Plot: What’s it about?
Still basking in the glow of his Saturday Night Live years, Rob Schneider is out to prove that he has more talent than uttering the words “Randy, the Rand man…makin’ copies”. He both does and doesn’t. Schneider has been given countless chances to flex his comedic muscle, but hasn’t been as successful as pal Adam Sandler. But when Sandler is worth millions and millions of dollars and has a Production Company (Happy Madison), he can finance all the low-brow comedy for as many of his buddies as he wants to. Right? Such is the case with The Hot Chick, a new comedy that tackles the idea of a mixing between the sexes. Don’t misread this, though, movies like Some Like it Hot and Tootsie were movies about men who dressed as women (to escape being killed by mobsters or to get a job, respectively). What separates this from the aforementioned titles is the fact that Clive (Rob Schneider) and Jessica (Rachel McAdams) don’t cross dress; they actually switch bodies. A somewhat updated version of Freaky Friday, perhaps? Perhaps.
Clive is a down and out loser who is saddened to learn that his score from a robbery of a grocery store has only netted him $18 and a backpack full of nachos. But Jessica and her VW full of friends have just gotten back from the mall and have exchanged some earrings from Ancient Egypt (where the film starts out, by the way) that have magical powers. For some unknown reason, though, she loses one and he finds it. The next morning they wake up in each other’s bodies. Now here’s where the movie gets a bit odd. Schneider plays the role more like a man acting gay than trying to be a high school girl. Granted, this can’t be an easy role to play; but I think more people might find it offensive than anything else. Clive (as Jessica) is trying to get things all set up for the prom and her boyfriend, Billy (Matthew Lawrence) seems a little too good to be true, as she (he) thinks that all he wants from her is sex. Meanwhile, Jessica (as Clive) is going through the troubles of being a man, though the scenes of her are so few and far between, we nearly forget that there was a flip side to the switch. The highlights are her buying tampons and trying to use the restroom.
Granted, there has to be something learned at the end of the movie and it would seem that the characters hopefully become a better man (for having been a woman) and vice-versa. We don’t really care, though. The movie is full of stereotypes so blatant that it’ll make your head spin. Adam Sandler does have a pretty funny cameo, though, as a drum playing rasta-man of some sort. Essentially his goal is to sell things to customers (in the rasta store in the mall, no less) where they “…can put your weed in…”. While The Hot Chick won’t win any awards (yes, really) it’s a dose of what the Rob Schneider/Adam Sandler team has been giving us for a few years now. If you’re a fan of Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigalo and The Animal then odds are that this will be right up your alley as well. I have to admit that I found myself laughing out loud during several parts as there are some things that happen that just make no sense. A pillow fight, the Chinese mom who constantly embarrasses her daughter and Sandler’s bongo-playing lowlife are just a few of the things that come to mind. Check your brain at the door because you won’t need it to have a little fun with the movie.
Video: How does it look?
Why is it that some of the most unworthy movies are given the best transfers? Granted, the movie is new and benefits from technology; but there are so many other movies that I’d like to see look as good as this. At any rate, the 1.85:1 transfer is amazing and though not perfect, it’s not far from it. No edge enhancement can be seen, the fleshtones (for all those bouncy high-school girls) are right on track and there was nearly no sign of digital artifacting. Quite simply, I’m tempted to give this a perfect rating, but something is holding me back. Rest assured that when watching this, you’ll not be disappointed by the audio.
Audio: How does it sound?
As is the case with most slapstick comedies, they don’t light up your room with the most awesome sound you’ve ever heard. But The Hot Chick does contain not one, but two Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks (English and French). While the surrounds do kick in from time to time, the audio is limited to the front stage of your sound system. Dialogue is very clear and you’ll have no problem hearing all of the lisps and such that come out of Schnieder’s mouth during the course of the film. While not the best track out there, this does add the fun of the movie, especially during the pillow fight scene!
Supplements: What are the extras?
The disc contains a few features, but none that will really temp the buyer one way or the other. A somewhat mild commentary track is included, but watching the movie itself is a lot more fun. Most people who would listen to the track would most be either really bored or really into the movie. Still, it’s nice to have as opposed to not. A few deleted scenes are also included as is the standard EPK featurette. And that’s about it. A tidy little helping of extras most likely won’t make this a best seller, but for those fans of the movie (admit it, you’re out there) they’ll love what’s included here.
