Sometimes three is a crowd. Because this can be painfully true, “You, Me & Dupree” keeps the laughs coming.
Many a couple can see themselves in this movie as it exemplifies the complex chaos that can occur from the integration of a third wheel. The ability of the audience to relate to such a situation is what keeps this film from being just another summer comedy.
Newlyweds Carl (Matt Dillon) and Molly Peterson (Kate Hudson) are literally days into their marriage when Carl’s eccentric best friend and best man Randy Dupree (Owen Wilson) seeks refuge at their home after losing his job and apartment. At this point, the movie is pretty predictable.
Molly is, of course, annoyed that she is sharing the beginning of her marriage and her husband with his unemployed friend. On top of dealing with Molly’s frustrations, Carl is vying for acceptance from his new father-in-law (Michael Douglas), who also happens to be his boss. Meanwhile, Carl is busy defending Dupree as he changes the couple’s answering machine and upgrades their cable.
About half way through, “You, Me, and Dupree” still feels like another of coursehe’s-sleeping-naked-on-thecouch-and-catching-thehouse-on-fire kind of movie.
But then the tables turn. Dupree starts to grow on Molly. They become confidantes. Molly even comes to defend him from Carl, which eats at Carl far worse than his wife’s previous disdain for his friend. The rest is worth paying $7 for.
Owen Wilson rises to the occasion once again as the lead funny man. Dupree’s spirit and attitude toward life are reminiscent of “Zoolander’s” Hansel, but his lightning boltinsignia and Lance Armstrong obsession present twentysomethings with yet another quotable character from Wilson.
Even with his bad habits and pathetic work ethic (“You guys work on Columbus Day?” he asks at a job interview), Dupree’s charm and good heart make him a character to root for.
Kate Hudson is easy to sympathize with as Molly, the young wife who wants her husband home for dinner as much for herself as for his sanity. She becomes more endearing as she opens up to Dupree and his take on life.
Her change of heart is believable too, as she is capable of having a sense of humor even after her living room is charred.
Unfortunately, the costume designers beat the audience over the head with this transformation as she goes from wool blazers and vintage neck scarves at the beginning to slinky black dresses by the end.
Matt Dillon is believable as Carl, the man trying to be it all: A good husband, a loyal friend, a diligent employee, a respectful son-inlaw. The audience meets Carl at the top of his game with
a new wife and promotion, but goes on to see this sweet setup crumble like a game of Jenga. Although sad, it is Carl’s breakdown that sends the story down a new and unknown path that makes this movie a credible comedy.
Michael Douglas almost steals the show as Mr. Thompson, Molly’s widower father who doesn’t know how to deal with loss of his little girl. This dark comedy type of role is atypical for
Douglas; nonetheless, his money-hungry land developer/friend of the Dalai Lama demeanor is seamless. With a friend, significant other or third wheel, “You, Me, and Dupree” is worth watching, as it succeeds at hitting the heart of true comedy: Finding humor in the shared experiences of our lives.