Whenever I watch a movie, good or bad, I ask myself what is serving what in the movie.  For example, in a lot of contemporary big-budget films, plot, script, and character all serve to support the special effects.  Oftentimes everything seems to be serving the lead actor.  In adult films, everything serves the orgasm.  Generally there is one thing that is the point of the film, and everything else exists as placeholders.  I think for Bottle Rocket, the master is character, and the plot really serves to motivate character development.  For whatever reason, and for whatever its worth, this seems like a much more valid point than, say, explosions or Kevin Costner's classic good looks.