Last night’s double feature: two movies that are 20 years old, that I had never seen.
Kingpin is a stagy comedy based on the backdrop of semipro bowling. Meh. With Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid and Vanessa Angel – and a supporting Bill Murray – it has its moments, but never gels into a great comedy.
Welcome to the Dollhouse is a coming of age movie about a nerdish loser, Dawn Weiner, played well by Heather Matarazzo, who is grappling with her sexual urges and desire to be accepted. Matarazzo makes Dawn appealing at a primordial level, especially against the backdrop of her horrible family, who seem to go out of their way to ostracize her. The detailed treatment of her day-to-day torment and her odd relationships with hunky highschooler Steve (Eric Mabus) and school bully Brandon (Brendan Sexton Jr.) reveal how she is willing to do almost anything for the slightest show of affection. Directed by Tood Solodz, Welcome to the Dollhouse won the grand prize at Sundance in 1996, and is worth renting. Solodz will be releasing Weiner-Dog, a follow-up to Welcome to the Doghouse, again based on Dawn’s now-all-grown-up character, who will be played by Greta Gerwig (of Frances Ha, Mistress America, and Lola Versus).
from Stowe Boyd http://stoweboyd.com/post/137476397282
