'Welcome to the Rileys' review

Director: Jake Scott; Screenwriter: Ken Hixon; Starring: James Gandolfini, Melissa Leo, Kristen Stewart, Lance E. Nichols, David Jensen; Running time: 110 mins; Certificate: 15

There's a new Kristen Stewart movie coming out this week in which she proudly proclaims "I don't do anal". As you may suspect, the unfortunate recipient of this line is not R-Patz and the film is most certainly not The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1. Instead, it forms part of the decent slow burner Welcome to the Rileys, which has many commendable components but a script that progressively loses focus - just like someone being unable to finish a senten...

Stewart plays drug-addled prostitute Bella Swan Allison, a directionless teen runaway who lives in squalid conditions and possesses a mouth fouler than the contents of Freddie Starr's guts after his recent bushtucker trial. A potential saviour comes in the shape of melancholic Doug (James Gandolfini) when he arrives in New Orleans on a business trip.

Leaving behind his wife Lois (Melissa Leo), Doug sets about bringing Allison's life back on track in a non-platonic way, despite her frequent offers. But can Doug genuinely create a surrogate daughter figure to replace the child he lost? Furthermore, what will Lois think when she pays Doug an unexpected visit only to find him holed up with a juvenile hooker?

Welcome to the Rileys poses a myriad of fascinating and complex questions, yet fails to capitalise on them with sufficiently engaging answers. The first half of the movie sets everything up superbly, with Jake Scott's inquisitive lens providing much background and character information in a manner far more effective than words could ever be.

A short and simple scene of Doug brooding in his garage, smoking a cigarette, tells you a great deal about the character through the brilliant Gandolfini's anguished expression and hesitant interaction with the empty space around him. The treatment towards Doug, Allison and Lois - despite their inherent flaws - is suitably non-judgmental and sensitive.

Although the script ultimately fails to scratch deep enough beneath the psychological surface and descends into lazy melodrama, the performances of the three leads are excellent. Gandolfini and Leo don't need sparkling dialogue for their portrayals, as their ability to inhabit their roles and exude certain emotions is all we need.

Kristen Stewart also excels and showcases her skills as a highly capable young actress, capturing Allison's alienation and anger - alongside frequent deployments of a fine scowl! It's just a shame that the character is subject to an unconvincingly sudden transformation in the latter half of the movie.

Full of honourable intentions and winning performances, Welcome to the Rileys is just sorely lacking in that killer knockout final act to pay off all the previous emotional investment in the characters. Still, at least there are no vampires to be seen.