Outside Providence . Tucson Weekly . 09-07-99

Outside Providence

DIRECTED BY: Michael Corrente

REVIEWED: 09-07-99

The Farrelly Brothers (with the help of director Michael Corrente) script their first "sensitive" film about a teenage stoner (Shawn Hatosy) wasting away in Rhode Island with his hardcase dad (well-played by Alec Baldwin) until he finds young love and a sense of purpose at a strict prep school. Before you start yawning, don't forget that these are the same filmmakers who put spooge in Cameron Diaz's hair (or at least they were the first ones to film it). The Farrellys cut this typical coming-of-age fodder with barf shots and vicious humor the way some punk bands will cannily dank up a slow ballad with rough vocals and seedy lyrics. Sure it's an easy, calculated ploy, but it keeps the story's sap from hardening. It's a rare movie that exploits a cute, wheelchair-ridden younger brother for cheap laughs instead of maudlin sympathy. Though it's not as hilarious as the Farrellys' previous efforts, it's still a funny, likable film.

--Greg Petix

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Other Films by Michael Corrente
American Buffalo

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Dinner at Eight
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Edge of Seventeen

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