The unlikely team of actors in this film include Bruce Willis, Billy Bob

Thornton (Sling Blade) and Cate Blanchett.  It is one of those films with a lot of clever dialogue between the two male characters, ala Lethal Weapon, Freebie and The Bean, Shanghai Noon, etc.  However the female character makes it a triad and they use the odd-man-out psychology in an interesting way.

    We watched some of the alternate endings, director interviews, etc. on the

DVD, but never did they mention what I consider the worthy predecessor to this movie, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid".  Willis and Thornton are not Newman and Redford, but they were damn good.  Filmmaking has changed some since "Butch", but the basic character development was there.  It is what makes this film and furthermore, I think the plot line and ending in "Bandit" were even better than "Butch".

    The female part done by Blanchett wins big-time over Katherine Ross' efforts in "Butch".  Blanchett is a class act and you really believe her character - which would be superficial done by a lesser actor.  But as good as Blanchett is, Thornton steals the show.  In the interviews afterward you find out that this guy is a hypochondriac in real life. No wonder the part is so real!

    This was very well done comic entertainment.  There is one scene, another steal, from "It Happened One Night" which is an ancient Claudette Colbert movie.  You'll know it when you see it.  Hint = look for the hanging blanket.

    My rating: definitely worth seeing.  This is a ++ movie.