The Beach Bum

R

Released Mar 29, 2019

1 hr. 35 min.

Comedy

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List

57%

127 Reviews

Tomatometer

42%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Moondog is a fun-loving, pot-smoking, beer-drinking writer who lives life on his own terms in Florida. If he can put down the drugs for just one minute, he may finally be able to put his talent to good use and finish the next great American novel.

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Critics Consensus

The role of a lifetime for Matthew McConaughey, The Beach Bum is set apart by Harmony Korine's distinctive style, but that isn't always enough to offset the unfocused story.

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Audience Member

this is the performance of a lifetime by Matthew McConaughey who is also supported by a terrific cast from Isla Fisher to Snoop Dogg to Martin Lawrence to Zac Efron to Jonah Hill and of course, Jimmy Buffet once again director Harmony Korine directs a film focusing on the party-fueled, night-life of Florida this time instead of spring break he focuses on a successful poet/stoner named Moon Dog he's been writing for a long time but is more used to partying night and day with his wealthy wife and his 420 buddies they both have a mutual understanding that in order for him to continue to be a successful writer he can smoke, drink, and have as much sex as he wants for inspiration his daughter gets married, then his wife passes away in a car accident; this leaves him virtually a bum on the beach now to stay alfoat he must complete his next big manuscript otherwise he can't touch his late wife's inheritance to get himself back up McConaughey gives an outstanding performance like I said even if his character ranges from goofy to unlikeable to free-spirited time and time again some of the editing is still trippy and unfocused as well Korine has many of his signature elements here you'd expect from the bright, neon colors to the killer music although at times the sex and the violence can get a bit excessive for casual viewers he still manages to get across to everyone that all of us just want to have fun to find inspiration, to be a genius you need guidance, and you need to be a bit unbalanced in order to achieve success not all of us have to be so closed off from the many splendors surrounding us a less-successful effort than 'Spring Breakers' which did a lot more touching upon the pros and cons of having a good time and away from our own realities overall though, McConaughey and the rest of the cast make this one serviceable even a bum on the beach can succeed with a few words of wisdom

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

Full Review

Dallas H

The catering budget for alcohol and marijuana for this movie must have been astronomical. This movie doesn't come off as a three-act plot but more of an existence of a character-driven lifestyle that some people in real life would be drawn to. I was surprised that I was more intrigued by this movie than the other Harmony Korine flicks I've watched. I would attribute it to Matthew McConaughey being good at what he does.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/29/24

Full Review

Trevor G

I'm an author and was excited to see Matthew McConaughey portray one in this movie - but he doesn't. There is very little writing or focus on the craft of storytelling - in fact it doesn't look like they hired anyone to write the script! The entire movie is McConaughey getting high, wandering around, stealing and hurting other people in that douche baggy stoner way. It was a bad movie that was boring, unfunny, and dishonest about its portrayal of being an author. There are no redeeming qualities to Matthew McConaughey's character - you are not rooting for him or anyone in this movie. No life lessons here, no internal B-story of meaning and significance. McConaughey even gets people killed from constantly being messed up on drugs. No life lessons in this movie. There are no heroes in this movie or villains - just a mooch living off others, destroying any good vibe in his life and this movie. You feel bad after watching it, as the first 5-10 minutes is the entire movie they simply put on loop. There is no art to this film, no character development, no ah ha realizations or plot twists. There are no stakes set up to make you care about the main character, no three act structure for the movie, no central conflict or plot points. Well, just barely it limps along with a midpoint moment for his inheritance. The more the viewer cares about main character/ hero of the story, the more effective the story will be. You won't care about Moon Dog. You'll wish he passed out drunk in another alley way far from your movie screens or streaming platforms. Ugh. I regret watching it and wish I could get that time back last night.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/06/24

Full Review

Allison M

Pointless. Matthew's character is a drunken douche that smokes and drinks his way through life and everyone is okay with it.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/30/23

Full Review

Daisy J

This movie is grossly underrated. A character study on finding inspiration in a world only Korine can create.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/30/23

Full Review

Laura L

This movie is crap, and I do like Mathew. The character seems fake. Perhaps it's based on every losers wet dream: carelessly drinking and getting stoned. Whatever, I want my $3.99 back.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/14/23

Full Review

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Harmony Korine

Director

Matthew McConaughey

Moondog

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Isla Fisher

Minnie

Stefania Owen

Heather

Jimmy Buffett

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The Beach Bum: Trailer 1

2:25

The Beach Bum: Red Band Trailer 1

2:29

The Beach Bum: Teaser Trailer 1

1:00

The Beach Bum: Red Band Teaser Trailer 1

1:05

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Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

It's as if, like the rest of the cast in this riotous non-event, [McConaughey's] having so much fun making the film that he simply doesn't care. Good for him.

Rated: 1/5

Oct 28, 2019

Full Review

Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

It's not unfunny watching McConaughey smoke a joint from between Isla Fisher's toes, but some viewers may find themselves less enamoured of Moondog than the film is.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 27, 2019

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Korine achieves a Zen state of unfunny with this pointless non-comedy...

Rated: 1/5

Oct 25, 2019

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…Korine’s best and most accessible film to date, hinging on an out-there star performance that’s worth celebrating for its sheer extremity…

Rated: 3/5

Mar 23, 2024

Full Review

Bill Bria

Vague Visages

The Beach Bum is undoubtedly Harmony Korine’s friendliest movie, as the filmmaker tones down his Jean-Luc Godard meets John Waters envelope-pushing tendencies and alienating techniques, yet there’s still a lot of edge to be found in the film.

Jun 7, 2023

Full Review

Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Episode 34: Relaxer / A Scanner Darkly / The Beach Bum / Holy Motors

Rated: 69/100

Sep 14, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Moondog is a fun-loving, pot-smoking, beer-drinking writer who lives life on his own terms in Florida. If he can put down the drugs for just one minute, he may finally be able to put his talent to good use and finish the next great American novel.

Director: Harmony Korine
Executive Producer: Karl Spoerri, Marc Schmidheiny, Nik Bower, Deepak Nayar, Will Weiske, Thorsten Schumacher, Chiara Gelardin, Eddy Moretti, Shane Smith, Danny Gabai
Screenwriter: Harmony Korine
Distributor: Vice Studios, Neon
Production Co: Iconoclast, Le Grisbi, Anonymous Content
Rating: R (Nudity|Language Throughout|Pervasive Drug and Alcohol Use|Some Strong Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 2019, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 18, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.5M
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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