Outside Providence

Plot synopsis:
Timothy "Dildo/Dunph" Dunphy (Shawn Hatosy), is in the Class of 1974 in his high school senior year living in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, comes from a troubled single parent working-class family, and is friends with those that have aspirations which do not exceed smoking marijuana at the water tower that has a view of the town. His father, Pat (Alec Baldwin), suffers from his wife committing suicide and appears naïve when the boys come back to the Dunphy's house to get a bong. A regularly held poker game is in progress. Pat insists that the boys be respectful and come in to say hello. The boys' intention is undetected by Pat that they are using drugs when Dunph's wheelchair-using younger brother, Jackie (Tommy Bone), attempts to hand off the bong wrapped in Dunph's coat. It falls to the floor. Jackie suggests that it is a musical horn which Pat's friend, Joey (George Wendt), asks Dunph to demonstrate, only able to make sounds about which Pat is dismissive. Pat's friends chuckle at Pat's reaction. Off the boys go on their adventures.
The guys head home with Dunph at the wheel but he is unable to see the road with the cloud of marijuana smoke filling the cab. He rear-ends a police vehicle. Pat's poker game player, Caveech, uses his influence with a local judge to replace a reform school sentence with the stipulation of parole graduating high school at Cornwall Academy, a Connecticut boys' boarding school with a sister school nearby under the same name. Failure to graduate vacates the terms of parole and he will serve a one year jail sentence.
He meets the rigid dorm master, Mr. Funderburk (Timothy Crowe), who emphases learning the school rules book. Dunph learns that new friend Wheeler and other new schoolmates, a class of people that seem to have more opportunities than himself, are involved in their own mischief just like the boys back home. Billy Fu is one particular example. He is a middle eastern exchange student with "the best reefer on campus". He routinely misses classes without repercussion because his father pledges a large donation to the school on the condition that Billy graduate.
Dunph is no longer just any student at the school when "Drugs" Delaney (Jon Abrahams), writes Dunph with his particular colorful words and addressing the letter in the most simplest of ways that the school has to open it to learn of the contents; Dunph has low regard for both the school and Mr. Funderburk. Dunph routinely gets sanctioned with work hours as punishment for his school rules transgressions. He also develops a friendship with a sister school student, Jane Weston (Amy Smart), regarded as "hands down, the coolest girl in school". A romance develops and through her advice he learns about personal fulfillment which could be achieved by an education.
She and others are found out by Mr. Funderburk smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol in a dorm room of the boys' dorm. The incident is resolved, unknown to Dunph's knowledge until too late, with Jane expelled for school rules violations. Dunph feels responsible for dashing Jane's goal of attending Brown University following graduation. He concludes: Wheeler's acceptance at Yale University is weighed heavily by a letter of recommendation from Funderburk and Wheeler was caught with marijuana during an earlier raid; therefore Wheeler made his own deal with Funderburk to inform on others which resulted in Jane being expelled. Dunph resolves to see Jane's college plans revitalized by speaking with the Dean at Brown University, as he explains that she was the innocent party in the incident.
Dunph comes to terms with his father's apprehension discussing the death in the family because the latter felt responsible for imposing on her a life that she could not handle; she being too young when they married, depressed and agoraphobic. Dunph refuse to shake Funderburk's hand at the graduation ceremony in the auditorium and exits after asking his classmates for his "luggage". He then meets up with his father and Jackie as they arrive. Pat hands over an acceptance letter from the Rhode Island Junior College where Dunph points out that everyone is accepted although he could then transfer to a "senior college...where people sleep over and shit." Pat congratulates Dunph for being the first of the family to go to college and the younger brother not to be trumped surmises the possibility that it just very well may be that Jackie himself may be the first to graduate.

Tags: flashback, revenge, prank, romantic, home movie

Review:
Outside Providence does not seem like much from the preview, but it turns out to be a surprisingly good comedy..
Outside Providence seems like just another low budget, goofy high school comedy from the preview, but it is really a good movie.
This seems like the premise of the kind of ridiculous high school comedies that characterized the 80s (Screwballs, Ski School, etc.), but Outside Providence works well because it has heart.
The story is not exactly something that is entirely original, but the presentation of the film and the acting are extremely good, and the end result is a great comedy.
Alec Baldwin delivers a hilarious performance as the emotionally closed-off father, regularly referring to his own son as "dildo." He steals every scene he is in, and he should be particularly noted for his ability to give such a convincing portrayal of an emotionless, macho father and still be convincing in the emotionally tense scene between him and Timothy where he describes Tim's late mother.
