The Beach Bum
The Beach Bum

The Beach Bum

2019Movie95 minEnglish

An irreverent comedy about the misadventures of Moondog, a rebellious stoner and lovable rogue who lives large.

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Insights

IMDb5.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes62%
Metacritic53/100
Google Users59%
Director: Harmony KorineGenres: Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

The film follows the perpetually stoned poet Moondog as he drifts through the extravagant and surreal world of Key West, Florida. Despite his aimless lifestyle, he embarks on a quest to complete his magnum opus and reclaim his inheritance. Along the way, he encounters a colorful cast of characters and engages in a series of bizarre and hedonistic adventures.

Critical Reception

The Beach Bum received mixed reviews from critics, with many praising its unique visual style and McConaughey's performance, while others found its meandering plot and drug-fueled antics to be monotonous and lacking substance. Audience reception was similarly divided.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its distinctive visual aesthetic and McConaughey's committed performance.
  • Criticized for its aimless narrative and repetitive, drug-centric humor.
  • Seen by some as a playful, albeit shallow, ode to excess and bohemian living.

Google audience: Google users found the film to be a visually interesting but ultimately shallow and rambling experience. While some appreciated the eccentric characters and laid-back vibe, many felt it lacked a compelling story and relied too heavily on stoner comedy tropes.

Fun Fact

The film's distinctive visual style was achieved using a combination of different film stocks and digital techniques, with director Harmony Korine aiming for a dreamy, hallucinatory aesthetic.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
tmdb28039023

tmdb28039023

The Beach Bum is a spiritual sequel to The Big Lebowski, and while it's so light it's practically gaseous, at least it's not mean-spirited and immoral like The Jesus Rolls. The movie works, insofar as it does, thanks to Matthew McConaughey;...
SWITCH.

SWITCH.

While the film won’t reveal any new revelatory outlooks on life or leave you feeling like you just witnessed a game-changing piece of cinema, ‘The Beach Bum’ is an incredibly enjoyable 95-minute exercise in escapism, love, and the unprecede...
Gill-Man

Gill-Man

Not as good as <i>Spring Breakers</i> for me but still an amazing film nonetheless. I loved Matthew McConaughey's performance and this is probably my second favorite Harmony Korine film. Loved it. It'll get pushed under the rug of course bu...