Plot: What’s it about?
Berke Landers (Ben Foster) has loved Allison (Melissa Sagemiller) since they were kids and even when she moved away, his heart remained true. So when she returned, the two hit it off again and started dating, but after a year together, Allison decided she needed a change. She dumped Berke in a nice fashion, but he still pined for her and would do anything to have her back, without a doubt. His friends Dennis (Sisqo) and Felix (Colin Hanks) insist that he should move on to new ladies, but Berke is stuck on Allison and it doesn’t seem that will change, at least any time soon. He even follows her into the school’s musical, where he discovers she is seeing a new man, famous musician Striker (Shane West). He also learns he has minimal talent and if he is going to be cast, he’ll need some help. As she can see he is desperate, Felix’s younger sister Kelly (Kirsten Dunst) offers to teach him, but she also has a secret crush on him. As time passes, Kelly and Berke get closer, Allison and Striker get closer, Berke and Striker get closer to a fight, and the drama teacher Mr. Oates (Martin Short) is closer to a nervous breakdown, but Berke doesn’t much closer to getting over Allison. But things have a funny of working out, especially when Shakespeare is involved and since the Midsummer Night’s Dream musical is right around the corner, anything can happen.
This looks like another poppy teen comedy and to an extent it is, but it also has a little more attitude than most flicks in the genre. I think this is because the film was R rated to begin with, then trimmed down to hit PG-13, where it now rests. I am surprised it still passed as such, as there’s a lot of language, sexual innuendo, and even a set of jugs to be found here! It all works well in the comedic sense however, as the film has more edge than most teen comedies, though the mean spirited antics might scare some viewers off. The writing is your basic teen comedy stuff, but with some nice twists and cool dialogue moments, I think. Martin Short steals the movie in the end, but Kirsten Dunst also has a terrific performance, as far as teen comedies are concerned. I was as impressed by the work of Colin Hanks, Sisqo, or Ben Foster, but in this kind of material, poor turns can be forgiven, at least sometimes. This is fun, cool movie that should interest genre fans and since Miramax has issued a loaded disc, this release is highly recommended.
He seems to have a way of taking small roles and making them stand out, so it is no surprise that Martin Short steals a lot of scenes here. He has a hilarious character to work with and is fleshed out well, between his old memories and rapid zingers. It is great to watch him play off the younger cast, as he really nails his lines and in the end, even seems to bring their performances up, quite impressive for such a small role. He has an outrageous persona to work within here and if the outtakes are any sign of reality, he had a fantastic time and I think that shows on screen. You can also see Short in such films as Father of the Bride, Captain Ron, Three Amigos, Pure Luck, and Innerspace. The cast also includes Kirsten Dunst (Bring It On, The Virgin Suicides), Melissa Sagemiller (Soul Survivors), Ben Foster (Liberty Heights, Tv’s Freaks and Geeks), musician Sisqo, and Shane West (Whatever it Takes, Dracula 2000).
Video: How does it look?
Get Over It is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a colorful, intense film in terms of visuals, but this transfer never buckles under the pressure. In truth, I found almost no flaws here and if it weren’t for some very, very minor ones, this effort would earn a perfect score. The colors look bold and vivid at all times, with no errors at all and flesh tones look good also, always natural in scope. I found the contrast to be as impressive, with razor sharp black levels and no visible detail loss at all. The print shows some very small defects, but nothing to be concerned about, not by any means. This isn’t quite a perfect visual treatment, but it is darn close and I think all viewers will be thrilled with the overall presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a teen comedy, so you know the audio is will be active, but due to the pop rock soundtrack, not the sound effects. The music sounds superb however, with dynamic presence and excellent range, especially in party or club scenes. I was pleased to hear some additional surround use also, for various subtle sound effects at times, which enhance the atmosphere more than a little, to be sure. No issues on the dialogue side, as vocals are clean and clear from start to finish. This is certainly a cut above in terms of teen comedy soundtracks, so fans should be pleased. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I was pleased to see a wealth of supplements included here, as most teen comedies are given rather bland releases, to be sure. I mentioned above how some footage was cut to avoid an R rating and thankfully, most of that footage has been included here. You’ll find those cut scenes and others in the deleted scenes section, which also offers optional audio commentary from director Tommy O’Haver and writer R. Lee Fleming. I am very pleased to have this excised footage here and I hope this trend continues, to say the least. You can hear more from O’Haver and Fleming on the feature length commentary, in which the two provide a lot of insight into how Get Over It was made and sometimes, changed. The two talk about how it got started, stories from the production, and even discuss their experiences with the MPAA, as well as experiences with the suits at Miramax. This disc also includes a Martin Short outtake reel, brief behind the scenes featurette, two music videos (Vitamin C’s The Itch and the fictional video for Love Scud), a set of unused original songs, and Martin Short’s makeup tests.