Instead, Outside Providence focuses on character development and a good story, and tops it all off with a healthy amount of comedy in the form of the cast, the characters, the script, dialogue, and pretty much everything else.
Alec Baldwin was hysterical as Old Man Dunphy and the supporting cast of friends like Drugs & The Wire were funny as well.
The ambiguity of youth and the road to maturity are addressed in a somewhat stoically humorous manner by the Farrelly Brothers in the comedy, `Outside Providence,' directed by Michael Corrente.
Set in New England in 1974, the story centers on Tim Dunphy (Shawn Hatosy), an irresponsible seventeen-year-old who since the untimely death of his mother has lived with his gruff, blue-collar father (Alec Baldwin), his crippled younger brother, Jackie (Tommy Bone) and a one-eyed, three-legged dog.
And that is the question.While not terribly original by any means, Corrente's film (which he co-wrote with Bobby and Peter Farrelly, adapted from the novel by Peter Farrelly) is funny and well presented, and has that quirky, recognizable Farrelly Brother's touch.
There's even a poignant moment or two, and most importantly, this isn't a `silly' movie, and though the characters are fairly stereotypical, Corrente manages to give it something of a fresh face and allows the humor to evolve naturally, never fishing for laughs or manipulating the situations purely for the sake of hilarity.
And it works well; there are some genuinely funny scenes, some side-splitting lines and one signature Farrelly Brothers scene that involves a flashback of the traumatic `hazing' of a freshman named Irving (Jack Ferver).Shawn Hatosy gives a believable performance as Tim, and though he's not overly charismatic or likable, he does create a character with whom many peers and parents will be able to relate.
Without anything singular or remarkable about him, he is entirely true-to-life and honest.As `Old Man Dunphy,' Baldwin gives a solid performance, and with limited screen time manages to establish his character with astute precision.
Like Tim, Baldwin's character is real, and serves as a kind of core for the story, and that realism of the characters is one of the strengths of the film.
In a market veritably saturated for some time with comedies about teen angst (most of which are silly, insignificant, devoid of real humor and not worth the film they're printed on), with `Outside Providence,' Corrente and the Farrelly Brothers have to be given credit for delivering one that is truly funny while at the same time anchored in reality.
"Outside Providence" plays as a very good 70s coming-of-age movie.
A new comer to the screen, a lot of us will remember Shawn from the hit comedy   In and Out. Like Alec Baldwin, Shawn Hatosy gave a realistic and heart filled performance.
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.
The Farrelly brothers are from Rhode Island and many of their movies are filmed there.
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.
I figured this would turn out to be a pretty typical teen-style comedy, with the "bad kid" heading off to the "good school" and turning it upside down, with the movie becoming little more than sex and drugs.
(As an aside, dad's "buddies" are played by a pretty decent cast of actors, including George Wendt and Richard Jenkins.) For much of the movie we know nothing about Tim's mother, except that she isn't there.
Yes, as I noted, there's a lot of weed smoked over the course of an hour and a half, and there's the requisite "evil" adult character, in this case represented by My. Funderburk, played by Timothy Crowe, but even Funderburke (while a bit ridiculous at times) is less over the top than most similar characters in teen movies.
Alec Baldwin has finally made another good movie with this little gem.
Alec's great as grumpy Old Man Dunphy and this is good, but not great, story about his son's coming of age at an expensive prep school.If you like flicks like this with great 1970's soundtracks, see Outside Providence.
This is a terrific movie, and Alec Baldwin among others delivered such fine performances in this film that combines coming-of-age wit and drama with 70's nostalgia.
Outside Providence — Feel Good Movie.
Outside Providence is a real feel good movie.
The directors were the studio's biggest moneymaker, so as a result, we got all different kinds of films from the directors, good and bad.And after watching both of the previously mentioned efforts and was met with marginal satisfaction, my idea to venture into the Farrelly's lesser-known film Outside Providence, which was critically underwhelming and financially disastrous compared to the previous films.
The film is simple, good-natured, and an easy watch, but at no point does this become more than a methodical tip-toe through the woods of clichés.Our main character is Timothy "Dildo" Dunphy (Shawn Hatosy), an underachieving high school senior with a strict father (Alec Baldwin) and a handicapped brother (Tommy Bone) he treats like a regular person to avoid showing any resemblance of superiority or difference towards him.
I could already assume that the film is pretty fictional, because I would expect quirkier, more unique experiences from one of the most famous comedy directors in the business.Shawn Hatosy gives us a kind-hearted, but overall, bland character to deal with, proving that he has the charisma and screen presence but not the proper material to sustain a ninety-five minute excursion.
