Off-beat films like Dutch (1991) often do better on cable reruns than at the multiplex. Though this is no art-house stuff, it is too low key to attract multiplex crowds. Hardly any would have seen it were it not for cable TV.
Read some reviews where viewers called it heartwarming, a male bonding saga, a class warfare, and a roadtrip from hell. Its a funny movie, one that will keep you smiling for a while, and looking forward to repeats so you can relive the funny moments.
Briefly, the story is ...Dutch is the blue-collar workng class boyfriend of Natalie, assigned to pick up and drive her son Doyle (from a former marriage), home for Thanksgiving. Dutch thinks this’ll be the perfect excuse to get to know his future wife’s son and heir. So much for plans. Doyle, however is not a typical 12-year old. He is supercilious, snooty, uptight, and resents Dutch’s relationship with his mother. Maybe he’s hoping his parents will get back together someday, so Dutch’s presence seems like a thorn in the ass...er pain in the rose...er, u know. Right from the start, Doyle is determined to give Dutch the worst time of his life, a mission made sweeter by the fact that Dutch can’t very well sock the punk-ass whose mother he wants to marry. Or can he?
The road trip goes wrong at every rest-stop, and highway mile. After a series of disasters when the uncozy twosome lose their car and money, and reduced to hitching rides and eating at poorhouses, things slowly improve on the chemistry. Dutch learns that to win respect, he has to deal back some tough love. Doyle gets his eyes opened to the less privileged lives of others, and appreciate Dutch’s working class values. The two eventually learn to tolerate each other...somewhat :) The script seems to think shared naughtiness is the key to winning over a 12-yr old, so we see them bonding over nudie playing cards and call-girls.
This man Ed O’Neill, who plays Dutch, is a very fine actor, with a great sense of comic timing. He was the lead in the wicked TV comedy series Married...With Children!. Not sure if that played in India, so watch out for it when it does come as reruns, for outrageous jokes about marriage, children, parenting, school, jobs, just about everything holy in suburbia. Dont know much about Ethan Embry who plays Doyle, but he kept up his end pretty well. Ed O’Neill brings a sharp earthiness to Dutch that makes his duels with high and mighty Doyle ring very comical.
Though the plot twists are predictable mostly, and so is the happy ending, but the real humor is in the clash of warring personalities, and ages groups. And seeing Ed torn between wanting to take Doyle home safely, and strangling him. For comparisons, this movie doesnt quite fall into any familiar bucket. I saw some reviewers elsewhere comparing it to another movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles, by director John Hughes, but that movie is more of a road-trip saga. Also saw some vague comparisons to Home Alone! Please, this is definitely not a ’cute kid’ or even ’cute devilish kid’ kinda movie. (I’m very allergic to such).