Welcome to the Rileys (2010)
Average Rating: 5.6/10
Reviews Counted: 77
Fresh: 42 | Rotten: 35
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 5.2/10
Critic Reviews: 25
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 16
No consensus yet.
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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 16,971
Movie Info
WELCOME TO THE RILEYS is a powerful drama about finding hope in the most unusual of places. Once a happily married and loving couple, Doug and Lois Riley (James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo) have grown apart since losing their teenage daughter eight years prior. Leaving his agoraphobic wife behind to go on a business trip to New Orleans, Doug meets a 17-year-old runaway (Kristen Stewart) and the two form a platonic bond. For Lois and Doug, what initially appears to be the final straw that will
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Cast
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Melissa Leo
Lois Riley -
James Gandolfini
Doug Riley -
Kristen Stewart
Mallory
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Welcome to the Rileys Trailer & Photos
All Critics (78) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (35) | DVD (3)
Stewart lets it all hang out in a firecracker role but her damaged character never achieves the depth the weak material could have done with.
Top Critic"Welcome to the Rileys" sets out to be a study of grief and how to overcome it, but it rings too false to offer much hope - or entertainment.
It's as if Tony Soprano and Bella Swan had landed the two leads in somebody's amateur theater company, and this is what the lucky audience gets.
"Welcome to the Rileys"? Thanks, but no thanks.
Welcome to the Rileys is a reminder that good, or at least intriguing, things can come in what seem to be predictable packages.
Terrific acting by James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo -- and a noble effort from Kristen Stewart -- goes a long way toward salvaging it.
Kristen Stewart ever runs out of "Snow White" sequels, this is what her post "Twilight" career should look like.
For every moment of raw self-destruction there is an equally charming resolution.
[It] will win no prizes for originality, but it benefits greatly from the subtle performances of the two leads, particularly Leo...
It's a preposterous story, yet for part of its duration at least, Gandolfini as the slouching, baggily dressed Doug and Leo as the reawakened wife manage to make it rather touching.
If it could be too slow-burning for some, it is at least a refreshing change from a pattern of film-making that never gives you a moment's rest because there is nothing under the surface.
It's downbeat and has little to say about the grieving process, and while Gandolfini and Leo are memorable, Stewart is not.
Gandolfini's bashful, bear-like Doug is endearing but most of this earnest film just doesn't ring true.
It's a well-made film, and New Orleans is crisply and interestingly shot by cinematographer Christopher Soos, but this ultimately looks like a TV movie dressed up for the big screen.
Despite its indie sensibilities, under the surface it's a pure Hollywood heart that beats here.
Stewart's strung-out, frowzy performance is a timely reminder that the girl can act, but despite strong work from all three leads, the facile screenplay runs out of things to say fairly quickly.
The dialogue and ponderous drama got lost even before the camera rolled.
Observant writing and direction make this exploration of grief surprisingly uplifting.
Quietly assured and superbly written, this is an emotionally engaging drama with a trio of terrific performances from James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart and Melissa Leo.
Movingly written and exquisitely played by the three leads, this never gets bogged down in sentiment or lazily opts for easy answers.
It's not horrible. It's just directed and written with a heavy hand and a sensibility that could use a lot more restraint.
...a consistently watchable piece of work that benefits substantially from its stellar performances...
Surprising twists lead the story in unexpected directions. The actors get credit for making you care about these characters. The audience develops a temporary bond during the 110-minute running time.
The film works because its stars make up a trifecta of terrific performers who overcome the clichés inherent in their characters.
...an uncompromising movie about the compromises people sometimes have to make in order to save themselves - and others. It's about doing what's necessary and right, instead of what's moral.
Audience Reviews for Welcome to the Rileys
Super Reviewer
Good movie! Welcome to the Riley's was a very interesting little American indie film. The movie is a little clichéd and sugarcoated but there's also a lot of dark and ugly notes in the film as well and it manages to strike an even balance. The acting and directing is decent enough that the setup seems believable and you really learn to care for the characters. Gandolfini is good and lovable like always and Leo turns in another impressive performance and continues to show her range. It's Stewart that really shines in the film though and silences her critics by continuing to broaden her range as well. The film is emotional and rewarding to a certain extent. Nothing too powerful or memorable but a nice little indie drama that gives some good actors some nice material to play around with. Worth seeing if you're into that sort of thing.
Something's wrong at the Rileys. Married nearly 30 years, Doug and Lois rarely talk. She doesn't leave their Indianapolis home, and she's ordered a gravestone with their names and birth years on it. He has a long-time Thursday night mistress whom he invites to go with him to a plumbing supply conference in New Orleans. Once there, Doug calls Lois to say he's staying for a while. What's he leaving behind and what's he looking for in New Orleans? And Lois, can she break out?
Super Reviewer
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- Mallory: Hey you know me and Doug, we don't fool around or anything like that. I'm just saying I mean nothing like that.
- Lois Riley: I believe you.
- Mallory: Because, I mean, he's completely old school. It's crazy.
- Lois Riley: I believe you.
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- Mallory: What's your problem?
- Doug Riley: I guess I'm just not used to being around young women who talk about their private parts.
- Mallory: [laughs] Like hello! Like I have private parts!
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- Lois Riley: You can leave me if you have to, but I will never leave you.
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- Mallory: I'm nobody's little girl! It's too late for that shit.
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- Mallory: Woah. Did somebody open a can of tuna fish?
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- Mallory: Oh, you're not a cop!? Oh, okay, show me your cock then, huh? Yeah.
- Doug Riley: Stop that!
- Mallory: Prove you're not a cop!
- Doug Riley: I'm not a cop!
- Mallory: Take this fucking back, cause that's about how close you're gonna get to my pussy tonight. Fuck nuts!
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Movie: ID: 770814801 Title: Welcome to the Rileys Release Date: 2010-10-29 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 4 Status: 1
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- Willkommen bei den Rileys (DE)
