In a blue-collar American town, a group of teens bands together to form the Dandies, a gang of gunslingers led by Dick Dandelion. Following a code of strict pacifism at odds with the fact that they all carry guns, the group eventually lets in Sebastian, the grandson of Dick's childhood nanny, Clarabelle, who fears the other gangs in the area. Dick and company try to protect Clarabelle, but events transpire that push the gang past posturing.
The audience is clearly expected to enjoy the bloodbath even while it disapproves.
– Jonathan Rosenbaum,
Chicago Reader,
24 Sep 2005
rotten:
Like the Dandies, Vinterberg and Von Trier are fascinated by something they despise, and despise it even more for fascinating them. And in the end, like the Dandies, Vinterberg and Von Trier still don't know the first thing about it.
– Stephen Whitty,
Newark Star-Ledger,
27 Sep 2005
rotten:
The scenario's practically straitjacketed in commentary. Von Trier's weak story doesn't help.
– Desson Thomson,
Washington Post,
6 Oct 2005
rotten:
If Jamie Bell can't rescue a movie, it's probably not salvageable.
– John Hartl,
Seattle Times,
6 Jan 2006
rotten:
We get it, Lars. Actually, we got it some time ago. Guns are bad things. They kill people and Americans are obsessed with them. Can we move on now?