You, Me and Dupree

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Reviewed: 07/14/2006
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In "You, Me and Dupree," Owen Wilson plays a freeloading houseguest who wears out his welcome after one day. The film wears out its welcome considerably sooner than that.

This crass, often crude romantic buddy-comedy manages to do what no movie has done before — It makes the always likable Owen Wilson rather unlikable.

Of course, the film has bigger problems than that. For one thing, it just isn't very funny. Those who are expecting another "Wedding Crashers" are going to be very disappointed.

Wilson stars as Randolph Dupree, known simply as "Dupree" to his friends. He's just been fired from his job, and he's homeless until his best friend, Carl (Matt Dillon), offers him a couch to crash on for a couple of days.

However, a couple of days quickly turn into several, and having a sloppy, inconsiderate third wheel around all the time puts a severe strain on Carl's relationship with his new bride, Molly (Kate Hudson).

The final straw comes when Dupree nearly destroys the couple's home, leaving Carl with no other choice than to give his pal the boot.

The direction, courtesy of filmmaking brothers Joe and Anthony Russo (2002's "Welcome to Collinwood"), is so slack that some scenes feel like long, pointless improvisations.

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First-time screenwriter Mile LeSieur's script already feels padded, but then he throws in a strained subplot about Carl's squabbles with his controlling father-in-law (a misused Michael Douglas).

As written, Dupree is more annoying than endearing. And it doesn't help that Wilson is simply repeating his expected, laid-back surfer dude-isms here. There's also very little chemistry between Dillon and Hudson, who at least tries to eschew her usual perky, bubbly persona.

"You, Me and Dupree" is rated PG-13 for crude humor involving sexual and bodily functions, occasional use of strong profanity (including one usage of the so-called "R-rated" curse word), comic violence (assorted mayhem, a beating and some vehicular violence), simulated sex and other sexual contact (mostly implied), brief male nudity (as well as some nude artwork) and some brief drug content (marijuana references). Running time: 108 minutes.


E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com

Rating: You, Me and Dupree
Rated PG13 for violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief nudity, sex, drug use,
Cast of You, Me and Dupree
Owen Wilson, Matt Dillon, Kate Hudson
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