Plot: What’s it about?
Calvin (Marlon Mayans) might be a little person, but he is big in the world of crime, fresh off his latest stay in a federal prison. As soon as he is released, he is hired to pull off a big heist and is to steal the famous Queen Diamond. That is no small feat, but for Calvin, he just needs a bag to hide in and someone to run a distraction while he works his magic. His distraction is his clumsy, absent minded partner Percy (Tracy Morgan) and together, they manage to boost the diamond. But when the plan goes a little off track, Calvin is forced to stash the jewel in the purse of an innocent bystander Vanessa (Kerry Washington). After the heat dies down, Calvin and Percy follow Vanessa and her husband Darryl (Shawn Wayans) home, to discover the couple wants a baby, but hasn’t been able to conceive. Since Calvin needs a way to get inside, he poses as a baby and Percy leaves him on the doorstep, hoping the couple will take him in. The plan seems to work at first and despite some hiccups, Calvin works his way into the home and starts to try to reclaim the diamond. But as the police close in and Vanessa’s father begins to suspect hijinks, can Calvin keep from blowing his cover?
I’ve always been a fan of the Wayans, from the early work of Keenan Ivory Wayans to In Living Color to Scary Movie, I even kind of liked White Chicks. So I looked forward to Little Man, even if the previews weren’t exactly out of this world. I figured if anyone could make the concept work, it was the Wayans, so I kept an open mind and checked out the flick. As much as I wanted to like Little Man, it is a mediocre movie at best and has more misses than hits, by far. The problem lies with the writing, which tries too hard and forced humor isn’t that effective. When the humor is more natural, like when it comes from the performances, rather than the lines, the movie works, but too much of the humor is forced here. Marlon Wayans is actually quite good in his unusual role, with outlandish facial expressions galore. The rest of the cast is solid too, with Tracy Morgan and John Witherspoon getting some of the movie’s best moments. But the writing here is just not up to par, which is a shame, because there is some decent potential in the concept. As I said, I really wanted to like Little Man, but in the end, I can only recommend this release as a rental.
Video: How does it look?
Little Man is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. The overall image is pristine, with few signs of print wear or damage, due mainly I’m sure to the quick move from theaters to home video. Color levels are strong, but are of a natural spectrum, not juiced like most comedies. This is intentional, so no worries on that front. Black levels are perfect, with deep detail levels and no shadow errors to report. The disc is free of compression problems as well, this is yet another high grade transfer from Sony.
Audio: How does it sound?
The disc uses an active Dolby Digital 5.1 track, which sounds excellent. The main source of surround activity is the soundtrack, which is filled with hip-hop music. The music style is fitting to the setting of the film, and will have your subwoofer working double time and then some. The movie isn’t filled with high impact audio, but the surrounds will be active throughout most of the film. Dialogue comes through loud and clear, even during the most intense audio driven portions. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Three of the Wayans, Keenan Ivory, Shawn, and Marlon provide an audio commentary, but even for fans, there isn’t much to listen for. The three seem relaxed and candid, but offer no real depth or insight, so there isn’t a lot of reason to give this one a spin. This disc also includes some deleted scenes, as well as a quartet of brief, middling featurettes. Some prove to be decent, such as the one on the young man who provided the body double for Calvin, but others are pure promotion.
