I wonder what percentage of movies, today, are based on a true story. It has become a cliché to make some nod about how liberties were taken in portraying the supposedly true story. While, on one hand, I think there will never be a shortage of interesting true stories to talk about and share with the hungry masses, on the other hand, if we get too many true stories, they will begin to lose their luster. In other words, you can get too much of a good thing.

This variation of “American Outlaws” is not only a true story that we have probably heard and seen before, but it is also a title that has been used before. Right away, I immediately thought of Bonnie and Clyde, which was, of course, mentioned one or two times within this story; not surprising.

In the director’s chair sits Sean McEwen, who also wrote the screenplay, which was taken from the story “The Whole True Story of the Dougherty Gang” by Kathy Dobie. Dobie is an investigative journalist who has been published by: Harper’s Magazine, GQ, The New York Times and Salon. The movie stars: India Eisley (“Every Breath You Take”) as Lee-Grace Dougherty, Emory Cohen (“Blue Bayou”) as Dylan Dougherty, Sam Strike (“Monster Party”) as Ryan Dougherty, Cory Hardrict (“Karen”) as Agent Morely and Treat Williams (“12 Mighty Orphans”) as Agent Jameison R. Donovan…in his final film role. The vast majority of the story is centered around the trio of Dougherty siblings, also known as “The Dougherty Gang.”

As the narration over the opening moments of the movie began, my initial thought was, “Is this movie going to be as witty and edgy as it leads itself to be?…oh, it is yet another crime-related story taking place on the cusp of the first Obama presidential term.” I am mainly referring to 2012’s “Killing Them Softly,” which was one of my favorite films of that particular year. Could 2023’s “American Outlaws” wind up being just as good? If so, I would not be the least bit displeased…

The Dougherty Gang is led by the eldest of the three siblings, Dylan. He does most of the talking once they are all packed in and ready to pursue their next robbery location. They do not wish to actually harm anyone, especially if they happen to be people who are perceived to not be as well-off. The gang, like many other criminal elements, attempts to justify why they are doing the things they are doing, although, deep down, they also understand that what they are doing is not at all justifiable…and they likely will not get away with it, in the end. The fact that this IS based on true events marks the story as one of great tragedy for all of those involved, but the trick for the filmmakers is to walk the tightrope of empathy/sympathy for the criminals, while still making it clear that they are not at all trying to excuse the behavior taking place. In the end, it is up to each of us, the viewers, to decide what we think or feel about these individuals and the situation they have placed themselves in.

So, what did I think? Well, I thought the story lacked focus, at first, but once the characters began to develop, I began to find them a lot more interesting to watch and listen to. The primary FBI agents involved were clearly at odds with each other as to how they should deal with the gang once they were caught. I did not find any of that very original, but I could see how that might have been true to the actual story, as well. You see, those involved in our law enforcement are just as divided as the rest of our society, but they still have to find a way to work together, too. Should we remain tough on crime or take a more gentle approach?

The members of the gang eventually find themselves at odds with each other. They each have their own set of struggles and priorities, outside of the primary motivation for their crime spree. Much like Ben Franklin once said about people keeping secrets, the same probably holds true for those in on a crime together; sooner or later, it falls apart and it will not end well. One point that got my attention about the Doughertys was when one of them said something about dreams and wondered if the dream is only every going to BE a dream. I think we all have had a dream, at some time or another and if we have never seen the dream come true, what are we, then, supposed to think of it? However, does that sentiment mean it is okay to take one’s frustration out on others?

I found myself wondering if Treat Williams was only added to this film because he brought more prestige to an, otherwise, fairly unfamiliar cast and crew. As much as I have enjoyed his acting over the years, I truly wish he could have gone out with something more memorable. As the final credits began to scroll and some real footage of the story was showcased, I realized that I found little to know sympathy for The Dougherty Gang. With that, I could never really get behind them and whatever their cause might be, nor feel sorry for them as things unravelled. In other words, the antihero, in this case, failed to gain my support. Still, it was no worse than an average film, which was elevated by some very good acting performances that got my attention as the story unfolded. As a result, I can offer a mild recommendation, but I would warn not to expect much more than a somewhat positive outcome. True stories, after all, are only as great as the material will allow it to be, well beyond the actually making of the movie.