The Wendell Baker Story

Play trailer

The Wendell Baker Story

PG-13

Released Mar 11, 2005

1h 39m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Career con artist Wendell Baker (Luke Wilson) discovers he has a talent for straightening out tense situations. Following his release from jail, he decides to pursue a new career in the hospitality industry, and winds up at a retirement home. His new boss (Owen Wilson) is a mean-spirited man who steals the residents' money and treats them like slaves, and tries to involve Wendell in his schemes. Instead, Wendell casts his lot with the residents and helps them fight back.

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Wendell Baker Story is a lackadaisical comedy of quirky characters and situations, but ultimately the lazy narrative bores instead of charms.

Read Critics Reviews

Bruce Westbrook

Houston Chronicle

Given Luke Wilson's affability, it's also irresistibly charming. You may not buy the film's plot, but you'll invest in him as a man whose heart is always in the right place.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 8, 2007

Full Review

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

I think it's one of the worst movies of the year. I think it's one of the worst movies I've ever seen.

May 21, 2007

Full Review

Mark Holcomb

Time Out

Here's something satisfying: '70s-cinema fetishism with the courage of its convictions.

Rated: 4/6

May 19, 2007

Full Review

Heather Huntington

ReelzChannel.com

I haven't seen this many old coots getting up to no good since Cocoon.

Rated: 4/10

Aug 28, 2008

Full Review

S. Jhoanna Robledo

Common Sense Media

Wilson bros' uneven comedy has dark undertones.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 22, 2007

Full Review

Ted Murphy

Murphy's Movie Reviews

just a shaggy dog story dressed up in cowboy boots and a cool belt.

Rated: C

Jul 14, 2007

Full Review

Read all reviews

John R

One of the greatest movies ever Luke Wilson obviously worked super hard on it it is a great movie about life and it is extremely funny

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/19/24

Full Review

michael t

An amazing cast in this 'hard luck case makes good' story. Eva Mendes is gorgeous, as usual, as the love interest. The set-up is overly long and slow, but it picks up momentum after that and has some amusing twists and turns. I like a feel-good story, so I'm willing to suspend disbelief. I probably won't be thinking about this tomorrow, though.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The characters are kind of funny, but you never really care for anyone of them. The pretty boring story doesn't help either.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

nothing can save this junk.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

More Will Ferrell would have made this a classic!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I actually liked Kris Kristofferson better than anyone else in the movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Luke Wilson

Director

Andrew Wilson

Director

Luke Wilson

Wendell Baker

Owen Wilson

Neil King

Kris Kristofferson

Nasher

Eva Mendes

Doreen

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Fun With Dick and Jane

30%

49%

Fun With Dick and Jane

Watchlist

Starsky & Hutch

63%

49%

Starsky & Hutch

Watchlist

You, Me and Dupree

20%

50%

You, Me and Dupree

Watchlist

TRAILER

for You, Me and Dupree

The Cookout

5%

37%

The Cookout

Watchlist

The Longest Yard

32%

62%

The Longest Yard

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Longest Yard

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critical Consensus: Third Time’s Not the Charm for "Shrek"

View more photos

Synopsis

Career con artist Wendell Baker (Luke Wilson) discovers he has a talent for straightening out tense situations. Following his release from jail, he decides to pursue a new career in the hospitality industry, and winds up at a retirement home. His new boss (Owen Wilson) is a mean-spirited man who steals the residents' money and treats them like slaves, and tries to involve Wendell in his schemes. Instead, Wendell casts his lot with the residents and helps them fight back.

Director: Luke Wilson, Andrew Wilson
Producer: Mark Johnson, David Bushell
Screenwriter: Luke Wilson
Production Co: Mobius Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Some Crude/Sexual Humor)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 11, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 18, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $127.1K
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS

Most Popular at Home Now