. As implausible as this may seem, I've met every character in this film. We're struck with a comedic epiphany the moment we realize so-and-so is really what's-his-face. Ultimately, almost all comedy is contextual, especially the kind Hess forwards, and Gentlemen Broncos banks on being relatable. Could that be the problem, then? There aren't enough former science fiction/fantasy writers with dry senses of humor who enjoy laughing at themselves? While this characterization is overly simplistic, the point stands: in this case, Hess caters to a pretty limited demographic.

Unfortunately, I'm betting that my rather reductive explanation won't hold up under much scrutiny. Regardless, this film seems destined for love-it-or-hate-it characterizations, no matter the motivation.

Finally, I must take issue with a comment left by a reviewer on this site: "You can't root for [the characters] while laughing at the work they hold dear -- it just doesn't go both ways." So are we to judge who we should "root for" based on the quality of a product? How many reviewers on this site rooted for Spinal Tap (in any of their incarnations)? How many of them rooted for any other inept, silly, or otherwise sub-virtuoso? Shouldn't we also challenge ourselves to examine the borders of art and kitsch, and perhaps find comedy there? After all, this is still a comedy, not Lorenzo's Oil. At times that fact is easy to forget while watching Gentlemen Broncos-there are some pretty grim consequences for Benj and his mother should their tenuous financial situation worsen. The protagonist grows increasingly desperate and haggard as the film progresses, and even at one point bullets fly. I'm suspicious of bandwagon approaches, but it's pretty easy to root for Benj, considering his context and company. Besides, only sadists will laugh at a character's pain or hopes. Rather, it's the surrounding situations-the events, persons, reactions, etc-that prove comedic.

Don't dismiss Gentlemen Broncos out of hand. Don't worry-there will be plenty of time for those sure-fire ditties next Friday.