Dutch (1991)

"You might be the toughest little whacker at the junior high but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day."

Director

Peter Faiman

Cast

Ed O'Neill - Dutch Dooley

Ethan Randall - Doyle Standish

JoBeth Williams - Natalie Standish

Christopher McDonald - Reed Standish

Ari Meyers - Brock

E.G. Daily - Hailey

L. Scott Caldwell - Homeless woman

 

When it comes to John Hughes's holiday comedy films, specifically his Thanksgiving comedy holiday films, "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" is likely all that comes to mind for most audiences. Released in 1987, it's a holiday comedy road trip movie about two complete strangers, Del Griffith (John Candy) and Neal Page (Steve Martin), who end up trying to get from New York City to Chicago together in time for Thanksgiving. 

Earlier this week, a special edition of the film was released with an additional hour of extended or cut scenes - a special edition I've been hoping a long time would surface. 

Hughes' other Thanksgiving comedy road trip movie with two people who don't necessarily pair well doesn't seem to garner as much attention.  

"Dutch" was released in 1991 and stars Ed O'Neal and Ethan Randall. Written by Hughes, it uses a similar formula to "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles." That might partly account for its lack of acclaim. It also bombed upon its release, earning $4.6 million domestically after its $17 million budget. That also might account for its lack of popularity.

The film begins with a posh dinner party in which Natalie Standish (JoBeth Williams) finds herself unable to fit in. She's not as stuck up as other attendees. Her new boyfriend, Dutch Dooley (Ed O'Neill), who's also at the party, is certainly not one of these upper-class types. Dutch is a middle-class working man.

He's a bit coarse and doesn't dress in clothes as nice as theirs. 

During the party, Dutch has the "pleasure" of meeting Natalie's wealthy arrogant ex-husband, Reed (Christopher McDonald). 

Reed cancels his Thanksgiving Day plans with their son, Doyle (Ethan Randall) who's away at a private boarding school in Georgia, as he has to take a business trip to London. Or so he says.

Being the jerk he is, Reed has Natalie tell their son of his cancellation despite Doyle looking forward to seeing his dad. 

Unwilling to break the news to Doyle since Reed should be the one to do it, Natalie wants Doyle to come home to her house for Thanksgiving.

Doyle, however, blames his mother for his parents' divorce, and refuses to spend the holiday with her. Instead, he stays at school - alone.  
Dutch sees an opportunity to score some relationship points with Natalie. 

Ethan Randall and Ed O'Neill in "Dutch."

He offers to drive from Chicago to Georgia and pick up Dutch for Thanksgiving. 
When he finally arrives at the school unannounced, he finds Doyle is just as snobbish and self-centered as his dad. Their introduction is rather painful (literally) for Dutch. 
Still, he makes sure he keeps his promise, and drives her reluctant kid back to Chicago. 
As the pair take on the long road trip back to Natalie's, they're met with several obstacles along the way such as Doyle parking Dutch's car in the middle of the highway, leaving the pair forced to end up hitchhiking with two prostitutes who steal Dutch's wallet. 
Some of the comedy borders on slapstick, namely with Doyle beating up on Dutch starting as soon as the two meet. It continues all the way unto the end in a tit for tat style comedy. 
Unlike the same general premise in "Plains, Trains, and Automobiles," Doyle is at the mercy of Dutch, driving home with him against his will. It changes the comedy a bit since the motivations for the characters in both movies are different. 
In "Plains, Trains, and Automobiles," Del Griffith and Neal Page are only stuck with each other by random circumstances. Their only shared motivation is to get to Chicago. The comedy lies in these two completely different people with nothing in common stuck in each other's company all because their flight got cancelled. The audience wants to see how they'll interact in various circumstances.
With "Dutch," Doyle has no choice about going back home. He doesn't want to go because he blames his mother over his parents' divorce. At the same time, Dutch is trying to score points with his mother by driving round trip to pick him up. Doyle uses Dutch as a way to get back at his mom. Dutch uses Doyle as a means to garner love and appreciation from Doyle's mom.
During most of the trip, Doyle looks down on Dutch, berating him for his middle income and working-class social standing. Dutch, meanwhile, reacts by putting young Doyle in his place because he's the one with life experience and self-dependency. Doyle just has his jerk of a father's influence and money.
In one scene when the two are at a diner having breakfast, Doyle starts in on Dutch.
"I beat you mentally, then I beat you physically," Doyle says.
After a little bit of back and forth, Doyle says, "You're a clod. And the cool part is I can say that. And you can't do anything about it because I can kick your butt."
Dutch smirks, leans forward and stares right into his eyes.
"Well, I won't cop to that, but I will say this. There's one thing I can do that you can't," Dutch says.
"Oh yeah? What?"
"I can pay for my breakfast."

