To suggest that OUTSIDE PROVIDENCE is the new film from the Farelly brothers sets you up to expect something it is not. The Farelly's have made their cinematic mark with Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary. But given that we now come to expect vulgar slapstick from the Farelly's, Outside Providence is something altogether again.

The film is written by the Farrelly's in conjunction with the film's director Michael Corrente, and given the kind of humor they're known to prefer, the material is likely to be based on autobiographical reminiscences of one or all of the writers.

The story is typical coming of age fodder, with few surprises. The protagonist is a high school senior from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, who has a minor run in with the law, and is sent off to private school. Between his friends at home and at school, then, there's many an opportunity for camaraderie, high school pranks, family mushy stuff, and an obligatory romance, all set in the 70's. But not the Hollywood version of the 70s where everyone word wild clothes and makeup, this is a working class 70s where everyone had bad hair and basically no dress sense at all.

Perhaps the story is too painfully working class, making much of every quirk of these blue color folks, but it is a blessed relief to meet characters who seem to capture the 70s I remember. The people I grew up with look a lot like these people, and of course, I knew every word of every song that comprises the aural backdrop to the film.

So I loved Outside Providence, not because it's a great movie--at times it lumbers almost unbearably--but because these people seemed to portray a situational concept close to my own. The most endearing quality of the film is its ability to allow to put yourself in the situations. I engaged in pranks somewhat akin to those of the protagonist.

What doesn't work, is the film's need to fit into a well made story mold. The weakest moments occur when the film feels the need to wrap up each situation with convenient and glib conclusions. Every loose end shouldn't be tied off--they rarely are in reality.