Welcome to the Rileys is much better than I expected. Of course it falls in some clichés and some scenes were not necessary (the opening scene, the car burning), but I liked it a lot. I like how the characters are forced to face themselves and how things change in different levels to each one of them. I like how Lois and Doug’s relationship comes to a point where “you can leave me if you have to, but I’ll never leave you” makes real sense, not longer being just random words.

Some people got bothered with James Gandolfini’s accent, others with the fact that Doug smokes in the garage, others with the whole situation (not everything is about sex, guys) and others with Kristen Stewart’s “lack” of acting or with Kristen herself. After watching it I was asking myself if we don’t demand too much of an actor. Do we have an inexhaustible source of expressions, ourselves? Ok, we’re not actors, this is their job, but is it really possible to incorporate a character to the point that the actor is not visible anymore? I only have a few names in mind.
Kristen Stewart doesn’t do an outstanding job, but her acting is as good as some others Oscar or whatever nominated. She seems more comfortable in the skin of outsider characters and, in my opinion, she goes much better with them.

I never watch the final credits, but the last song caught me in such a way that I did it. Going Up The Country, played by the rockabilly band “Kitty, Daisy and Lewis” was the only one who remind me of New Orleans’s music spirit. The soundtrack, that mostly features Marc Streitenfeld’s instrumental songs, also has Odetta singing Go Down Sunshine, but I just can’t remember in which scene it’s played.