You, Me and Dupree

Kate Hudson, Matt Dillon (centre) and Owen Wilson in You, Me and Dupree.

Herald rating: * * *

You, Me and Dupree is an Owen Wilson comedy. Yes, it stars Matt Dillon fresh from his career-saving role in Crash, and the always adorable Kate Hudson, but there's no doubt this film, co-produced by Wilson, is primarily a vehicle for him to steal the show with another wacky character and goofy wardrobe.

A supremely annoying character, free-spirited Randy Dupree (Wilson) is in his 30s, but firmly anchored to his adolescence. Still looking for his calling in life, he's jobless, utterly without ambition, broke and homeless. When his best friend Carl (Dillon) lets Dupree move in temporarily with him and his new wife Molly (Hudson), Dupree's tendency for nudity and causing chaos don't ingratiate him to the newlyweds. Molly struggles to cope with Dupree crashing her newly married life, but Dupree's sensitive side wins over Molly and the neighbourhood.

Carl initially just has to deal with the old cliches of balancing work, mates and his new family life, but marital bliss and sanity start to slip away as Molly becomes fond of his best friend, and his father-in-law (and boss) persecutes him in his determination to see his daughter's marriage fail.

Lacking the comedic talent to match Wilson (who manages to scrape through on natural charm in this film), Dillon's character falls flat, but his performance isn't the only weak one. Michael Douglas as Molly's dad attempts to mimic his Wall Street character Gordon Gekko, and fails miserably. There's nothing offensive about You, Me and Dupree - unfortunately. One would have hoped directors Anthony and Joe Russo (TV's Arrested Development) might have pushed the boundaries more, and resisted the cliched ideas about marriage, but it's a very easy watch with the occasionally funny moment and memorable line.

The fact Wilson manages to make you like the frustrating Dupree should be seen as a sign of success, but it's not enough to make this film anything other than mediocre.

Verdict: Wilson crashes the marriage rather than the wedding, but with little effect.

Cast: Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson, Matt Dillon, Michael Douglas
Director: Anthony and Joe Russo
Running Time: 108 minutes
Rating: M, contains offensive language and sexual references
Screening: Village, Hoyts and Berkeley cinemas