This gotcha comedy carries into the next scene after breakfast when Dutch and Doyle are outside the diner thinking about what to do next as Dutch lost his car the night before. 

Dutch says in passing, "Nothing burps better than bacon. Your water looked tasty."

The movie carries a light bit of charm to it, thanks to the familiar Hughes formula. In that standard formula of his, there's an experience out there for his characters to see for themselves and thus improve their faults or misconceptions. All they need to do, in some way or another, is step out of their element or mindset through some situation out of their control, and face reality. Or, they have to face life through someone else's eyes. It's a standard Hughes trope seen in a lot of his movies such as "The Breakfast Club," "Uncle Buck," and even "Home Alone." His characters are put in some undesirable situation (Saturday detention, a long road trip with some unsavory shlub, or being stuck at home while the family is off on their Christmas vacation) only to come out cleaner in the end. 
"Dutch" is already similar enough to "Plain, Trains, and Automobiles" in more ways than the Hughes formula. Both movies depict a car getting destroyed. The main characters have their wallet stolen. The final destination in both movies is Chicago. The main characters don't like each other. And they finally make it to their destination following setback after setback. 
Both Ed O'Neill and Ethan Randall really put forth as good a performance as they can muster.

O'Neill doesn't mushy up the role. He plays it genuine and straightforward.
He was in the middle of playing "Al Bundy" in the sitcom "Married...With Children," - a sitcom I don't care for - in 1991. His sitcom character was known for luck never being on his side, and yet he always has the final insult. His Dutch carries a bit of that same comedy style since luck certainly isn't on Dutch's side. Still, he manages to put Doyle in his place with his sharp wit.  
O'Neill has a likeable persona to him even in this movie. He has a knack for playing the all-American working-class man. Unfortunately, some of the round-a-bout decisions Dutch makes only serve to maintain Hughes' comedy. The circumstances aren't completely working enough against him to justify some of the out-of-the-way decisions Dutch makes which just lack common sense. He only makes such choices to keep the movie a comedy. Regardless, it doesn't always match. 
Despite his obnoxiousness, Doyle is a sympathetic character. He carries a lot of issues rooted in his parents' divorce, and his bitterness towards his mother. He lashes out as he's a product of a love that doesn't exist anymore. The movie some effort to explore Doyle. But his problem-child vengeful actions towards Doyle get in the way since the movie is, again, trying to get laughs out of the audience. It goes on for a little too long to the point where it feels forced, and I would have hardly cared less if Dutch tossed Doyle off a bridge, and then broke off his relationship with his girlfriend.
Speaking of "The Breakfast Club," I wonder if Doyle Standish is any relation to Molly Ringwald's character, Claire Standish. Afterall, they're both from wealthy families. 
Also, according to imdb.com, John Candy was considered for the role of Dutch. I'm sure he would have nailed the role. Yet, I think it would have made the movie even more similar to "Plains, Trains, and Automobiles." 
"Dutch" is not a completely terrible movie as it certainly tries to be a likeable, relatable comedy. There's chemistry between O'Neill and Randall. But the scenario and Hughes's formula grows weak and ridiculous despite its best efforts. It almost works, but lacks the push to get it where it should be.