Enjoy Eshaan's review of The Accidental Texan
5With crisp and natural dialogue writing, a unique plot and strong performances across the board, The Accidental Texan does the Lone Star State right. Whether you’re an oil and gas professional, a Texan, a small-town western fan, or none of the above, this is a film to watch out for.
Recent Harvard dropout and aspiring Hollywood actor Erwin (Rudy Pankow) gets fired from his first gig in New Orleans when he refuses to turn off his phone and triggers an explosion on set. Shaken up, he heads back to LA, but his car breaks down in the tiny town of Buffalo Gap in Texas oil country. Stranded, tired, and strapped for cash, he enters the town’s diner, where he meets the kind waitress Faye (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Merle (Thomas Haden Church), a tough-as-nails oilman, only to find out he too is nearly bankrupt because of legal and business troubles. Both men seek refuge in each other; Merle’s only hope for financial solvency is Erwin’s acting skills (plus Faye’s shotgun), and Erwin’s future lies in Merle’s hands.
The writing and performances in the film are the two biggest highlights. Pankow and Church’s rapport is truly special — the sort of bromance between them, despite their age gap, is fun to watch, and Church shifts into a more mentor-like figure at all the right moments. The dialogue writing also helps develop their dynamic. The banter between the two is light and natural; even in tense moments, nothing ever feels forced. Carrie-Anne Moss, as Faye, also shines on screen; the warmth of her character and her willingness to help out will endear her to viewers. Thanks to the writing, Faye never feels like a prop character or a sidekick; she’s always there for Merle and “Harvard,” as Erwin is nicknamed. The one knock on The Accidental Texan is that I wish it went deeper into each character’s past. We know Merle is divorced and lost his son, but we never get any further details. We know little about Faye and Merle’s equation except that their budding romance began after his divorce and that he’s known to play hot and cold. Erwin’s past is the most detailed: we learn about his parents and his background, but a few more minutes of context would have lent more depth to his character.
The Accidental Texan promotes being resourceful and relying on the community around you in tough times. Empathy and goodwill are also emphasized. Parents should be advised that Erwin and Merle do some extralegal things to obtain documents to help Merle’s company not go bankrupt. Both also consume alcohol and there’s some suggestive dialogue between Merle and Faye.
I give The Accidental Texan 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18 plus adults. The Accidental Texan releases on March 8, 2024. https://youtu.be/dXu5KS_otzo
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