Review: 'Dupree' charms with lovable cast

Last month “The Break Up” featured Vince Vaughn, who was in “Crashers.” He co-starred with Owen Wilson, who is in the Russos’ new film, “You, Me and Dupree.”

Neither of these films rises to the comedic heights of “The Wedding Crashers” – nor will either reach that movie’s $200 million box office gross – but both offer nice, light diversions and a few laughs along the way.

Randy Dupree is an older version of the man/boy screw-up, Dignan, who Wilson played in Wes Anderson’s brilliant film “Bottle Rocket.” Dupree is also a character that is easily recognizable from “real life.” Everyone has had or been (or both) a “Dupree” to one degree or another.

“You, Me and Dupree” is not a great film – the third act in particular gets too serious and begins to fall apart. It will be cited as a “chick-flick” with the derision the term usually implies. But it’s an okay piece of fluff and the cast, especially the always-charming Wilson and the luminous Kate Hudson, make it viewable.

The plot

Carl (Matt Dillon) and Molly (Hudson) are getting married in Hawaii. Nothing is too good for Molly. Her father, Bob Thompson (Michael Douglas), is a real estate tycoon who has spared no expense for his only child’s wedding. He also barely hides his contempt for Carl, his employee and soon-to-be son-in-law.

After the couple’s honeymoon, they return home. On a “guys night out,” Carl runs into Dupree. It seems Dupree lost his job because he took an “unauthorized leave” to be Carl’s best man at the wedding. Lack of income forced Dupree out of his living quarters. When Carl asks if he’s been forced into the indignity of living in his car, Dupree informs him, “It was a company car.” No, Dupree is on his bicycle and sleeping on a cot in the storeroom at the bar. This is about to end, as some of the old-timers (Harry Dean Stanton in an uncredited cameo among them) complain that THEY don’t get to sleep at the place.

Carl takes pity on his best friend/best man, feels responsible and invites Dupree to come stay – for a few days – with Molly and him.

Molly is less than excited since she and Carl have just set up housekeeping together, but she reluctantly agrees. Things go from bad to worse when Molly and Carl find Dupree sleeping naked on the couch, the room a mess with his toys, games and moose head. He later barges into the bedroom to use the upstairs toilet. It seems the downstairs one has been mysteriously stopped up.

Charm

Dupree isn’t without his charms. The neighborhood kids love him. He plays baseball and skateboards with them ... instead of looking for a job. He urges Carl to loosen up a bit. He tells him he needs to regain his “Carlness.”

The advice isn’t without warrant. At work, Bob is making his life a living hell. He’s given Carl a “promotion” but has hijacked his idea for a new subdivision. He forces Carl to work long hours, suggests he hyphenate his name to include “Thompson” and even pushes Carl toward a vasectomy. The long hours and added pressure make things even more difficult with Molly at home. Many will wonder why Carl doesn’t come clean with his new bride. This behavior is one of the many plot devices used by this sort of film. When screenwriters have no other way out, they simply ignore the way things should take place in reality and expect the viewer to accept the behavior.

Molly is getting more frustrated. She decides to hook Dupree up with Mandy, the new librarian at the school where Molly teaches. Dupree falls hard for Mandy, but things go awry.

After setting the couch on fire – it’s an implied sex scene using butter and a LOT of candles – Dupree is finally given his walking papers. He plans to stay with Mandy but soon finds he’s not the only one who has been buttering her up.

Heartbroken

Heartbroken and dazed from a bike accident, Dupree is sitting at a bus stop in the rain. Carl and Molly see him, and this time it’s Molly who suggests he move in.

Things are different and Molly soon discovers Dupree’s “sensitive” side. Carl, on the other hand, believes that his pal is trying to move in on his wife. Between Dupree and his father-in-law, the pressure causes Carl to snap.

It looks like a separation is imminent, but since this is a summer release romantic comedy, we know things will work out.

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician. He can be reached at info@wunderlesound.com.