Plot: What’s it about?
Ian (Timothy Hutton) has been married for over thirteen years, but he is about to inform his wife that he is leaving her, for the love of a much younger woman. He plans to whisk his young lover off to Paris after a romantic night at a vacation home, but when his wife Louise (Meg Ryan) arrives unannounced, the plan is derailed. He comes clean and tells her the hard truth, but she refuses to let the marriage come to a close. After a fight results in Ian being hit with a potted plant, he wakes up to find himself duct taped to a chair. Louise tells her husband that he will remain there until he loves her again, which leads to a night filled with tension, venom, and unexpected twists. Louise bakes cookies, Ian winds up taped to a toilet, a burglar robs them and throws a party, but in the end, will the couple just drift apart as so many do?
I am not a fan of Meg Ryan’s romantic comedies, so I was skeptical about her here, even if this was supposed to have a darker edge than most of her other work. Serious Moonlight is indeed dark at times, exploring the issues within relationships that no one likes to talk about. As tense and awkward as those conversations can be, they also bring out the positives within those unions, which is also dealt with here. As far as entertainment, the film has its moments, but Serious Moonlight isn’t a film I’d want to watch again. The humor is fine for what it is, but it never delves into the darkness too much, nor does it fluff things up much. Meg Ryan is very good in an unusual role, while Timothy Hutton is fine for a dude strapped to a toilet. Kristen Bell is also fun to watch, so there are some good performances here. Serious Moonlight is worth a look for those who want more than sap laden romantic comedies, but a rental should suffice in almost all cases.
Video: How does it look?
Serious Moonlight is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a great transfer, with remarkable detail and no glaring faults to mention. The depth is a substantial improvement over the DVD, even if it isn’t eye popping, per se. Even so, detail is strong and softness rarely creeps in. No issues with colors, as hues seem natural and warm, while contrast is stark and never wavers in the least. So a very impressive transfer, even if it doesn’t reach elite level status.
Audio: How does it sound?
This DTS HD 5.1 option sounds good, but this material simply isn’t an audio powerhouse. Even so, the great 80s musical soundtrack has good life in the surrounds, so there is some presence. The main element is dialogue of course, with clear vocals that never waver in the slightest. As I said, not much in terms of power or presence, but this soundtrack covers the basics and the material is well handled. This disc also includes subtitles in English and Spanish
Supplements: What are the extras?
An informative audio commentary with the director and two producers traces the project from the source, but does so in a way that is a pleasure to listen to. A pair of promotional featurettes rounds out the extras.
