Grand Theft Parsons (2003)

44% of critics liked it
(27 reviews)
53% of users liked it
(5,044 ratings)

One man goes above and beyond the call of duty (and possibly the limits of the law) to give a good friend the final send-off he wanted in this comedy drama, which was inspired by a true story. Phil Kaufman (Johnny Knoxville) is a self-described "road mangler" and "executive nanny" who minds the… More One man goes above and beyond the call of duty (and possibly the limits of the law) to give a good friend the final send-off he wanted in this comedy drama, which was inspired by a true story. Phil Kaufman (Johnny Knoxville) is a self-described "road mangler" and "executive nanny" who minds the day-to-day business of a number of rock musicians, including the man he considers his best friend, country rock pioneer Gram Parsons (Gabriel Macht). Kaufman and Parsons share a deep love of the strangely beautiful deserts of California's Joshua Tree Park, and the two made a solemn pledge that whichever man outlived the other would take his dead friend's remains to Joshua Tree and release his spirit by setting fire to the body. When Kaufman gets word that Parsons has died of a drug overdose, he hops on his motorcycle to make good on his promise, but it doesn't take long for matters to get complicated -- Barbara Mansfield (Christina Applegate), one of Gram's many ex-girlfriends, arrives claiming to have a will declaring her the heir to his estate, and she isn't about to let Kaufman get in her way, while Stanley Parsons (Robert Forster), Gram's father, simply wants to pick up his son's body and take him back to New Orleans for burial. Not about to go back on his word, Kaufman has to scramble to claim Gram's body, and is forced to enlist the aid of Larry Oster-Berg (Michael Shannon), a slightly scrambled hippie who owns a hearse. Grand Theft Parsons features a cameo appearance from the real Phil Kaufman, whose autobiography Road Mangler Deluxe provided the basis for the screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: David Caffrey, David Caffrey (II)
Written By: Jeremy Drysdale
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 18, 2004 Limited
On DVD: Oct 26, 2004
Studio: Redbus Film Distribution

Critic Reviews

Leslie Felperin, Variety
Inspired by a true story, pic travels down familiar genre highways, but quirky humor and an apt soundtrack make for a pleasant enough journey.
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
What could have served as a colorful episode in a more expansive film about the famed singer has instead become the premise of a mildly entertaining but overextended road movie that doesn't succeed on either dramatic or comedic terms.
John Anderson, Newsday
The Phil-Larry dynamic makes up most of the movie and the strain of turning an anecdote into an demi-epic can be felt throughout the movie.
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
Gram Parsons' last rites were among the most extraordinary in rock history. Too bad this retelling of the singer's final adventure is so tame.
Megan Lehmann, New York Post
A ho-hum, meandering road movie, albeit with an extremely cool soundtrack.
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
The script ... leaves a lot to be desired, strewn with dialogue as flat and stale as old beer and some invented characters who make the events depicted seem more silly than anarchic.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
Don't let Knoxville's Jackass pedigree put you off - he can be subtle as well as gross.
Dragan Antulov, Draxblog Movie Reviews
there are worse ways to pay respect to music legends
James Brundage, Filmcritic.com
a sad joke without a solid punchline
Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat
What I responded to most about Grand Theft Parsons is that it tells the story without excess sentimentality...a funny, engaging movie that's worth seeking out.
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International
Grand Theft Parsons showcases some of Parsons's songs, but ... in the end it is a tribute to a man who stayed true to his word.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A dramatically inert buddy-road picture that's too shapeless to ever click.
Mark Keizer, Boxoffice Magazine
It's an aggravating film that seems content to skim the surface before folding up its tent after a scant 88 minutes.
, E! Online
Parsons' memory deserves a better movie than this.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Really nice, true story, could be better, could be worse. It?s an easy film to watch!
Michael G

This should've been a great movie but it turned out to be so boing.