Hollywood Reviews and Movie Trivia

"You, Me and Dupree", with its cast of veteran actors, manages to stay afloat and scores a C...

Owen Wilson has carved a nitch for his type of humor. I'm reminded of the 70's Cheech (Marin) & (Tommy) Chong humor with the slow 'stoner' type delivery, given with just the right amount of sincerity with his boyish, innocent charm. In "Meet the Fockers" (2004) Wilson's humorous edge was just the right offset to Robert De Niro's stoic character. In Wedding Crashers (2005), he used his ''honesty'' approach to seduce women into bed. Owen Wilson, with his brand of "honest, dishonesty", is this generations lovable misfit, you just can't hate...

Randolph Dupree (Owen Wilson) lands in prop plane in Hawaii, to be the best man at the wedding of Carl (Matt Dillon) and Molly (Kate Hudson). Carl is Dupree's best friend and a land-development executive, Molly is a grade-school teacher. The wedding takes place, Carl and Molly settle in to start their new life. Before they can barely get used to being married, in walks Dupree, with a moose head, a ukulele and his bundle blanket of cloths. Dupree lost his job and his apartment because he took off work to attend the wedding. As we find out, it isn't his fault, and, it never is. Dupree is the classic under achiever.

Carl and Molly take Dupree in. It's supposed to be just for a short time, as it turns out, Dupree takes over in his innocent, well-meaning way. Dupree orders premium cable TV, and sets the house on fire during an erotic date. Before long, Dupree becomes a couch potato and a real pain in Molly and Carl's life. To further complicate matters for Carl, his boss is his father-in-law (Michael Douglas), and deep down doesn't like Carl and relishes any opportunity play psychological head games with Carl. And Carl, not wanting to add to the already straining relationship with Molly, hides his feelings about her father (Douglas).

Matt Dillon is quietly controlled as the frazzled husband dealing with his best friend and his wife's father. A good performance by Seth Rogen as Neil, another close friend of Carl, adds a grounding factor. Michael Douglas' solid portrayal of the dad who finds it tough to give up his 'little girl' and systematically tries to sabotage their marriage provides some funny as well as soul searching moments. Kate Hudson adds her touch as the newly wed who tries to make ends meet and strike the happy balance between Carl, her father, and her husband's best friend. Owen Wilson, as the well meaning, striving for normalcy Dupree, it all somehow works. As one song used in "You, Me and Dupree" suggest as it plays, it's Sade's "Smooth Operator", Owen Wilson is just that, a smooth operator...

Grade: C