Rating: 
Summary: Not Your Typical Farrelly Brothers Movie, But Still Good!
Review: "Outside Providence" is a surprising movie. Since it came from the Farrelly brothers, I was expecting little more than the type of humor that was the staple of "Dumb and Dumber", "Kingpin", and "There's Something About Mary". What I got is a very well done if not predictable "coming of age" story.The film is set in 1974 and features Shawn Hatosy as Tim Dunphy, a stoner sent away to a private school by his single father, played by Alec Baldwin (who calls his son "Dildo). I'm not a fan of Baldwin's but was mightily impressed by his performance. At school, Tim finds a new circle of friends (not abandoning his old ones) and falls for fellow student Jane (Amy Smart). He also struggles against an uptight, mean-spirited dorm master. The comedy is politically incorrect and sometimes even gross, as you might expect from a Farrelly brothers film, but the coming of age story gives this movie some degree of substance that has been lacking in their previous films. Although the plot is almost painfully predictable, "Outside Providence" succeeds in being interesting and entertaining. The VHS version of this film also features an alternate ending. After seeing it, I'm glad the brothers stayed with the first. It resolves all of the questions that come up in the movie in a much more satisfying way. One reviewer described this movie as "charming". I think that says it right. Perhaps one of the reasons I think so is that I graduated from high school at about the same time as Tim and his friends and can really identify with the struggles they go through. I consider this to be an exceptional motion picture (which also includes an exceptional soundtrack featuring a great collection of songs from that era).
Rating:
Summary: Not Your Typical Farrelly Brothers Movie, But Still Good!
Review: "Outside Providence" is a surprising movie. Since it came from the Farrelly brothers, I was expecting little more than the type of humor that was the staple of "Dumb and Dumber", "Kingpin", and "There's Something About Mary". What I got is a very well done if not predictable "coming of age" story. The film is set in 1974 and features Shawn Hatosy as Tim Dunphy, a stoner sent away to a private school by his single father, played by Alec Baldwin (who calls his son "Dildo). I'm not a fan of Baldwin's but was mightily impressed by his performance. At school, Tim finds a new circle of friends (not abandoning his old ones) and falls for fellow student Jane (Amy Smart). He also struggles against an uptight, mean-spirited dorm master. The comedy is politically incorrect and sometimes even gross, as you might expect from a Farrelly brothers film, but the coming of age story gives this movie some degree of substance that has been lacking in their previous films. Although the plot is almost painfully predictable, "Outside Providence" succeeds in being interesting and entertaining. The VHS version of this film also features an alternate ending. After seeing it, I'm glad the brothers stayed with the first. It resolves all of the questions that come up in the movie in a much more satisfying way. One reviewer described this movie as "charming". I think that says it right. Perhaps one of the reasons I think so is that I graduated from high school at about the same time as Tim and his friends and can really identify with the struggles they go through. I consider this to be an exceptional motion picture (which also includes an exceptional soundtrack featuring a great collection of songs from that era).
Rating: 
Summary: Lovely little potty-mouth film.
Review: A fantastically funny little film, best for those who understand growing up in the 70s, partying and having super-dumb friends. You definitely have to appreciate stoner humor (your uptight Aunt Alice won't like this one...) and not mind cursing. If you have no problem with those too things, you'll enjoy the quiet coming-of-age leasons learned by most of the characters. The main character Tim is sweet and dopey and full of teenage angst, and Hatsoy underplays him nicely. There's a tenderness in "Outside Providence" that's missing from "Dumb and Dumber" et al. I wholeheartedly recommend this movie, except I wouldn't watch it with my parents. There's no nudity, but there is strong, crass language and lots of drug play.
Rating:
Summary: Very funny
Review: A film that went unnoticed by many people, Outside Providence is a great comedy with a touching storyline and great acting all around. The film takes place in the early 70's and, along with those terrible 70's fashion, it is laced with a great soundtrack of songs from that era. The Farrelly Brothers wrote this story, and in typical Farrelly fashion, perhaps a couple of the jokes might be seen as offensive to the PC swine out there. However, compared to other Farrelly stuff, this film is pretty tame. But it's still got some big laughs.
Rating:
Summary: a well crafted and surprising little gem.
Review: A youth film set in the seventy's with some insights that remain current and valid today. I actually would rated it 3.5 on a 1 to 5 scale. This film appealed and entertained me not withstanding its retreading material I've sat through before in many guises. If your going to have a problem with a non-condematory attitude toward drug use you may have a problem with this film. I thought that aspect of the story wasn't glorified; rather it was sympatically noted and certainly squared with my own sense of that period. The storyline and characterizations are developed with enough shadeings and undertones as to have inclined me to be convinced of the people involved which is no mean feat considering how many hours I've spent checking out the flics. I felt all the performances were creditable, with nobody so weak as to be disturbing and nobody so strong as to steal focus from the other players. This is pleasing, textured and skillful writing and direction from a team whose previous efforts have been in very broad, baudy and popular farce.
Rating:
Summary: "Outside Providence" great fun
Review: After rear ending a parked police car with his own car reeking of marijuana, Timothy Dunphy is packed off to prep school in lieu of jail. Set in 1974, the rock score is great and the cast is appealing. "Dunph" isn't a bad kid, just a teenager going through some growing pains. He adores his younger paraplegic brother and falls in love with a nice girl who urges him to study more and get stoned less. Alec Baldwin is his father, who is verbally abusive and distant. Lots of laughs and nostalgia that early 1970's teens could relate to.
Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Suprise
Review: From the minds behind "Dumb and Dumber" and "Theres Something About Mary" comes another raunchy landmark comedy, but one with heart. Seemingly repetitive, a teenage boy is sent to a prep school after a car accident involving a parked police car, several friends, and unspecified amounts of narcotics. Throughout his journey he encounters friends, foes, and of course, love. The same coming of age tale every weekly movie aims for, however superior to most thanks to several key factors. Alec Baldwin, who was perhaps cast merely to attach a well known name to the movie, pulls off a surprisingly tricky role as a rock solid father who is confused and disappointed with his life. One of the movies most effective scenes is a short one, involving this star-stunned actor teaching his son how to knot a tie. The script is not only amusing, but it also provides a lot of emotional depth to the story through simple and idealistic lines. Written with cunning craft and executed superbly by the cast, it provides a solid backbone for the movie and proves to be effective in conveying the situations. What truly brings this movie together, though, is the charming charisma of newcomer Shawn Hatosy. Capturing the naive facial gestures, the sorrow- filled-eyes maneuvers, and that age old enlightmened maturity posture seems to be a natural gift to this young actor. Along with those three factors, it is wise to note the crude and yet witty comedy often present in the Farrely Brothers works: obsessing with homosexuality, mocking social status, and the maniacal humiliation that comes with life. For some this genre of entertainment is not appealing, however I found their classic formula highly engrossing. It is hard to say what the downside of this movie is, except that the ending left me somewhat unsatisfied. Perhaps thats merely because I was enjoying the film so much I simply did not want to end. Of course, given the flow of the movie, the ending was a natural and propable choice. An all around impressive film from those fiendishly humorous brothers, "Outside Providence" is a landmark of their work.
Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Suprise
Review: From the minds behind "Dumb and Dumber" and "Theres Something About Mary" comes another raunchy landmark comedy, but one with heart. Seemingly repetitive, a teenage boy is sent to a prep school after a car accident involving a parked police car, several friends, and unspecified amounts of narcotics. Throughout his journey he encounters friends, foes, and of course, love. The same coming of age tale every weekly movie aims for, however superior to most thanks to several key factors. Alec Baldwin, who was perhaps cast merely to attach a well known name to the movie, pulls off a surprisingly tricky role as a rock solid father who is confused and disappointed with his life. One of the movies most effective scenes is a short one, involving this star-stunned actor teaching his son how to knot a tie. The script is not only amusing, but it also provides a lot of emotional depth to the story through simple and idealistic lines. Written with cunning craft and executed superbly by the cast, it provides a solid backbone for the movie and proves to be effective in conveying the situations. What truly brings this movie together, though, is the charming charisma of newcomer Shawn Hatosy. Capturing the naive facial gestures, the sorrow- filled-eyes maneuvers, and that age old enlightmened maturity posture seems to be a natural gift to this young actor. Along with those three factors, it is wise to note the crude and yet witty comedy often present in the Farrely Brothers works: obsessing with homosexuality, mocking social status, and the maniacal humiliation that comes with life. For some this genre of entertainment is not appealing, however I found their classic formula highly engrossing. It is hard to say what the downside of this movie is, except that the ending left me somewhat unsatisfied. Perhaps thats merely because I was enjoying the film so much I simply did not want to end. Of course, given the flow of the movie, the ending was a natural and propable choice. An all around impressive film from those fiendishly humorous brothers, "Outside Providence" is a landmark of their work.
Rating:
Summary: Great overlooked "teen" film.
Review: Great film that was severly overlooked with the current glutch of teen films.baldwin as never been better and Hatosy shows how wasted he was in The Faculty by brandishing the screen with a performance only mirrored in todays teenage world by the also great Sexton jnr 111. The dialogue sparkles with farrelly freshness & the eye to detail (of the 70S) is second to none. Teens of today dont worry YOU WILL like this film although you didnt know the 70S. just sit back and prepare to laugh and be moved all in one. a great great film sadly discarded in todays 'want the next thing' society...oh and the soundtrack ROCKS!
Rating: 
Summary: Some surprising roles for Alec Baldwin and George Wendt
Review: Having tired of Beavis and Butthead's favorite term of endearment ("Buttmunch"), I was happy to find that Outside Providence offers several alternatives, my favorite being "Assbag." Most of these affectionate references are lobbed by Alec Baldwin's character, a working class father whose eldest son, Tim, is giving him a hard time. The worst of Tim's hijinks involve booze, pot, and an unfortunate fender bender with a cop car--this accident proves a sufficient reason to send Tim to upper-crust Cornwall Prep School, a place that your average blue collar kid is bound to feel out of place. I was nervous at the idea of seeing another movie hero come of age, especially considering that one of the Farrelly brothers penned the original novel and contributed to the screenplay. Have no fear; Outside Providence is subtly acted, riotously funny, painfully uncomfortable, but mostly satisfying. A friend who accompanied me said, "I am happy with that whole movie"--a rare sentiment from someone who is quite a discerning critic.
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