Review of Dutch (1991) by Jordan K — 30 Nov 2015

Dutch is the epitome of every John Hughes film, with similar elements and even some familiar storylines from previous films. That leads us to the fact that Dutch is Planes, Trains, and Automobiles meets Home Alone, with a forced chemistry between the two main actors.

Working class man Dutch Dooley is in charge of bringing his girlfriend's son Doyle home from boarding school for Thanksgiving, hoping to bond with him over time and change his preppy and hateful attitude towards nearly everyone except his father. Mischief and slapstick ensues where Dutch and Doyle try to outdo each other and fall for down on their luck traps.

Dutch seemed primarily like an excuse to get a well liked comedic TV actor into a Home Alone like plot - after all, in 1991 Home Alone and Married with Children dominated their respective entertainment platforms. Dutch, however, is far from Al Bundy - the chemistry between Dutch and Doyle is flat and feels incredibly forced, rivalling that of a familiar John Candy and Steve Martin buddy comedy schtick. It attempts to remain sweet yet real in Doyle's divorced parenting emotions and the various troubles Dutch and Doyle encounter on their way home but cannot rival that of Home Alone's sweetness aspect. There were various scenes I did enjoy and Ed O'Neil's character is likable and relatable, but Dutch falls short in its goals to make some box office dough in simply repeating what audiences loved the first time.