Introducing the Dwights (2006)

52% of critics liked it
(87 reviews)
48% of users liked it
(11,159 ratings)

An already-unstable household becomes a virtual battle zone when the son of a risquÃ (C) comedienne and a has-been singer finds mom meddling in his love life in director Cherie Nowlan's dysfunctional romantic comedy. Twenty-one-year-old Tim Dwight (Khan Chittenden) comes from a peculiar family; his… More An already-unstable household becomes a virtual battle zone when the son of a risquÃ (C) comedienne and a has-been singer finds mom meddling in his love life in director Cherie Nowlan's dysfunctional romantic comedy. Twenty-one-year-old Tim Dwight (Khan Chittenden) comes from a peculiar family; his mother, Jean (Brenda Blethyn), is a bawdy stage comic renowned for her scatological sense of humor and his father, John (Frankie J. Holden), is a faded country-music star who now works as a low-rent security guard. While dad is busy trying to revive his flat-lined career, mom spends most of her time doting on Tim and his developmentally disabled brother, Mark (Richard Wilson). Upon meeting the beautiful Jill (Emma Booth), Tim believes his may have finally found the woman of his dreams. Unfortunately in Jean's eyes there is only room for one woman in Tim's life, and that woman is his mother. As Tim's relationship with Jill grows increasingly serious, the stage is set for a battle royal between the woman who once gave him life and the prospective mother of his future children. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Cherie Nowlan, Mary Lambert
Written By: Keith Thompson
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 3, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Feb 12, 2008
Studio: Warner Independent

Critic Reviews

Claudia Puig, USA Today
Introducing the Dwights is funny and poignant, with a tour-de-force performance by British actress Brenda Blethyn.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
One of those quirky Australian comedies that's almost as charming and sharp as it thinks it is.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
It's time we all met the Dwights.
Christy Lemire, Associated Press
There's nothing lovely, however, about the movie's bombastic ending, but there are enough small moments until then to make this mixed-up experience vaguely worthwhile.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Sometimes Brenda Blethyn is content merely to nibble the scenery. In Introducing the Dwights, a drippy Australian family comedy caper, she chomps it to a pulp until we long for her straightforward monstrosity as a mother in Little Voice.
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
Some offbeat humor shines through the clouds of this glum domestic drama, especially when fun friends shift the focus from Jean's grating histrionics. But it never lasts long.
S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Uneven dysfunctional family dramedy for adults.
Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat
A movie that works beautifully when it's on point and feels sort of hollow when it's not.
Brandon Fibbs, BrandonFibbs.com
Yes, Introducing the Dwights is a melodrama, but this melodrama handles its emotional manipulation with such subtle honesty that it takes on an impressive degree of realism.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The keep case describes it as an 'endearing comic gem.' I would describe it as a joyless melodrama.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...does little more than disappoint its audience with annoying characters and stereotypical situations.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
A compassionate and brutally raw portrait of a woman torn apart by an exceedingly bad case of midlife crisis, and destroyed expectations beyond parenthood.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
As lively as a slap in the face, this film struggles to connect with us due to an extremely unsympathetic central figure, but still wins us over with strong acting and a sweet romance.
Derek Malcolm, This is London
It doesn't quite add up as a convincingly rounded drama, thanks largely to a tepid feelgood ending, but there are many good moments - and the expert acting from Blethyn alone is worth the price of a ticket.
Neil Smith, thelondonpaper
If you're making a film about a stand-up, it helps if she has at least one good gag in her routine.
Anthony Quinn, Independent
Brenda Blethyn gets her teeth into the role of a flamboyant showbiz monster who can't accept that her career has failed to make the big time.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
This heartfelt, good-natured film grew on me, and Blethyn always commands attention.
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
You can't help but mourn for the hint of an intriguing film that could have been.
Billy Mowbray, Film4
Promising turns from Booth and Chittenden aren't enough to save a slight and sloppy Aussie soap from a poor script, messy direction and Blethyn's overbearing performance.
Neil Smith, Total Film
It's Keith Thompson's script that struggles here, his sub-Little Voice histrionics leaving next to nothing for the cast to work with.

Read all 24 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Red L

I enjoyed this movie, perhaps because I identified a bit with Tim. There are a lot of insecure people in this movie. Tim's mom cannot stand to have someone take Tim away from her family. Tim is insecure about dealing with girls - even Jill doesn't know what to do with… More
I enjoyed this movie, perhaps because I identified a bit with Tim. There are a lot of insecure people in this movie. Tim's mom cannot stand to have someone take Tim away from her family. Tim is insecure about dealing with girls - even Jill doesn't know what to do with someone as shy as Tim. I enjoyed the actors - especially the mom who is a comedienne who borders on being funny. The part of Mark was a little confusing as there are times he seems quite delayed and others when there is little wrong with him. By the way, this movie was called Clubland in Australia, but Introducing the Dwights in North America.
Mason W

Introducing the Dwights is a good comedy starring the very delightful Brenda Blethyn. The Dwights are a family lead by the single and divorced mother (Blethyn). This family with two children live in Australia. This movie centers on a mother whom is a comedian and is noticing her son… More
Introducing the Dwights is a good comedy starring the very delightful Brenda Blethyn. The Dwights are a family lead by the single and divorced mother (Blethyn). This family with two children live in Australia. This movie centers on a mother whom is a comedian and is noticing her son is getting old enough to have his attentions be on a young lady. The realization that he may not be all her own and live at home is something difficult for her to take. A good and funny movie.
Nicki M

Good film - Brenda Blethyn does a great job in this one. Even though her character is a bit of a nightmare, I really found her sympathetic as a woman who had given up a lot for her relationship, (now failed), with the father of her two sons, one of whom has a learning disability, and… More
Good film - Brenda Blethyn does a great job in this one. Even though her character is a bit of a nightmare, I really found her sympathetic as a woman who had given up a lot for her relationship, (now failed), with the father of her two sons, one of whom has a learning disability, and doing a crappy day job in a kitchen to pay the bills, while following her own dreams as an entertainer in the evenings. While this movie is mainly promoted as being about the romance between her awkward younger son and his new girlfriend (nicely acted by both), it is just as much the mother's story, and I think the new beginning for her son triggers her own anxiety about her age and how her own dreams are never likely to come true after all. I found this one to be very well acted and had a lot of truth in it while still being a comedy.
Bannan i

I love warner independant flicks...and due to JBit's influence...starting to fall in love with aussie film...but srsly kids it was alrie...nothing terribly special.
Dean M

Good entertaining, honestly funny and geniuely touching in this Aussie comedy-drama film. Emma Booth does a wonderful performance and good sexy looking that made her won an AFI Award of 2007 for Best Supporting Actress. Congratulations, Emma. (Disappointed it has no English subtitles… More
Good entertaining, honestly funny and geniuely touching in this Aussie comedy-drama film. Emma Booth does a wonderful performance and good sexy looking that made her won an AFI Award of 2007 for Best Supporting Actress. Congratulations, Emma. (Disappointed it has no English subtitles in DVD).
Julie B

Very sweet. Brenda Blethyn is great - makes a very difficult character have great depth.
Yinalí R

It's a heartfelt movie. Though it has it's rough moments; the movie is a must see.
William G

Familiar coming-of-age/dysfunctional dramedy still holds moderate charm.
Audrey L

A quirky little film which I would recommend for the brilliant Brenda Blethyn!
Chosen 7

Interesting comedy-drama
Leo L

An interesting movie! Hilarious. Good story plot about a family: a mother and her two sons. Brenda Blethyn is fantastic.
Jason S

Great Aussie movie with the English Brenda Blethyn excellent as always! Great stuff!