Outside Providence (1999)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Michael Corrente

Writers (WGA):

Peter Farrelly (screenplay) &
Michael Corrente (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

1 September 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Tim's getting a future...whether he likes it or not!

Plot:

After one too many run ins with the law, a punk teenager from a working class background is sent to prep school by his frustrated dad, and learns a thing or two.

Plot Keywords:

Prep School | Rhode Island | Drugs | Wheelchair Bound | Three Legged Dog

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Shawn Hatosy	...	Tim Dunphy
Tommy Bone	...	Jackie Dunphy
Samantha Lavigne	...	'Clops'
Jonathan Brandis	...	Mousy
Adam LaVorgna	...	Tommy the Wire (as Adam Lavorgna)
Jesse Leach	...	Decenz
Jon Abrahams	...	Drugs Delaney
Alec Baldwin	...	Old Man Dunphy
Richard Jenkins	...	Barney
Mike Cerrone	...	Caveech
George Wendt	...	Joey
Robert Turano	...	Fran
Kristen Shorten	...	Bunny Cote
Timothy Crowe	...	Mr. Funderburk (as Tim Crowe)
Gabriel Mann	...	Jack Wheeler

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive teen drug use and strong language including sexual references.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:S | Singapore:M18 | Iceland:12 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Australia:MA | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Norway:11 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

Based on Peter Farrelly's experiences at Kent School, where he graduated as a member of the class of 1975.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: One of the first lines in the movie is "This blows." That particular phrase was not part of teen jargon in the 70s.

Quotes:

Timothy Dunphy: My brother's in a wheel chair because of a freak accident as a kid. One day we were playing touch football and he fell off the roof.

Movie Connections:

Features Federal Hill (1994)

Soundtrack:

Roundabout

a very good 70s coming-of-age movie

"Outside Providence". ***1/2. Timothy Dunphy (Shawn Hatosy) lives in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He's 17. He and his friends are stoners. They hang out and argue the relative benefits of moving to California or staying in Pawtucket after high school. Their criteria for deciding revolve around the potential quality and quantity of drugs and sex. Dunphy lives with his dad (Alex Balwin) and his younger brother (Tommy Bone). Dunphy gets in trouble. One of his dad's friends is "connected" and gets Dunphy's jail sentence deferred if he enrolls and successfully completes his senior year of high school at an exclusive prep school. Dunphy moves from stoned fish in a small pond to fish out of water. His ensuing adventures are predictable but fun. There is the geeky roommate, stoner pals, beautiful girl that's out of his league, and the Dickensonian schoolmaster. I enjoyed most every moment. No scene ever got too melodramatic or silly. The stoner jokes and other one liners are funny. "Outside Providence" plays as a very good 70s coming-of-age movie. The writing credits for "OP" goes to Peter Farrelly of the Farrelly Brothers ("There's Something About Mary", "Kingpin", and "Dumb and Dumber"). Given the Farrelly connection, I was surprised by the restraint and tenderness of this movie. Very much worth the rental.