Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Routine, violent drug-lord crime drama lacks punch.
Parents Need to Know
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Dutch
What's the Story?
In DUTCH, young Bernard James is working at a pizza parlor when he foils a robbery and protects the mob's money, which is kept on the premises. As a reward, he's taken under the wing of mob boss Fat Tony Cerone (Robert Costanzo) and given a promotion. Bernard grows up to become the wealthy and successful criminal "Dutch" (Lance Gross). Arrested for purportedly blowing up a police station and killing several officers, Dutch hires high-class lawyer Michelle Nichols (Natasha Marc) to defend him. During the trial, flashbacks tell the story of Dutch's rise to power, including the events that led to the bombing. After a while, it becomes apparent that the trial has been rigged by a rogue member of Fat Tony's family. Will Dutch ever see the light of day again?
Is It Any Good?
This perfectly ordinary crime drama is quickly undone by its budgetary limitations, stiff performances by certain cast members, and too much talk and too little action. Cut from the same cloth as movies like Scarface, King of New York, and American Gangster, Dutch tries to tell its story from the point of view of a Black man operating within a White (mainly Italian) crime empire. But aside from very basic portrayals of racism, it doesn't have much to say. Most situations are conveyed through dialogue, which often results in awkward moments, such as the one involving the actual bomber. He only appears in a few scenes, and whatever he did to warrant his sorry fate is never shown.
The action that does pop up is pretty cursory, including lots of shoot-outs with fake blood spurts and a sort-of chase scene in a parking garage. Gross is commanding in the lead role and would have been a welcome addition to a better movie, but he's surrounded by performers who recite their lines without energy or life. Directed by Preston A. Whitmore II (of the notoriously awful Crossover), Dutch isn't a total write-off. Basically, it's the type of movie that, if it were playing on TV some night, might make you occasionally glance up at the screen.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Dutch. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How is substance use depicted? Are smoking, drinking, and drug use glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
What's the appeal of the gangster genre? What is this movie's main message? Are gangsters romanticized, or is this a cautionary tale?
Are Black characters positively represented here? Did you notice any stereotypes in play?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 12, 2021
- On DVD or streaming : June 4, 2021
- Cast : Lance Gross , Natasha Marc , Jeremy Meeks
- Director : Preston A. Whitmore II
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Faith Media Distribution
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 109 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language throughout, violence, some drug use, sexual references and nudity
- Last updated : September 23, 2023
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