The Rom Com Catalog

Tag: Matt Dillon

  • ‘You, Me and Dupree’ (2006) Review

    ‘You, Me and Dupree’ (2006) Review

    Molly and Carl (Kate Hudson, Matt Dillon) are newlyweds who find themselves housing Carl’s best friend, Dupree (Owen Wilson), after he loses his job and apartment. Things get off to a very rocky start as Dupree is a bit of a slob who doesn’t understand boundaries. His presence strains the young couple’s marriage, as does the pressure Carl begins to face at work from Molly’s father, Bob.

    I vaguely remember watching this movie back in 2006, when it was in theaters. However, I found it to be largely forgettable. But being mostly confined to bed after recent foot surgery, I saw the movie was streaming on HBO Max, so I decided to give it a whirl again. Sometimes ridiculous comedies can be comforting, right?

    You, Me and Dupree remains largely forgettable, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy watching it. It’s definitely more com than rom, but that’s okay. There are some genuinely funny moments, and honestly, I kind of like Owen Wilson’s aw shucks thing he’s perfected over the years.

    Kate Hudson doesn’t have to do much here, as the ever-exasperated wife turned Dupree ally, but Matt Dillon seems to be having fun with his character’s paranoid journey to the unhinged.

    Some of the jokes are so over the top that they’re not as funny as I am sure they’re intended to be, and for a moment, I thought maybe this movie was directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly. Maybe this was the Russo Bros. attempt to Farrelly it up? The movie certainly gives off a Farrelly movie vibe, but in a much tamer sense.

    I think my biggest issue with the movie is that not much of it makes sense. Molly is at one point disgusted and fed up with their new houseguest, and the next thing you know, she’s sharing breakfast with him with the sort of ease she ought to be sharing with her husband. Not to mention all of the marital issues that arise in Molly and Carl’s marriage that could be fixed with what? You guessed it. Communication. Ignoring the obvious for plot purposes makes for lazy writing.

    Okay, but I’m not going to take this movie that seriously. If you want something nonsensical, mindless, and a bit humorous, you may like this movie. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either, and that’s okay. It helped me kill time, even though I doubt I’ll ever watch it again.

    Watched: 03/07/2023
    Notable Song: Fix You by Coldplay

    Rating:

  • ‘There’s Something About Mary’ (1998) Review

    ‘There’s Something About Mary’ (1998) Review

    There’s Something About Mary Synopsis: A man gets a chance to meet up with his dream girl from high school, even though his date with her back then was a complete disaster.

    After a disastrous prom date with the beautiful Mary, Ted loses touch with her after she moves away. Years later, he thinks of her and reluctantly hires a PI named Pat Healy to track her down. The problem is, as soon as Healy finds Mary, he falls in love with her and misleads Ted into believing that Mary is now an overweight mother of four.

    Healy quickly quits his job and moves to Miami to win over Mary by stalking and manipulating her. Ted realizes he wants to see Mary anyway and heads to Miami, where he discovers Healy’s deception… and realizes he and Healy are not the only people who want Mary’s affection.

    When There’s Something About Mary was released, it caused quite a stir. In proper Farrelly Bros. form, the movie was full of outrageous sight gags and raunchy humor. But like most of their movies, There’s Something About Mary also has a lot of heart.

    It could be because I’ve seen much worse on screen since 1994, but the gross-out humor of There’s Something About Mary did not affect me as much as it did when I first saw it. Honestly, it felt tame compared to today’s R-rated raunch-filled films. But it’s still funny, and the infamous “hair gel” scene is still as great as in 1994.

    Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz both do what they do best. Diaz is a ball of sweet, smiling sunshine. She is so genuine that you can’t help but adore her. This is important because you need to understand why Ted, Healy, and the others are so desperate for her love.

    Stiller is so good at playing the everyman, especially when the everyman is awkward and well-intentioned, but still manages to find himself in horrifyingly embarrassing situations. Together they have a very charming, believable chemistry, and one of my only gripes of this movie is that they’re not on screen together as much as they should have been.

    Matt Dillon, Chris Elliot, Lee Evans, and Lin Shaye are all fantastic as the supporting players, providing their own brand of humor to balance out Diaz and Stiller’s (mostly) standard characters.

    All in all, the movie works as a raunchy rom-com. It teeters on being more com than rom, but that’s forgivable for the quality of the romance that we do get. For a moment, you really do wonder if Ted will win the girl… I won’t spoil it if you haven’t seen it, but… come on.

    Watched: 07/26/2022
    Notable Song: Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations

    Rating:

  • ‘In & Out’ (1997) Review

    ‘In & Out’ (1997) Review

    In & Out Synopsis: A midwestern teacher questions his sexuality after a former student makes a comment about him at the Academy Awards.

    High school teacher Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline) is only a few days away from marrying his long-time girlfriend, Emily (Joan Cusack). When one of his former students wins an Academy Award, he thanks Howard in his acceptance speech and tells the world that Howard inspired him and, oh, is also gay. This is a shock to Emily, the town they live in, and Howard himself, who adamantly denies it.

    I have not seen In & Out in a very long time. So long, in fact, that I had mostly forgotten its basics. Watching it again as an adult in 2022 made me curious and unsure how to review it. Given that In & Out was released in 1997, I couldn’t quite figure out if it was outdated and out of touch or a pretty innocuous parody of how Hollywood (and people in general) treated homosexuality back then. The bias Howard faced was so blatant, the jokes so aggressive and stereotypical, that I had to go with parody.

    That being said, I found In & Out to be a truly funny, entertaining movie, due mainly to the performances by Kevin Kline and Joan Cusack. Kline is fantastic as Howard, a man struggling with his own sexuality and what that means for both his personal and professional life.

    Cusack is so earnest and endearing as his supporting, albeit confused, fiancée. And then, she’s able to finally break free and release all of her pent-up frustration, which is truly a sight to behold. I can see why Cusack earned herself a Supporting Actress nod at the Oscars that year.

    This is the second movie in a week that I’ve watched with Wilford Brimley, and I truly enjoyed both he and Debbie Reynolds as Howard’s parents. Tom Selleck appears as Peter, a sleazy entertainment reporter eager to push Howard’s story to the nation to make a name for himself. It’s bizarre to see Tom Selleck without his famous mustache.

    That being said, I wasn’t digging his scenes with Howard. Sure, Peter is the voice of reason, trying to help Howard recognize and embrace his sexuality, but I sensed absolutely zero chemistry between the two actors. Maybe Selleck was miscast? I’m not sure what it was, but I always felt a bit meh when he was on screen.

    In & Out does its best to strike the right balance between complete satire and meaningful social commentary. It’s very witty in parts and then downright cringeworthy in others. Kline’s bursting, enthusiastic dancing set to I Will Survive while listening to a “How to Be a Man!” audiotape is a highlight, as is his unwavering dedication to all things Barbra Streisand. When the town comes together for Howard’s benefit, the movie delves into a very  O’Captain, My Captain! meets I am Spartacus! homage that is as moving as it is amusing.

    I think it’s essential to go into this movie understanding that it’s a satire; otherwise, you will just be offended. But in 1997, it was a big deal to bring to light the many ridiculous homophobic biases that happened not only in small-town America but in Hollywood, too. Hell, not much has changed, sadly. But In & Out is a delightful comedy enriched by its performances. If anything, watch for Kevin Kline alone. You won’t be disappointed.

    Watched: 03/10/2022
    Notable Song: Macho Man by The Village People

    Rating: