YOU, ME AND DUPREE

US, 2006, 110 minutes, Colour.
Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson, Matt Dillon, Michael Douglas, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader, Lance Armstrong.
Directed by Anthony and James Russo.

This is the kind of light entertainment that audiences (well, audiences in affluent western countries) enjoy. Box-office receipts go sky-high and quickly. Non-American? critics, on the other hand, love to decry these films, they’re so… “American”. Well, so they are. Why wouldn’t they be? Americans don’t act like the British.

The other complaint about this one is that it is misogynist and homophobic. Maybe. The real trouble is the character of Dupree. He is the American slacker personified. He acts like an adolescent narcissist. He sails through life with others making excuses for him, never really challenging him to grow up. Owen Wilson has the style to embody this kind of character on screen (come to think of it, weren’t the Wedding Crashers more than a bit like this?).

For the first half of the film, Dupree is the kind of character who might be funny on screen but that you would loathe in real life. When he loses his job and home and moves in with newly-weds, his best friend Carl (Matt Dillon) and Molly (Kate Hudson), more than predictable havoc occurs. This is particularly wearing on Molly. Then comes a moment in the film when the screenplay says that Molly has to take pity on the turfed-out Dupree sitting disconsolate in the pouring rain. Whether this is psychologically credible at this moment is debatable. But it happens. Dupree is back, Molly is caring and Carl is being driven demented.

It doesn’t help that Carl is continually being belittled by Molly’s father, his boss, played by Michael Douglas as a just as greedy but more obtuse Gordon Gecko. Matt Dillon is to be commended for being so willing to be the fall guy of the film.

Now that Molly likes him and he tries to reform, Dupree becomes lovable. And that appeals to the audience because, ultimately, he comes out as everyone’s best friend, confidant and all-round champ. There is an amusing postscript when Dupree does find a job – a motivational expert who exhorts people to acknowledge their ‘ness’ (adding to their name) which, after the credits, is seen in Lance Armstrong, something of a hero to Dupree, trying to emphasise his “lance-ness”!

So, there you have it – or not!

1. A romantic comedy, variations? The strong cast?

2. The all locations? Mansions, beaches, hotels,, business offices? The musical score?

3. The introduction to Molly and Carl, engaged, Dupree’s friendship with Carl, the two in love, Molly’s father and his harshness, CEO of the business, disparaging Carl? The marriage?

4. Carl himself, Neil his friend, Dupree as a friend, the bond between them, Dupree coming to the wedding, landing on the wrong island, having to be rescued? Presence at the wedding? Mr Thompson’s attitude? Carl going to work, the promotion, the plans of the adoption, yet his father-in-law wanting him to have a vasectomy? Carl and his friends?

5. Dupree, Owen Wilson and his screen presence, type, erratic, landing on the wrong island, needing to be rescued, with Neil, with Carl, laughing over problems? At the wedding? His need for shelter, Molly inviting him into? His messy and disruptive behaviour? At work, having the Mormon assistant, the sexual relationship? The candles, the burning of the front room? His being kicked out?

6. Carl, at work, diligent, yet disparaged by his father-in-law?

7. Molly and Carl, fighting Dupree, in the rain, bringing him back?

8. Dupree’s reform, coming back, decorating the house, bonding with the kids, pleasant manner, cooking? Carl late, the limited jealousy of Dupree?

9. Dupree, out again, getting on the roof, falling in?

10. Carl and the deterioration of his life? His father-in-law liking Dupree, taking him fishing? Carl attacking? Carl hit, in hospital? The challenge to Mr Thompson?

11. The search for Carl, Dupree getting the kids, Dupree and Carl in the bar, breaking in to Mr Thompson’s office, finding his prejudice against Carl?

12. The character of Mr Thompson, severe, ambitious, capricious in his relationships?

13. Molly, in love with Carl, long-suffering?

14. The happy resolution?

15. Dupree, becoming a motivational speaker, writing a book – and Lance Armstrong reading his book?