Plot: What’s it about?
Amanda (Monica Potter) has been assigned to restore a historic piece of artwork and she is so thrilled, but her happiness will soon turn to depression. You see, she rushes home to surprise her boyfriend, only to find him sleeping with another woman, a model no less. So she moves out, gives up on love for a while, and starts to look for a new home. She soon moves in with four supermodels, who try to teach Amanda the ways of romance and of course, how to bilk guys out of money, presents, and more. As her new roommates comfort her and give her advice, she can’t help but think about the guy she bumped into on the way to the apartment, Jim (Freddie Prinze, Jr.). His massive dog tackled her and then tried to mount her, but Jim was smooth and managed to save what little dignity she had left. As she looks through her apartment’s window however, she discovers that he lives across the way, so she and her roommates begin to spy on him, especially when he’s working out, of course. Amanda and Jim soon begin to hit it off, but then Amanda sees a strange event through the window, which makes it seem as though Jim has killed a young woman, but Amanda is not totally sure if that was case, so she decides to investigate…
I was sure this would be another cheese laden romantic comedy, but in the end, Head Over Heels was much better than I had expected. Yes, it has the usual predictable moments and sappy love story elements, but it also has some terrific moments, to be sure. The humor has more bite than most romantic comedies, which comes from an above average script from Ron Burch and David Kidd, who keep the laughs varied, which is very welcome indeed. You’ll see visual gags in use, slapstick style pratfalls, and even some very witty dialogue, which amounts to a nice little comedy package, with the bases covered. But this is still very sweet in nature and you despise romantic comedies, this won’t make you a believer. I’m not a real fan of the genre, but Head Over Heels took me by surprise and was a lot of fun to watch. Monica Potter is sweet and charming in the lead role, while Freddie Prinze, Jr., Sarah O’ Hare, Shalom Harlow, Tomiko Fraser, and China Chow supply terrific supporting performances. If you’re a fan of romantic comedies, then this is a lock, but even if you’re not always sold on the genre, Head Over Heels is still worth a look.
The main reason this flick turns out so well is Monica Potter, who really shines in her role and turns on all the charms, which are hard to resist. I’ve seen in her in a number of smaller roles, but she handles the lead here with no trouble, she commands the screen and seems very sweet, just as her character demands. Of course, some will remark that the material only goes so far here and that’s true, but in terms of her character, Potter is almost perfect within this role. She’s beautiful, she’s sweet, and she really seems to take root in this character and while this is just a romantic comedy, that speaks volumes about her skills. You can also see Potter in such films as Patch Adams, Con Air, Along Came a Spider, Bulletproof, and Without Limits. The cast here also includes Freddie Prinze, Jr. (Boys and Girls, She’s All That), Ivana Milicevic (Love Stinks, Enemy of the State), Shalom Harlow (Cherry, In & Out), Sarah O’Hare, Jay Brazeau (Best in Show, Disturbing Behavior), and China Chow (The Big Hit, The Beauty Loop).
Video: How does it look?
Head Over Heels is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The film’s bold and upbeat visuals come through very well here, with minimal complaints to report. I was impressed with the colors, which are bright and vivid, though never too much so, while flesh tones retain their natural hues, of course. The contrast is stark and evenly balanced, so shadows look dead on and no detail is lost in the least. I also saw no serious flaws with the source print and compression errors weren’t an issue, this is a very handsome transfer indeed.
Audio: How does it sound?
As they often do, Universal has included dual 5.1 surround options in Dolby Digital and DTS, so both camps should be pleased here. Of course, this movie isn’t a hotbed for dynamic audio, but the surrounds see a lot of use, via the music and some subtle presence, to enhance the atmosphere. I was pleased with the overall texture and presence, given the material’s focus and limited audio opportunities. The dialogue is clean and never hard to understand, which ensures all the jokes and lovey dovey talk come through crystal clear at all times. I couldn’t notice much difference between the two tracks here, but whichever you choose, you should be more than satisfied. This disc also includes a French language option, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes an eleven minute behind the scenes featurette, some talent files, production notes, DVD ROM content, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
