Accidental Texan: reviews

What the critics say average 5.3 from 19 outlets

• 9.1 CineMovie.tvLupe Rodriguez Haas It's not an insult to describe Accidental Texan as a simple little movie. In a time when characters and plotlines are overcomplicated, Accidental Texan's concept is basic, and driven by the strength of the characters. Read
• 7.5 Fort Worth ReportJoe Friar Austin filmmaker Mark Bristol, an in-demand storyboard artist who has worked with Terrence Malick and Christopher McQuarrie, delivers a funny and warm comedy that you'll want to revisit from time to time. Read
• 7.0 VarietyJoe Leydon Undemandingly entertaining, director Mark Bristol’s well-crafted indie can be savored as a heaping helping of palate-cleansing sherbet, best enjoyed between viewings of bigger and louder but by no means better movies. And yes, that’s meant as a compliment. Read
• 6.7 The Austin ChronicleRichard Whittaker There’s an earnestness about Accidental Texan that can only warm your heart. Every moment is predictable, but in Bristol’s capable hands that becomes a strength. Read
• 6.0 The Epoch TimesMark Jackson As I started watching the film, I agreed with the critics. By the end, I agreed with the audience. Read
• 6.0 Common Sense MediaTara McNamara Still, with the acting talent of Church and Bruce Dern and Pankow's charm, it's all good enough to entertain for a couple of hours. Read
• 6.0 CinemalogueTodd Jorgenson Although it gushes with cliches in the final act, the film generates some laughs through an affectionate portrayal of its setting that celebrates rural quirks rather than mocking them. Read
• 6.0 We Live EntertainmentAaron Neuwirth However, Haden Church tends to go a long way for me, as his burly Texan persona is a lot of fun to watch, even in a film as uneven as this. Read
• 5.8 One Guy's OpinionFrank Swietek Still, thanks to the performances the movie, imperfect as it is, remains easy to take. Read
• 5.0 Third Coast ReviewSteven Prokopy I'm always excited to see THC in anything these days, and he does his best to keep Accidental Texan grounded, but there are too many elements working against him to make the film worth recommending. Read
• 5.0 WORLDCollin Garbarino In Accidental Texan, the characters struggle to find the right place to drill, but the filmmaker struggled to figure out what kind of movie he was making. Read
• 5.0 Mark Reviews MoviesMark Dujsik Here's where things start down that pleasant path and, unfortunately, become a bit too convoluted and niche for the simple material's own good. Read
• 4.2 Galveston Daily NewsDustin Chase Despite good intentions, Accidental Texan is a pileup of Lone Star State cliches and stereotypes that reduce it to 90's era made for TV era movie quality. Read
• 4.0 Screen RantSarah Little Accidental Texan forces us to sympathize with the characters rather than letting compassion form naturally. The result is a failed attempt to weave successful pathos throughout the movie. Read
• 4.0 Spectrum CultureJoel Copling The halfway point of Accidental Texan rather cleanly divides the film into two very different movies. Both are utterly cornball. Read
• 4.0 Flickering MythRobert Kojder For a film grounded by serious drama about a licensing dispute over oil drilling and father/son baggage, Accidental Texan is determined to go out of its way at every turn to break real-world logic and believability, functioning as head-scratchingly silly more than anything. Read
• 3.8 Aisle SeatMike McGranaghan An interesting movie could be made about the process of figuring out where and how to drill for oil, but instead of instructing us, Accidental Texan uses the subject to tell a story filled with contrivances. Read
• 3.0 Culture MixCarla Hay "Accidental Texan" is an annoying "fish out of water" comedy/drama about a Los Angeles-based actor who is reluctantly recruited by a Texas oil driller to be part of an oil scheme. The dialogue and scenarios become increasingly ridiculous. Read
• 2.5 Roger EbertKatie Rife What’s unclear is whether this project is clumsy, but earnest, or a cynical attempt to sell a shoddy film to the “DVD section at Walmart” crowd. Read