The Baytown Outlaws (2012)

baytown-outlaws

You know your cast has done a great job with their respective roles when they’ve successfully turned three dumb, ignorant, gun loving red necks in to charming heroes you root for until the bitter end. Surely enough, director Barry Battles’ grindhouse redneck chic romp isn’t an easy sell as, after the first ten minutes, I was ready to toss this aside and look for something better on my plate. But surely enough after spending time with it, “The Baytown Outlaws” eventually won me over, completely. In fact, I kind of fucking loved it, all things considered.

The Oodie brothers are three freelance bounty hunters that work off the books for the local sheriff (Andre Braugher). The Oodies are comprised of a trio of brothers, the ignorant but clever Brick, the mute but gargantuan enforcer Lincoln, and painfully stupid but loyal McQueen. They love guns more than women, and have a good time getting bloody and beating down on other lowlives. After botching a job with much embarrassment, they begin looking for a better job that can help them build a legitimate bounty hunting business. They’re confronted by the gorgeous Celeste (Eva Longoria), who is familiar with their dirty work. She hires them to kidnap her friend Rob from her ex Carlos for an obscene amount of money.

They can hardly resist what is a simple snatch and grab and go for the gold. Billy Bob Thorton has a glorified walk on as the aspiring drug lord Carlos, who has it out for Celeste and is anxious to become the new top world wide crime boss. After smashing in to his house, they’re shocked to discover Rob is a physically disabled young boy who is being held captive and cared for. Even worse is the brothers murder everyone in the house, but forget to kill Carlos. Now with the trio on the run with Rob and caring for him, they’re hunted by a variety of criminals and biker gangs, all of whom are blatant racial stereotypes in their own right. The trio come face to face with a gang of dominatrixes, an African American gang of pirates, and a Native American biker gang with a hobby for collecting scalps.

Surely enough, director Barry Battles’ is shameless but damn fun exploitation that revels in creating colorful characters. While it definitely tries to be Tarantino on many occasions, when it rides on its own charms and level of comedy, it’s a damn exciting action film with some genuinely good characterization. Especially in regards to the Oodies, the three of whom seem like despicable gun nuts, but eventually open up and reveal more tragic back stories. Especially in light of Rob whom they begin to bond with, the longer the trip becomes. The trio of actors gives fantastic performances, and I especially enjoyed how they’re very aware of how stupid they are, but have come to grips with that fact years before we met them. “The Baytown Outlaws” is definitely a love it or hate it action picture, and surely enough I was won over by its rugged charms, and slick action. I also wouldn’t mind seeing another adventure with the lovable Oodie brothers.