accessAtlanta

'You, Me and Dupree': Laugh-free, but for Dupree

Cinematic Lesson of the Week: If you are making a movie with obviously inferior material, cast Owen Wilson. He has a way of drawing laughs despite a flimsy script.

Universal Pictures 'You, Me and Dupree' B- The verdict: A predictable three's-a-crowd comedy turned far funnier by the presence of shaggy-headed Wilson. Directors: Joe Russo, Anthony Russo Starring: Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson, Matt Dillon, Michael Douglas, Amanda Detmer Run time: 109 minutes Release date: July 14, 2006 Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, brief nudity, crude humor, language and a drug reference. See showtimes Which Wilson Wins? Make a head-to-head comparison of the talents of Owen and Luke Wilson. On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'You, Me and Dupree'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

Directors Anthony and Joe Russo (of the so-so heist picture Welcome to Collinwood) may or may not have sensed how substandard and predictable their new film You, Me and Dupree would become. But it is a lot less so because of the presence of shaggy-headed Wilson as Randy Dupree, the suddenly homeless, unemployed pal of a newlywed housing developer, Carl Peterson (Matt Dillon), who moves in with the happy couple and almost destroys their home and marriage.

Dupree is a virtual carbon copy of some of the childlike, irresponsible characters that Wilson has played in the past, but you would never know it from the freshness he brings to this blatantly stale screenplay (by rookie Mike LeSieur). Above all, Wilson is not afraid to look foolish and, in fact, he throws himself into the film's pratfalls with a physical comedy grace that is very endearing.

After the hapless Dupree loses his job — then his apartment and car — for attending Carl's destination wedding on Maui, the least Carl can do is invite him to stay at his house "for a few days." The fact that Carl does not consult with his new wife, Molly (Kate Hudson), first is a sure tip-off of the domestic disaster ahead.

But even her initial concurrence would not have mattered after the socially inept Dupree clogs up their toilets, barges into their bedroom just as they are getting amorous, wreaks havoc on the living room while watching football and then accidentally sets fire to the place.

Carl and Molly's relationship suffers from Dupree's high jinks, but also from the meddling of Carl's high-powered boss (Michael Douglas), who happens to be Molly's dad. Just as Molly nears the end of her patience, Dupree has a sudden burst of sensitivity, cleans up his messes and his act. He begins cooking meals for Molly, which only turns Carl livid with jealousy.

Wilson is the reason to sit through all of this, though Dillon does a fine comic slow burn and Douglas huffs well as a comic version of some of his previous movie executive roles. Hudson handles well the minimal requirements of the underwritten Molly.

You, Me and Dupree overstays its welcome — just as Dupree does — but a compilation reel of Wilson's scenes would make for fairly funny viewing.