Here's a Farrelly Brothers film which not many realize is a Farrelly Brothers picture, and in turn, is my most favorite of the Rhode Island duo.

"Outside Providence" is based on the novel by Peter Farrelly, of the Farrelly Bros team. He also penned the adaptation for the film. However, Michael Corrente directed this work for the renowned outlandish filmmakers, including Peter's brother Bobby Farrelly, credited as a producer.

Unlike the Farrellys' more high concept lewd comedies like "There's Something About Mary" and "Me, Myself and Irene," "Outside Providence" sets a benchmark in the genre of the light hearted drama.

The story follows Pawtucket, RI, teenager Tim Dunphy a.k.a Dildo, played perfectly by Shawn Hatosy (John Q, The Cooler), who is forced to do his final year of high school in Connecticut away from his brother and friends. Dildo gets high on weed and slams his car into a parked cop car. As a result, he escapes prison by attending a prep school for one year.

As Dildo attends this finely ironed prep school, he meets Jane, played by Amy Smart (Rat Race, Road Trip), who comes from a wealthy background, and a polar opposite of Dunphy's poor Pawtucket upbringing. However, she becomes a good influence on him, while he becomes a poor influence on her and through this we get the end of our second act and beginning of third.

Hatosy nails the economically depressed Rhode Island teen role without fail. Those who play his friends do a solid job at depicting Pawtucket teens during the 1970s. However, the best performance comes from Alec Baldwin, in one of his most memorable character roles, as Old Man Dunphy, Dildo's father.

Baldwin's portrayal of the Irish American working man from inland RI is dead on. No other actor could have done this well, and yet still have as much going on inside regarding his character's late wife, without actually coming from that specific background.

The humor of the picture comes in dialogue and small situations, but is not over-the-top at any point. Laughs are very subtle, and the little giggles in the picture are what make it so enjoyable. This picture marks the kind of film I hope to produce down the road, slice of life stories where characters learn just a little bit of life's odd experiences. Of course, coming from Providence myself, my enjoyment of this film is admittedly very biased.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?