Welcome to the Rileys - A Movie Review

Sometimes we just have to wander in our grief journies.

Welcome to the Rileys is a 2010 film. A couple is still grieving the loss of their daughter. While on a business trip in New Orleans, Doug meets a young woman in a strip bar. Mallory reminds him of his daughter. He seeks salvation to take care of this young woman.

Welcome to the Rileys is a reflective film. As a movie fanatic, I like searching for simple films with resonating themes wrapped in their layers. Grief is different for everybody. We are never alone.

The late James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart, and Melissa Leo did an excellent job in their performances. This trio of actors has starred in various films. The film is all about their interactions. The film highlights the importance of talking. Talk about problems instead of bottling things up. It only makes mental health and relationships worse by avoiding problems.

Kristen Stewart gave the best performance. Stewart’s performance is the highlight of this film. Her growth as an actress has been inspiring to witness. I like how she guided her character roots as Mallory. Understanding Doug and Lois’s situation, Mallory makes the right judgments of when to intervene or leave the problem as is.

Stewart embodied the role, even going to strip clubs for further research accompanied by the director and the film’s costume designer. Life has never been easy for Mallory. Except Mallory likes it that way. On her own and making a living in a lifestyle that may not be healthy, she is happy with it.

Gandolfini and Stewart did a great job in their characters' interactions. The actors improvised more of their dialogue. Albeit, Doug’s relationship with Mallory is weird. I didn’t find it believable that Mallory would let Doug stick around. For movie purposes, it works.

Lois has her own story. I love how she conquers her fear of driving. For anyone who thinks that life is over following the death of a loved one, keep moving forward. Leo did a superb job telling the story of her daughter’s demise.

You have to remember what Doug and Lois have endured. They each have their bonding moments with Mallory. This story is about them, not Mallory. I felt like I knew the characters.

Jake Scott worked closely with the cast, especially with Stewart. Welcome to the Rileys is authentic. Slow-paced, Welcome to the Rileys is understated in its setup and delivery. Scott focused on character depth instead of exploiting negative themes about strippers.

The setting for the film is necessary. Since the pandemic, I have discovered how important travel is. We find new places. Taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana, most of the locations are real places, like the strip club. Ken Hixon got the idea for the film after taking a trip to New Orleans.

I am glad the film ends the way it does. Originally, Hixon wanted a happy ending, but Scott disagreed. Every movie doesn’t need a happy ending. Leaving things up to interpretation, the conclusion of Welcome to the Rileys makes it all the more memorable.

People walk into our lives for a reason. Sometimes, that person is only there for a day. Grief makes us do weird things. I can attest to that in my grief journey. Take each day one day at a time, be open to new ideas, and enjoy life.

Welcome to the Rileys is very underrated. This film doesn’t get the hype it deserves. Put it on your watch list. You don’t want to miss it.