Welcome To The Rileys DVD
Starring: Kristen Stewart, James Gandolfini, Melissa Leo
Director: Jake Scott
Rating: 3/5
We are all so use to seeing Kristen Stewart playing Bella Swan in the twilight franchise so it’s great to see her tackle something completely different.
After the death of their daughter eight years ago, the lives of Doug (James Gandolfini) and Lois (Melissa Leo) Riley have been derailed. Lois refuses to leave the house and Doug strays to the waitress in his local all-night diner.
While at a business convention in New Orleans Doug unwillingly stumbles across Mallory (Kristen Stewart), a young stripper struggling to get through life.
This stirs his paternal instincts once more as he tries to help build a good life for Mallory, while seeking to reclaim his marriage with Lois.
Ok so this is not the most original story but Jake Scott, son of Ridley, has made this movie with a lot of emotion and a lot of heart as the three central characters are struggling to deal with their day to day life.
There is a real connection between Gandolfini and Stewart as they establish a real father and daughter bond.
Gandolfini & Leo really do deliver two very tortured performances as they try to deal and accept the death of their daughter, Leo in particular carries a guilt that just pours out in every scene.
And this is a gritty role for Stewart and she gives it everything that has got - but the script doesn’t quite give the character the depth, which is a shame because Stewart really could have handled that.
The main problem with the movie is the script it is just too much of a slow burner. But the characters are what save it as the actors really make the audience care then from start to finish.
This is however a touching story about dealing with grief, but it never gets bogged down or lost in sentiment.
Welcome To The Rileys is out on DVD & Blu-Ray now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in James Gandolfini Kristen Stewart Melissa Leo