The most admirably compelling performance in the film is that of Alec Baldwin's whose cut throat, east-coast attitude is somewhat out of place but not the less welcoming in a film filled dead-end material.Ultimately, the highest regard I can pay to Outside Providence is its wonderful use of seventies songs, all of which easily recognizable and wonderfully engaging.
For the Farrelly's, it may have gotten Miramax to wake up.Starring: Shawn Hatosy, Alec Baldwin, Amy Smart, Timothy Crowe, and Tommy Bone.
Part stoner movie, part "Animal House" at prep school, and part family drama, "Outside Providence" really doesn't succeed at any of the above.
Alec Baldwin and his card playing buddies seem more like an afterthought, than an integral part of the movie.
Unlike other Farrely brother movies which though entertaining only aim at making the viewer laugh Outside providence is just a good old fashioned comedy that tells a great simple story that is not only funny but touching.
It has some funny moments scattered throughout the film and Alec Baldwin's performance was very good.
If you're not offended by the drug counter-culture, or looking for the silly humor the makers of this film are known for, Outside Providence may entertain you for an hour or so..
I only went to see this movie because of the Farrelly Brothers' involvement (I loved There's Something About Mary).
Alec Baldwin gives a wonderful performance as a crusty dad, and  Shawn Hatosy proves that he isn't just another average teeny bopper movie actor.
Outside Providence was made by the Farrelly Brothers who made There's Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber.
Outside Providence contains a bonding sequence between Alec Baldwin and the hero that rivals anything in Good Will Hunting or other "male bonding" films of late.
The Farrelly brothers (the makers of such laugh-a-minute gross out fests as `There's Something About Mary,' `Kingpin' and `Dumb and Dumber,' among others) take a decided stylistic turn with `Outside Providence,' a low-keyed, laid back coming-of-age tale set in Rhode Island during the mid 1970's.
Shawn Hatosy stars as Timothy Dunphy, a likable, not-very-bright high school student who, like many of his generation, would much rather party than study and would rather smoke-out than think seriously about his future plans for college or career or even life in general.
Alec Baldwin, adopting a dese-dem-dose accent for the occasion, plays Tim's father, a well-intentioned widower whose brusque demeanor hides a filial love that Tim is only vaguely aware exists.`Outside Providence' certainly does not bring a whole lot of fresh insights to this well-worn territory.
There is also, of course, the mandatory death of one of the members of the original gang to act as a device to sober the boy's up to an awakened awareness of the seriousness and responsibilities of adulthood.Yet, for all of its adherence to the formula of this particular genre, `Outside Providence' wins the audience over, partly through the breezy likeability of the actors and performers, partly through the unforced realism of the screenplay, and partly through the film's dead-on accurate recreation of a decade that is fast becoming the era of choice for modern day nostalgia.
Like so many films that tie themselves strongly to a time long past, `Outside Providence' relies (and perhaps even over relies) on a soundtrack filled with memory-inducing tunes of the period.
I think that this movie was a wonderful film that addresses some very real life situations in the most beautiful ways.
If you see the Farrelly Brother's "Outside Providence" looking for more of the gross-out style humor you saw in "Something About Mary" or are currently seeing in "Me, Myself and Irene" you're going to have to look elsewhere.
"Outside Providence" is a "coming of age" type movie with little in the way of gross out and more in the way of story.
This was a nice return for Alec, and he plays a surprisingly strong supporting character.The lovely Amy Smart plays Jane Weston, the object of Tim's affections at school.
You may, however, be surprised by the heart that this film shows in the relationship of the broken family wounded by the untimely death of the mother.The best part of the movie for me was the soundtrack.
This movie, although directed by the Farrely brothers and has Alec Baldwin, George Wendt and a solid young cast, is barely known outside the local Blockbuster.
I thought this would be good, for i love dumb and dumber, Kingpin, and Something About Mary, but this movie is lacking big time in plot and it gets lost several times in the middle and kinda flounders.
Feels like this kind of movie has been done a million times, but Michael Corrente's sensitive direction and a script by Corrente and the Farrelly brothers (of There's Something About Mary fame) easily avoid most cliches and go straight for the heart.
It is a good movie.Shawn Hatosy carries the lead role of Tim as a real person.
OUTSIDE PROVIDENCE is like any number of "Coming Of Age" type films--seen one, you've seen 'em all.
