Plot: What’s it about?
He rose from a humble background to become one of the most popular comics in America, but those days have passed for Buddy Young, Jr. (Billy Crystal). These days, he plays for the crowds on cruise ships or audiences of nursing home patients. The trip downhill was made harsh because of his former fame, but now Buddy has to decide what the future holds. It all started when he and his brother Stan (David Paymer) would entertain the family with jokes and songs, leading to a talent show where the roles became defined. Buddy was ready to storm the stage, but Stan wanted to remain behind the curtain, though always ready to offer advice. As time passed, Stan would become Buddy’s manager and while success was on the horizon, Buddy’s sharp personality often caused rifts between him and his loved ones. As he now sits with Stan and ponders his future, he learns that his brother has moved on, retired and purchased a home. Now Buddy has to search himself and find out if he still has what it takes and beyond that, if his behavior in the past has burned some bridges he might want to cross once again.
This has been one of my most wanted titles for some time, so I am thrilled to finally have it on DVD, especially in such a lush treatment. A lot of films have tried to blend comedy and drama, but not many of them succeed and of those, very few seem to knock it out of the park. But with Mr. Saturday Night, we have one of the few that hits it deep, a movie that has intense drama, even tragic moments, but also has a sense of humor at the same time. As written by Billy Crystal, Babaloo Mandel, and Lowell Ganz, this film blends the elements together and even when it seems like the sap has gone too far, something happens to hold it all together. The result is a realistic, very human picture that I think most people can relate to, which is important, of course. We might not all be famous, but the themes found in this movie can be carried over to all aspects of our relationships, giving it a kind of universal appeal, if you will. I cannot recommend this movie enough and MGM has issued a wonderful disc at a low price. As such, I think even those with a casual interest will want to buy this disc, as a rental is not much more inexpensive than a purchase in this case.
Although he has been in countless roles I’ve enjoyed, I think this is perhaps my favorite performance from Billy Crystal. This seems to be such a personal project for Crystal, with him serving as the lead actor, cowriter, and director on the picture, as if he knew just how Mr. Saturday Night should be filmed. It has to be tough to handle all those tasks, but Crystal does so with ease and delivers terrific work on both sides of the camera. His turn as Buddy is classic in my opinion, which is not an easy task, since Buddy is so unlikable. But to his credit, Crystal never tries to force sympathy from his audience, although a few scenes come kind of close. I’m always amazed at the range he shows in this movie, if not his very best, then it ranks toward the top, to be sure. Other films with Crystal include America’s Sweethearts, When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers, Running Scared, and The Princess Bride. The cast also includes David Paymer (Howard the Duck, Carpool), Julie Warner (Doc Hollywood, Tommy Boy), Ron Silver (The Arrival, Reversal of Fortune), and Helen Hunt (Twister, What Women Want).
Video: How does it look?
Mr. Saturday Night is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. I did notice some flaws in this presentation, but the movie has never looked so good on home video, so I can’t complain too much. The print has some speckles and grain at times, but these never become a distraction, not in the least. The main issue is some jagged edges and shimmering, which is not too serious, but is more than noticeable. But the colors look warm and rich, contrast seems on the mark, and sharpness is superb, this is a solid, well crafted transfer in most respects. Yes, I wish the problems weren’t there, but this is still a terrific effort overall.
Audio: How does it sound?
Not a whole lot to discuss on this front, as the movie is driven by dialogue and little else, so little spark is to be heard. Even so, the included 2.0 surround mix is solid and covers all the needed bases, with no problems in the least. The music adds some depth to the audio, while sound effects come through in natural, effective fashion. The main focus is on the dialogue though, which is good, since it is so dominant in this picture. The vocals sound clean, crisp, and flawless in this track, no complaints to make at all. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French, in case you’ll need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Although not labeled as a Special Edition, this disc has an excellent selection of bonus materials included. It all starts with an audio commentary from Billy Crystal, who is joined by David Paymer later on in the session. Crystal retains his sense of humor when discussing the project, how it came about, what went on behind the scenes, and his memory must be superb, as he recalls a lot of small, but interesting tidbits. A brief look at how the age enhancing makeup was done is also found here, as well as a quick interview featurette, in which Crystal talks about Buddy Young, Jr. was created. Next up is See What We Did?, a more in depth look behind the scenes of Mr. Saturday Night that clocks in at just under twenty-five minutes. This disc also includes a nice array of deleted scenes, a priceless gag reel, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
