Outside Providence

source: Outside Providence

This film is about one thing and one thing only: dope, dope, dope and more dope. I lived during this time, and never did any dope. I think the old saying: "Why do you think they call it 'dope' " applies here! Oh, darn, I forgot, in today's 'enlightened society' calling something 'dope' means it's good! Oh golly gee, I must be wrong, then. (Not!) This film is for dopes --- IF you can make it the end -- I could not, as my stomach began to churn with CONSTANT references to and nearly continually 'doing' dope. Did I forget to mention that this film is only about 'Dope'? I hope I at least mentioned it.

I was surprised how much I really enjoyed this movie. It was funny, it was sweet and the plot was interesting. It was also really plausable and very familiar to kids that age. I actually didn't want to rent this movie because I am not a fan of the Farelli Bros. but it took me by shock. I loved the characters, especially the main character. This movie was sweet but at the same time sort of odd (3 legged dog). I always enjoy a movie that I find to be slightly on a different track than others that come around around the same time. This movie was something unique and I wish I'd seen it earlier.

This is a very good coming-of-age story with solid acting, plenty of humorous takes on the 1970's, and an excellent story arc. However, even if it wasn't, the luminous beauty of Amy Smart would make it worth watching!

I had no common values with this movie. It was almost a theme of life problems solved through smoking weed. I saw no cleverness in this movie at all. If you ever wanted to look inside of the farrelly brothers and see what life is like according to them, this is it.

After having seen this movie, I felt HAD. I've not felt this strongly to WARN anyone who might spend either time and/or money on this insipid and lousy movie since "Shazam". Which was my own fault, heh! WHY, I hear you cry. Well, for starters, the box said "HILARIOUS comedy", which is a downright LIE. I think I SMIRKED about 90 mins into the film.....that was as good as it would get. Furthermore it boasted to be by the same people as Smth abt. Mary, thus alleging it to have any sort of writing merit. About half way through there was still no real plot development. If it didn't crawl along like a geriatric snail then it was blazing ahead like a gramma on speed. Baldwin doesnt change his facial expression all movie and several seemingly illogical subplots are thrown in ("Norm" is gay), only later to apparently disappear...as I hope this movie will into the "bargain bin". The father-son talks, the evil principal, the bad kid sprouting a conscience, the jaded old admissions director turning around on account of 4 rambled words......it all served to make me wonder to myself WHY good money was spent on making this. Needless to say, one of the worst movies I've ever seen.

Director: Michael Corrente, Script: Peter Farrelly (Novel), Michael Corrente, Bobby Farrelly, Cast: Shawn Hatosy, Tommy Bone, Alec Baldwin, Amy Smart, Jon Abrahams. Coming of age film about a group of stoner friends from the poor neighbourhood in the blue collar town of Pawtucket, R.I. The film is told from the point of view of Timmothy Dunphy, an underachiever whose main goal in life seems to be how much dope he can smoke. His mother committed suicide when he was just a small boy so it is just him, his disabled little brother and his father. One night while high on dope Tim smashes his car into a parked cop car! His old man has to bail him out of jail. In an attempt to turn his life around, old man Dunphy makes his son cut his hair and forces him to go to a strict boarding school in Connecticut. So here we have a poor kid at a rich prep- school. While here, he meets a rich, smart, preppy co-ed totally the opposite of himself but of course, they fall in love! This film has many funny as well as serious parts. During periods without dialog we hear many great rock songs from the 60's and 70's. The film was set in 1974. The 'bad guy' in the film is Mr. Funderberk (Timothy Crowe),the strict resident adviser or whatever you want to call him. Although a comedy, the film does have elements of drama. The scene with Tim talking to his old man about his mother is sad. His girlfriend Jane (Amy Smart) gets accepted to Brown but she gets accused of something she didn't do so her acceptance gets reversed as a result. Tim goes to Brown University and tries to see the Dean but the secretary told him he was booked the whole day and that he would have to make an appointment. Tim manages to get into the Dean's office through the window. He then proceeds to tell the Dean the truth about Jane. This movie was based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Peter Farrelly. The Farrelly brothers are from Rhode Island and many of their movies are filmed there. I wonder how close this film parallels his real teenage years. It would be interesting to read the book.

Peter Farrelly wrote the novel in which this film is based. This was a change of pace for Peter and his brother Bobby, coming right after their hit "There's Something About Mary". Although they entrusted the direction to Michael Corrente, their presence looms large in the background. The film succeeds in presenting characters one can identify with. Timothy Dunphy is a teen ager who has grown with his younger, handicapped brother, Jackie, in a small town in Rhode Island. Timothy's future is uncertain, at best. Coming from a working family, his prospects for higher education are nil. Like other young men in his area, he is aimless and the guys he pals around with, are not exactly college material. When Timothy is granted admission at the preppy Cornhill Academy, his life takes a turn for the better. At first, Timothy fights the rigid standards of the place. He doesn't like the atmosphere, but he is completely won by a pretty co-ed, Jane Weston, a rich girl, way out of his league. It's easy to see the combination will see trouble along the way. The best trait about Timothy Dunphy is his honesty that comes into play right after Jane is caught with some boys smoking pot, and her ambition to go to Brown University is doubtful. Timothy does the right thing in going to the admissions dean at Brown to speak on behalf of the innocent Jane, who didn't bring her fate upon herself. Shawn Hatosy, an actor who is always effective no matter what part he is playing, makes the most out of his Timothy. Surprising also, is Alec Baldwin, seen as the older Dunphy in a sincere performance. Jon Abrahams is Drugs Delaney. Amy Smart makes a valuable contribution to the film as Jane Weston. The teaming of Michael Corrente and the Farrelly Brothers show a winning combination in an enjoyable film that will stay in one's memory for quite some time.

Outside Providence (1999): Dir: Michael Corrente / Cast: Shawn Hatosy, Amy Smart, Alec Baldwin, George Wendt, Jon Abrahams: Advertizements emphasize the fact that the Farrelly brothers wrote this film. Perhaps marketing figured that it had nothing else in its favour. Title refers to activities or lifestyles outside one's normal agenda. After his umpteenth mishap Shawn Hatosy is sent to Cornwall Academy where he is not a hit with the dean. His friends are on drugs, and his father refers to him as "Dildo" while drinking with his buddies. Pointless subplots include a guy who is interested in a girl but the screenplay forgets that situation. Predictable with vulgar humour that falls flat. Director Michael Corrente does his best but perhaps the Farrelly boys might have made it funny. Hatosy is hardly sympathetic and not a good lead. The role is predictable with Hatosy getting into trouble and out. Amy Smart serves no other purpose than to possibly sleep with him. Alec Baldwin comes through for dialogue as the father but the role is flimsy. George Wendt plays one of the buddies who will reveal that he is gay and get mocked out of the room. No points to figure out whether they will understand. Jon Abrahams plays a misfit named "Drugs" Delaney, which pretty much speaks for itself. Devoid of worth, this crap should be left outside Providence in a dump somewhere. Score: 2 / 10

This film is not as wild as THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, but it is amusing, touching, annoying, vulgar, funny, and goodnatured -- pretty good for one movie. It is an odd stew of the 3 Stooges, Huck Finn, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, and THE DEAD POET'S SOCIETY. Hatosy is endearing as a softhearted lunkhead -- he shows great tallent for both serious and comic work here. Baldwin is in rare form as an Al Bundy of the 70s who is truly a working-class Socrates. The title is a play on words that indicates the various ways you can view life -- beyond help or help from beyond. It's a charmer in its own knuckleheaded way.