YOU, ME & DUPREE

“Dupree’s gotta go. But he candle handle himself, he’s a grown man. Right?”

You, Me & Dupree is a concept that could have gone in several directions, and did. Mike LeSiur probably wrote the screenplay in the mindset that it would be a comedy, and for much of the running time, it is. The direction of the film shifts back and forth from slapstick comedy to romantic dramedy far too often for its own good, and neither of the two styles are executed very well.

The story is pretty simple. A couple of newlyweds named Carl and Molly (Matt Dillon and Kate Hudson) take in Dupree (Owen Wilson), who was Carl’s man of honor, to live with them. It seems that Dupree was recently fired and kicked out of his apartment. “It’ll only be for a few days, just until he gets on his feet” reasons Carl.

Of course, almost everything that could go wrong, does go wrong.

Some of the situations that happen in Dupree are seriously funny. It is when the movie slows down and tries to grow a heart and shove a message down its audience’s throat as it ends. The film was billed during its marketing process as a comedy, and it is in its comedic moments that it shines. Particularly, it is when Owen Wilson is given free reigns to flex his comedic muscles that the film is at its best, but when the directors unconfidently try to infuse a sappy storyline into the film that it falters (sorry if I’m being a bit redundant).

Another aspect that hurt Dupree’s potential to be a smooth, terrific comedy is seemingly any time when Carl and Molly are on screen together. From the beginning of their marriage a lot of things go wrong, and it is usually Carl’s fault. Carl feels it is all due to either Dupree, who is becoming a menace who happens to sleep on his couch, or Molly’s father Thompson, as played by Michael Douglas, who happens to be Carl’s boss. The bickering that goes on between Carl and Molly and Carl and Thompson doesn’t emphasize the drama, it comes off as bickering usually does in the real world; annoying and time-wasting.

I cannot applaud Owen Wilson enough for this movie however. His part is shaky, a role that at first glance is that of a childish thirty-five year old, but turns into an inspirational man (literally), and back again. He is hilarious throughout, showing off charisma and a comedic gift that is being visibily honed through years of experience. He is also surprisingly poignant in scenes where the dramatic writing does not reach the level in which he plays them. He also picks up the slack for Dillon, Hudson, and Douglas (all of whom have been nominated for Academy Awards, it seems appropriate to add).

C+