Plot: What’s it about?
This is the kind of movie you can sum up in one sentence, or write for ages on. I’ll try to find a happy medium between the two. Ben and Katie have been married for fifteen years, and things haven’t always been smooth. The road to their present situation has been littered with fights and other problems, but some great times as well. Ben (Bruce Willis) is more of a large child than a grown up, which forces Katie (Michelle Pfieffer) to deal with the consequences of whatever trouble they incur together. While the children are away at summer camp, the two evaluate their relationship, and whether or not it should continue. We then revisit their pasts, and watch as they evolve toward that fateful day when they decide to either part ways or make amends. Will this be the final chapter in their story?
This is one movie that threw me for a loop. From the trailers and television spots, I was expected a romantic comedy, but when I watched this, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Sure, there are laughs and jokes in this movie, but the main focus seems to be on the depressing side of the relationship. I don’t mean that as a negative take on this movie, either, I have a special place in my collection for depressing movies. Having read numerous reviews and talked with people who had seen this, I had the feeling I was in for a lackluster movie, but again, the movie surprised me. I enjoyed this film from beginning to end, and although it’s not the happiest of movie journeys, the ride is a fun and emotional one. The couple argues and fights through the whole movie, but we can see the genuine passion between them, which makes the final decision that much more anxious. This is not the type of movie I would usually enjoy, but I recommend The Story Of Us, a pleasant surprise in a somewhat tired genre.
The reason this movie works, is the performances of the leading actors. If the leads can’t form a believable union, it spins the entire movie into mediocrity. The Story of Us has excellent chemistry in the casting, which shows in the couple’s frequent arguments. I never cease to notice how hard good arguments are to find in movies, and was pleased with the realistic nature of the ones contained here. Bruce Willis (Armageddon, The Sixth Sense, Die Hard) takes on a role I wouldn’t normally picture him in, but he carries himself very well in the character. This is mostly thanks to the character, which is similar in nature to some previous roles Willis has played. Sharing the screen with Willis is Michelle Pfieffer (One Fine Day, A Midsummer Night’s Dream) is right at home with this role, playing an excellent foil to Willis. Also starring in The Story Of Us are Rob Reiner (EdTv, Bye Bye Love), Tim Matheson (1941, Animal House), Jake Sandvig, Casey Boersma, and Rita Wilson (Sleepless In Seattle, Now and Then).
Video: How does it look?
The visual transfer for The Story Of Us is very good, but a few errors keep it from attaining greatness. The movie is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, with a sharp image overall. Flesh tones are accurate, and colors are shown with a natural spectrum, but have a vivid tone to them. The black levels are where the transfer gets some detractions made. While most of the scenes are bright and clear, some are overly dark, obscuring detail in some areas. This is just a minor problem, but it can be distracting in some segments. Aside from some minor shimmering, the transfer is free of compression issues as well.
Audio: How does it sound?
Universal has issued this disc with dual audio tracks, one a Dolby Digital 5.1, the other using DTS 5.1. This is not the movie to use as a comparison for the two formats, by any means. I could notice only slight improvements on the soundtrack for DTS, while DDS took top prize in subtle surround use and dialogue. Still, it’s a good effort on Universal’s end to include both. Now, the film’s audio is focused on dialogue, so you should know the surrounds will play second fiddle. There is some good nuance effects that appear however, which give the movie a fuller sound. Dialogue is well done, with an acceptable volume and no separation problems.
Supplements: What are the extras?
From the looks of this line up, this disc could be a Collector’s Edition, but it’s not. That means more features at a lower price point, which is good for us all. The traditional Universal elements are present, with the theatrical trailer, Universal showcase, production notes, and talent files. The Universal Showcase features bonus trailers for Rocky And Bullwinkle as well as Klumps: The Nutty Professor 2. The disc also contains some DVD ROM content, which consists of weblinks and some behind the scenes footage. A nice “Spotlight On Location” featurette is included on the disc, which gives a glimpse into the making of the film. This featurette contains some great interviews, as well. Not your usual fluff piece, this bonus featurette clocks in at over twenty minutes. Rounding out the bonus features is a running commentary with director Rob Reiner. While informative, the track leaves too many silent stretches for my taste.
