RUTHERFORD ON FILM: ‘You, Me and Dupree’ Has Knack for Regurgitating Standard Comedic Formulas with Clever Tweaks, Except It’s Males’ Night in Ritual
By Tony Rutherford Huntington News Network Writer
Huntington, WV (HNN) -- When the wedding planning ends, it will just be the bride and groom, unless you happen to be Carl ( Matt Dillon ) and Molly ( Kate Hudson ). They return from their honeymoon hoping for bliss; instead, they have the undomesticated best man , Dupree ( Owen Wilson ) as an unwelcome long term house guest and a father-in-law speaking with forked tongue (giant promotion; get neutered) .
As a “people’s critic,” I can not condemn a flick that brought mucho many laughs from a full house. Artistically, “You, Me and Dupree” may lack originality, but it has a knack for soaking up and regurgitating standard comedic formulas with clever tweaks.
Restating “this is not a permanent [houseguest] situation,” the newly wedded couple reluctantly open the living room couch to the not-corporate or steady job friendly Dupree. The long term “roommate” has a puppy dog face, so he often manipulates mandate extensions.
For Dupree, it’s more than loud bathroom noises and sleeping in the buff, no, his misdeeds accumulate such that Molly, the loyal gal every man deserves, finds a woman for this man with ‘no job, no car, and no place to sleep.’ Unfortunately, Dupree falls for the luscious librarian who turns out to be more of a primal prostitute.
Owen (“Wedding Crashers”) Wilson has a moxie of gentleness and foxy naivety for continually jovially working himself out of ultimatums. Clad like a kid in an adult body, Wilson’s fun and games personality appeals to everyone while his gift for reflective listening along with a big smile has a tendency to melt hearts and disarm enemies.
Pretending to be oh so mellow, Wilson receives simpleminded reminders, such as “We’re grown up now, clean up, watch the noise, help and help around the house,” instead of verbal lines in the sand. And, it’s that likeable, long haired, kind of screwed up persona that reminds everyone of their own not so brilliant head in the sand days and nights.
Kate Hudson convincingly becomes the most understanding and most lovable woman in the world simply by tolerating and feeling empathy for the “orphaned” best man who seems forever trapped in adolescence (give or take five years). Part of the movie’s plus comes from her flashback to the long suffering in sort of silence lady who’s wrath gradually ripens without undue harshness or hostility for the male gender.
Father-in-law Michael Douglas takes on the heavy role as Kate’s corporation leading daddy who’s not so slyly attempting to return his daughter to the nest.
At its best, “You, Me and Dupree” mines freshness from well worn fathoms. On the other hand, you have to tolerate ‘the expected’ and male’s night out rituals which limp with tacky clichés i.e. the TV, beer, and women mess at the newlywed’s house. But, nearly burning down the house with too many lighted candles while engaging in bliss with the librarian that’ a touch scene about which to complain.
And, the ending? Now, that’s a cringingly familiar conceptually and a great big Hollywood leap for happily tying loose, unattached singles into a ‘life’ without writing in a wonderful blonde bombshell who feasts on losers.