The Beach Bum

Director: Harmony Korine Harmony Korine

Overview

A stoner poet named Moondog (Matthew McConaughey) is a beloved local icon in the Florida Keys where his days are filled with drugs and debauchery paid for by his rich wife Minnie (Isla Fisher). Moondog's free and easy lifestyle gets him in trouble with the law, with a rehab center, with his literary agent (Jonah Hill) and even with his daughter Heather (Stefania LaVie Owen) on her wedding day. Written and directed by Harmony Korine. Snoop Dogg, Zac Efron, Martin Lawrence and Jimmy Buffett co-star.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/18/2019
UPC:	0191329050842
Original Release:	2019
Rating:	R
Source:	Universal Studios
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:35:00
Sales rank:	49,537

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Matthew McConaughey	Moondog
Snoop Dogg	Lingerie
Isla Fisher	Minnie
Stefania Owen	Heather
Martin Lawrence	Captain Wack
Zac Efron	Flicker
Jonah Hill	Lewis
Jimmy Buffett	Jimmy Buffett
Clinton Archambault	Lawyer
Joshua Rosen	Reporter
Tonya Oliver	Drug Counselor
Chela Arias	Cuban Maid
Ricardo Matallana	Jose the Pool Boy
Joshua Ritter	Groom "Limp Dick"
Jo Marie Payton	Judge
Karla Goodwin	Maria
Debra Cohen	Tourist Mother
Alan Frankel	Tourist Father
A. Ali Flores	Neck Brace Guy
Barrie Mizerski	Pulitzer Announcer
Todd Mitchell	Lingerie's Yacht Guard #1
Devon James	Lingerie's Yacht Guard #2
Andrea Bennetti	Prostitute #1
London Seabreeze	Topless Woman #1
Sharon Pfeiffer	Sexy Older Woman
Dustin Greer	Robber
Bertie Higgins	Bertie Higgins
Jerry Ascione	Homeless Man
Rosie Bernhard	Wheelchair Wedding Guest
Ellen Marguerite Cullivan	Funeral /Bar /PulitzerPrizeGuest
Ricky Diaz	Jonathan /Best Man
Taina Dominguez	Bridesmaid
Frenchi Firecracker	Drug Counselor
Sheila Friedman	Pulitzer Prize Guest /Hospital Waiting Room Visitor
Rob Goodman	Homeless Guy 3
Paul Homza	Homeless Guy 2
Grant Koo	Groom
Dawn Lyn	Tourist
Audrey Lynn	Dancing Gala Guest
Jamil Malik	Court Bailiff
Nick Puya	Jax
Ashae Reagan	Wedding Guest
Nicholas Simmons	Armed Guard #1
Erik Stone	Bouncer
John Debney	Composer

Technical Credits

Harmony Korine

Harmony Korine	Screenwriter,Director
Mary Vernieu	Casting
Scott Clements	Sound Mixer
Ezra Dweck	Sound Editor
Nik Bower	Executive Producer
Danny Gabai	Executive Producer
Chiara Gelardin	Executive Producer
Eddy Moretti	Executive Producer
Deepak Nayar	Executive Producer
Marc Schmidheiny	Executive Producer
Thorsten Schumacher	Executive Producer
Karl Spoerri	Executive Producer
Will Weiske	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

The Beach Bum is an exhilarating ride sans destination. Harmony Korine (Spring Breakers, Gummo) writes and directs a story detailing the life of a poet more interested in having fun and living freely than in focusing on his craft. We encounter Moondog (Matthew McConaughey) mumbling to himself in a drunken stupor while walking down the boardwalk in Key West, Florida. Throughout the film, we are treated to many different adventures with Moondog, beginning at his daughter's (Stefania LaVie Owen) wedding where he sees his wife, Minnie (Isla Fisher), making out with his friend Lingerie (Snoop Dogg). Moondog then goes to a bar where his wife picks him up, and on their way back home, they involved in a fatal car accident, killing Minnie. This tragic event sets everything in motion for the rest of the film as Moondog cannot access Minnie's inheritance until he completes his next anthology. Moondog then gets into hijinks with his agent Lewis (Jonah Hill), Flicker (Zac Efron), Captain Wack (Martin Lawrence), and even Jimmy Buffett. Even after all the fun, nonsense, and debauchery, the story seems to lack fulfillment with Moondog lacking arc. In his films, Korine likes to drop the viewer into a random part of the world to follow interesting figures around during entertaining periods in their lives. This film is no different. Although it has enjoyable and comedic moments, it really doesn't feel like characters learn much of anything, and it seems that Moondog has an odd influence on others that may not be positive. This seems like the role that Matthew McConaughey was born to play, and he knocks it out of the park. With such a diverse cast, each interaction is legitimate and natural. Masterful cinematography is on display during the scenes leading up to the disastrous car accident, with shots of Moondog and Minnie dancing on the boardwalk cut among shots of them driving recklessly as well shots of them from earlier scenes in the film. This portrays how their relationship could be equally loving and compassionate as dangerous and toxic. The way Korine tells his stories could be off-putting to some movie goers because it may feel like a smattering of different scenes that the viewer must try to piece together. Being dropped in the middle of the life of an interesting character doesn't always mean you'll latch on and understand everything that is going on. But as it pertains to Moondog, it is easy to feel for him, a likeable and endearing character in a world inundated with alcoholism and rampant drug use. Moondog is relatable in attempting to "live the dream" in one way or another while having no responsibility, doing what he wants, and having fun. The Beach Bum is a movie for you to turn your brain off and just enjoy the ride. The film has an all-star cast, great cinematography, and genuine laughs.