The Rainmakers: A weirdly dry comedy

Is it worth your time?

If you've got a soft spot for pre-code slapstick, you'll probably get a kick out of The Rainmakers. If you prefer movies that actually make sense, or movies where the jokes don't land with a thud every ten minutes, skip it. It's definitely not for everyone, especially if you get annoyed by characters who just kind of bumble around until the plot forces them to do something useful.

The whole thing feels like it was written on the back of a napkin during a lunch break. Roscoe and Billy are just trying to make it in a world that doesn't really want them, and honestly, I relate to that on some days. They get roped into this water scheme, and the stakes are supposed to be high, but nobody seems to care that the crops are dying.

There's this moment where Billy is trying to explain his contraption to a group of locals, and the way he waves his arms around is just baffling. He looks like he's trying to fight off a swarm of bees that aren't there. I watched it three times, and I still don't know if it was acting or if he just forgot his lines.

Bits and pieces

• The villain is so cartoonishly evil I half-expected him to twirl a mustache that wasn't there.
• The pacing is frantic, then dead, then frantic again. It's like riding a bike with a wobbly wheel.
• I think one of the extras in the background of the town meeting was definitely just waiting for his own lunch break.
• The dialogue is snappy, but sometimes it just stops. Like the writers got bored and moved on to the next scene.

Honestly, the movie reminds me a little of the chaotic energy in That's Gratitude, though without the same level of heart. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it’s completely forgettable. But sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

There’s a scene involving a ladder that lasts about two minutes too long. You can literally see the actors waiting for the cue to fall over. It’s a bit awkward, but in that way that makes you root for them to just get the take over with. 🙄

Don't look for deep meaning here. It's just two guys, a fake rain machine, and a lot of dust. Sometimes the best movie is just the one that doesn't ask you to think too hard about the economics of irrigation in 1930s California.