Plot: What’s it about?
Francis (Mike McGlone) and Mickey (Edward Burns) Fitzpatrick are brothers and all, but they simply couldn’t be much more different. Francis is an ambitious, Wall Street type of person who is always interested in work, even putting it before his marriage. He seems to know just what he wants, but even he has some doubts lurking inside him. Mickey on the other hand, is more relaxed and has no clue of where he wants to go and what he wants to be. He is happy with his life as it stands and as such, sees no reason to tamper with that good chemistry. Mickey once knew love and had a woman, Heather (Cameron Diaz), he treasured, but then he came home one night to discover her and her new lover, with his buck naked hairy ass on display. Francis always jibes him about the whole “hairy ass” incident and tries to push him ahead, but Mickey seems happy just driving his cab and doing what he can. But Francis is also having problems, as he refuses to sleep with his own wife (Jennifer Aniston) and is having an affair with Heather, his own brother’s ex. Soon, Mickey meets a woman named Hope (Maxine Bahns) while driving his cab and lo and behold, the two are married less that twenty-four hours later. But with Heather on the prowl after both brothers, will either of the two marriages work out in the end?
If you’ve been looking for an excellent romantic comedy with terrific writing, then you’re in luck as Fox has released She’s The One on DVD. I’ve been looking forward to this disc for some time and though I was worried about content and such, Fox has delivered on all counts. As usual from Fox the video & audio are superb, but this disc also houses a nice selection of bonus features. So not only do we have a solid movie, but we have a tremendous treatment as well. This film is loaded with hilarious dialogue and situations, but they all seem very realistic and possible, which is vital for a film of this ilk. A few lines seem to fall flat at times, but the success ratio is much higher than typical romantic comedies, which usually rely on formulaic lines and heavy doses of sap. This film sports a low sap factor, but some does drip into the script here and there. But this is a romantic comedy and all and as such, some sap is bound to be found. This movie is worth a high recommendation and since Fox has issued such a nice disc, I think your bases are covered whether you choose to purchase or just rent. But make you give Burns’ commentary track a spin in either case.
She’s The One is loaded with talent and at the helm of this talent is Edward Burns, who writes, directs, and stars in this film. This film served as Burns’ followup to his debut effort, The Brothers McMullen and while some folks stumble in their second films, Burns comes through without a scratch. Well, maybe a couple small ones here and there, as I do feel this film is a little short of McMullen’s status. But this is still a fantastic effort and one that Burns should be praised for. Made for about three million dollars, this film looks as good as any other romantic comedy, most of which border around ten to twenty-million in cost. Burns is able to concoct a storyline much like the one in McMullen, but makes the material stays fresh and new. I am not quite as impressed with his work here, but I still love this movie and think it is an excellent sophomore film. As an actor, Burns is better in this film and is able to be more relaxed, which makes a lot of difference. This film also sports a loaded cast, with such names as Jennifer Aniston (Picture Perfect), John Mahoney (Tv’s Frasier), Mike McGlone (The Brothers McMullen), Amanda Peet (Whipped), Leslie Mann (The Cable Guy), Maxine Bahns (The Brothers McMullen), and Cameron Diaz (The Mask).
Video: How does it look?
She’s The One is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame version included on the disc’s flip side. This is another excellent transfer from Fox and I could find no real problems, which is just the way it should be. The print looks pristine and displays minimal grain and debris, while compression is top notch as well, no serious troubles at all. The colors have a warm and bright appearance and never smear or bleed, while flesh tones seem natural and free from discoloration also. This transfer shows no problems with contrast either, detail level is always high and no murkiness in the darker areas. This might not be a visually complex film, but thanks to Fox it looks better than ever.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc uses a 4.0 surround track and while that seems a little odd, the experience is more than adequate overall. I was never overpowered by any means, but this isn’t the type of film that would even try to do that. Tom Petty’s music sounds terrific in this mix and stands as the most active element, making good use of the speakers. The rest of the movie is based pretty much on dialogue, so no real dynamic sound is needed. The vocals come through in fine form though, crisp and clean with no distortion or harshness in the least. This disc also includes 2.0 surround tracks in English & French, as well as subtitles in English & Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc has some cool bonus features, but the pearl in this array is an audio commentary by writer/director Edward Burns. He is so relaxed and personable at all times and he discusses the film’s production at length. Few slow spots, but when they’re present the film’s volume picks up until he has more comments, which is nice. Burns talks about everything from how he shopped the film, his writing process, and even the casting process. If you want to know about it, chances are Burns covers it in this track. Next is an eight minute featurette, which combines interviews, behind the scenes footage, and clips from the film. I would have liked a longer piece, but this serves as a nice companion to Burns’ commentary track. The disc also includes the film’s theatrical trailer and the music video for Tom Petty’s Walls. The package lists television spots, but I was unable to locate them in the special features area.
