
Welcome to the Rileys
2010, Drama, 1h 50m
83 Reviews 10,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Despite earnest performances, Welcome to the Rileys cannot escape its belabored over-sentimentality and sluggish delivery. Read critic reviews
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Welcome to the Rileys Photos
Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Doug Riley
Lois Riley
Mallory
Vivian
Jerry
Harriet
News & Interviews for Welcome to the Rileys
Critic Reviews for Welcome to the Rileys
Audience Reviews for Welcome to the Rileys
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Dec 01, 2012There's a lot of drams that are made to be "award bait". Which means, it will get a lot of nominations, which will increase it's visibility and make money. But, there are a lot of movies made for that reason, that don't come out right and end up getting no awards and making no money. "Welcome to the Rileys" is one of those flicks. It stars James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo as a middle aged married couple who have grown apart. Doug(Gandolfini) has a business trip to New Orleans, and while there he meets a 17 year old stripper(Kristen Stewart). He doesn't want a relationship with her or sex, he just wants to help her the way a father would help a daughter. Lois(Leo) is agoraphobic but finds the will to come to New Orleans to be with Doug. From there conflicts with Stewart and some secrets come out. The performances are all just ok. Gandolfini is the best, but he just seems to be going through the motions. Stewart does the exact same thing here as all her movies. Lip biting, playing with her hair, and pouting. She has that all down pat. The movie drags and doesn't really give much of a conclusion. Worth a watch? I a copy for free, and I'd say that would be the only reason to watch it. I'm sure there are some people who like this, but it didn't work for me at all really.Everett J Super Reviewer
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Oct 11, 2012A middle-aged man, still mourning the death of his daughter, flees his Indiana life to care for a damaged young prostitute. I'm sorry to say this, but I can't think of a better way to evaluate Kristen Stewart: she just shouldn't act; she should wait tables or answer phones in an office. When she plays Bella or Snow White, I complain that her face is dead and that there's no energy behind her acting. Now, she plays a manic prostitute, a character who requires energy and life, but she's just horrid. I agree with Super Reviewer Alice Shen who says, "her speech, especially the cursing is pretty self-conscious. She only half-says 'cooter,' 'pussy,' 'fuck.'" Absolutely. And this self-consciousness permeates the rest of Stewart's performance. The film is saved by James Gandolfini who gives one of the best performances of his career. His vulnerability is a trait Stewart could learn from. He creates a real, touching character, and it's a joy to watch Melissa Leo, who is also quite good, play off Gandolfini. I like the story as well. It's not the tired "man saved by a good woman" trope that was overplayed long before I was born; rather, it's a man trying to save a bad woman in order to save himself. The film portrays middle-class America as both a hell from which Doug can't escape, but it's also what he tries to recreate with Mallory; I think many people who live in suburbia can identify with that contradiction. Overall, I hope that someone can stop Kristen Stewart from making movies, but this film was nevertheless worth making.Jim H Super Reviewer
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Mar 06, 2012Gandolfini is a good watch as a husband whom we discover takes a interest in a 16 year old runaway due to the loss of his daughter of a similer age, but overasll the film is uneven and dull at times, Stewert does her brooding thing which ive liked in other things but it didnt help this film.scott g Super Reviewer
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Feb 13, 2012What a wonderful drama directed by Jake Scott! One of the best screenplays written by Ken Hixon, and starring perfectly cast Kristen Stewart, James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo... I could not ask for anything better this cold winter night! The story of Doug (James Gandolfini) and Lois Riley (Melissa Leo) who have been drifting apart since the death of their daughter Emily, was touching, developed almost to perfection and with minimal stereotypes! The sparse dialogue was authentic as well as the setting. Lois wrestles with a suffocating sense of guilt over her daughter's death, while Doug is having an affair with a local waitress, Vivian. Suddenly Vivian dies and Doug finds himself in a New Orleans strip club during a business trip, realizing that he's come to a crossroads in life.. that's all you should know... you can see the rest on the screen! And you can see a lot there! Especially very fine and smooth performance by James Gandolfini and outstanding acting by Kristen Stewart (many of you know her as Bella from the Twilight franchise). For the third star, Melissa Leo, I'll just say that she has experienced a career boon since her Oscar nomination for Frozen River, and here she proves that the nomination was well deserved. Don't miss it if you have an opportunity to watch it!Panta O Super Reviewer
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