Introducing the Dwights

Introducing the Dwights **1/2

Directed by Cherie Nowlan
Written by Keith Thompson

Starring:
Brenda Blethyn as Jean
Rebecca Gibney as Lana
Khan Chittenden as Tim
Richard Wilson as Mark
Russell Dykstra as Shane
Emma Booth as Jill
Katie Wall as Kelly
Philip Quast as Ronnie Stubbs
Frankie J. Holden as John
Tracie Sammut as Tori

105 Minutes(Rated R for sexual content and language. )
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It was a bit hard to give a rating to "Introducing the Dwights." On one side, it is a somewhat well done character film-the kind of film that follows in the footsteps of "Monster In Law" but is much more intelligent and heartfelt. And then on the other side its somewhat annoying, at times a little obvious, and a little bit more melo-dramatic than I would have wanted it to be. It is well acted by about half the cast members, and then the other cast are just plain irritating and I wanted them to go away. So right down the middle, with a little more bad than good, "Introducing the Dwights" is just above the level of mediocre. A somewhat intelligent romantic comedy that Hollywood should take minor notes on, but instantly forgettable, and more a mere ditty on the long long year that I usually have in the theatre.

As the title would suggest, we are introduced to the Dwights, a fractured family of sorts. The main family consists of Jean, Tim, and Mark. Mark was born with brain damage, but lives as normal a life as possible. Tim works off of a truck-somewhat like U-Haul. And when she's not working at a prison lunchroom, Jean tries her hand at comedy in nightclubs all over New Zealand. She claims that she would have had a different career if she never married and had children, and in turn dislikes her ex-husband John greatly-he is also an entertainer, providing covers of country music songs in Bingo halls. Everything changes when Tim begins to sneak around with Jill, a young woman that he met through work. The two of them find love in an awkward and difficult way, and when Tim introduces her to his mother she becomes a horrid woman, and one that takes an instant disliking to the woman that could become her daughter-in-law. And it comes to a battle where Tim has to choose one or the other-the mother that loves him dear, or his possible future.

Now unlike the 2005 wretched film "Monster in Law" there is a reason why Jean Dwight would hate her future daughter in law that goes beyond a creepy incestuous undertone. Jean Dwight gave up a lot when she formed her family, and has placed an extreme amount of love into her children to make up for the missing career. And that is why she is scared whenever there is a threat of someone else taking over her role as caregiver. And most of the character is played well by Brenda Blethyn, but towards the end-when the film turns into a wacky comedy with Jean going insane and every other character finding themselves in the house-she becomes plain annoying and I lost any compassion that you are supposed to feel for her. The films best scenes involve the relationship between Tim and Jill-and the awkward love life that the two of them have. It is revealed that Tim had a bad relationship with someone in the past, and while he does love Jill he is scared that something of the same sorts will happen. The sex scenes between them do not seem tacked on, but captures the angst and hard facts of young love. And they are also very very funny.

And lastly, billed as a comedy, there is a far too many overly dramatic segments, even though the comedy is certainly there. Perhaps my favorite character, outside of Mark, is the estranged father and his love for covering country music. His scenes are some of the best ones in the film, and where most of the comedy is centered. The rest features a strange heavy tone. It was nice to see two sides to the character of Jean Dwight, but it could have been done in a way that did not make me feel like I was watching a heavy drama. The tone is odd. "Introducing the Dwights" is a mere dot on cinema history-and could wait for a video release to see. It's somewhat enjoyable to a point, but in the end is pretty pointless, and even more useless.