There are no plot surprises in this one; working class boy gets into trouble at home, is sent off to preparatory school as a way to get out of trouble, and finds that the people at prep school aren't any different from the ones he left behind in his working class neighborhood, except that one of them--a smart girl--falls head-over-heels in love with him for no apparent reason.Shawn Hatosy as Tim Dumphy won't win any awards for this; in fact, by the time the movie ends, you'd be hard-pressed to even remember his name (and my husband and I both tried).
Alec Baldwin, often the best thing about any movie he appears in, turns in a brilliant performance as Old Man Dumphy--vulgar and crude to the point of appearing cruel, but loving and giving to his children in moments that are unexpectedly touching.
Its hard to comment on this film, I didn't read any hype, and had no idea what to expect, I didn't know it was a "Farrelly Bros' movie, etc.
There are a few great things that this movie does so well such as the depiction of Dunphy and Jane's growing romance through high-school.
"Outside Providence" evoked memories of "Breaking Away" (1979- the film not the TV series) for me...and that's a very good feeling.
But anyway, it was a great movie and I recommend it to anyone who wants to have a good time..
Although Alec Baldwin didn't play a large role in the movie, the other actors did a great job.
I found Outside Providence to be a wonderful movie experience with a nice balance between comedy and drama, well-defined characters and a well-paced story.
Outside Providence was a great movie.
Outside Providence was a great movie.
Be sure to see this film if you like offensive, gross, and predictable movies.
I always love a good teen coming-of-age type movie, you know the ones where the characters hang out, and learn about life, and this one was no exception.
But outside of providence has it's moments most of the scenes with Jon Abrams as Drugs Delaney will get a few laughs but what my personally favorite parts in this film were the hilarious annual poker games with Alec Baldwin and his friends, every time they played cards i laughed out loud.
I don't think the movie was written like most farrelly bros movies with a laugh a minute movie but this is rather more relaxed and it's an easy film to digest, once you leave you'll probably feel good about yourself.
Peter had written a novel, despite the fact that the front cover for the film boasts "From the Guys Who Brought You...".Then, after the success of "D & D" in 1994, and the continual success of "Kingpin" and "There's Something About Mary," Peter finally got the chance to turn his original work into a feature film - by co-scribing the screenplay and passing the director's chair off to Michael Corrente, probably anticipating the fact that the film was far from his brand of humor, and many devoted fans might start to doubt their crudity.Unfortunately, though, the Farrelly Brothers are best at crude humor, and are the rare filmmakers that make the audience want -- or EXPECT -- crude humor.
So trying to mix a coming-of-age story with an aimless preachy screenplay doesn't help."Outside Providence" is about a kid named Tim Dunphy.
And while some moments in "Outside Providence" lightly touched me, the stupid throw-ins (drugs, off-color humor, pointless scenes, etc.) makes the film just another forgettable coming-of-age tale in my memory.2.5/5 stars.John Ulmer.
Playing off of the time-tested classic coming-of-age plot, they've made another indy-spirited, off-beat comedy.Tim Dunphy gets into trouble and is in danger of not graduating high school, so his mob-connected scumbag dad (Alec Baldwin!) gets him enrolled at a top-notch school in Connecticut.
While there, he makes good friends, has a good time, gets in trouble and learns a little about life.The Farrellys are very aware of the coming-of-age teen drama that they are satirizing.
But exaggerated characters such as "Drugs" or "Old Man Dunphy" bring the film to life ala Warren from Something About Mary.
The relationship between Timothy and Jane is compelling, Alec Baldwin may have found a perfect role, Timothy's friends are good for some quality laughs and are notoriously similar to friends that I had when growing up; but the move gets a bit too feel-goody at times.The multiple subplots aren't adequately flushed out and as with many other coming of age movies, they end up spreading the story too thin.
Alec Baldwin plays it good (yet with a complex Providence accent) as the kid's father and some other things are funny, but they can't match up to the funny pics that come around every year.
It is the story of a working class teenager from Rhode Island named Timothy Dunphy (Shawn Hatosy) who is sent to prep school for getting into trouble with the police.
The film has its moments, but mostly it is a nostalgic retrospective on prep life in the 1970's with little in the way of a plot.Having gone to college in Rhode Island in the 1970's, I can identify with the period, and Rhode Islande born director Michael Corrente, through the look and feel of the New England settings and the background music, did a good job of bringing back a flood of memories from that time.Shawn Hatosy did an excellent job in his portrayal of a working class teen, trying to make the best of what he considered a bad situation.
Nothing new.A movie written by the Farrely brothers and director Corrente this should not be confused with comedies like Dumb & Dumber or There's something about Mary.
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.