Plot: What’s it about?
Nelson Hibbert (Dave Foley) is as mad as hell and he’s not gonna take it anymore, as he’s been passed over once too often. The dim executive has just been turned out for yet another promotion, but this time, he plans to exact some revenge on the man who was given the position instead of himself. But when he storms into the office to launch a tirade, he discovers the man is dead and with a knife stuck in his flesh, its obvious it wasn’t an accident. Of course, Hibbert knows he would be a prime suspect, so he rushes out of the office, out of the building, and on the run, unaware of what has happened in the meanwhile. The office’s security cameras taped the entire crime and the real murderer is known, though he hasn’t been captured. A trek to Mexico leads to an encounter with the real killer, as well as the detective dispatched to bring him to justice. But Nelson assumes the detective is after him of course, leading to a wild series of events that has Nelson totally without a clue that the police know he’s the wrong guy.
Although I was interested because of Dave Foley’s presence, I still had low expectations for this direct to video release. In recent times, even films like Corky Romano were released to theaters, so I figured The Wrong Guy must have been a real clunker, in order to be demoted to the straight to video realm. As it turns out, the movie has some low production values to be sure, but manages to be quite amusing, though not all the jokes pan out. I was pleased to find this was a darker kind of comic picture, as the case seemed to make seem like a more bland Office Space, which isn’t even close to the truth here. The writing is superb in some instances, but is brilliant in a most idiotic fashion, a sort of The Fugitive meets Dumb & Dumber, if you can imagine such a project. The laughs are frequent, but a lot of the material lands flat, though I think some hit & miss is to be expected in a movie like The Wrong Guy. I recommend this as a rental to fans of Foley’s previous work, as well as anyone interested in solid comedic release.
While this film has a more than solid supporting round of players, the spotlight here is on Dave Foley. I think we all know and love Foley from his days on The Kids in the Hall, but he has done some terrific work since also. His stint on Newsradio was a success and helped launch the show’s ratings, while various feature film roles have kept him in the public eye, even if via smaller character parts. But in The Wrong Guy, he is given the central role and while he isn’t given superb material, he manages to make the most of his chance. In fact, Foley’s presence is what holds the movie together at times, since even most of the bad material comes off as decent, thanks to his great delivery and sense of timing. Other films with Foley include Brain Candy, Monkeybone, Blast from the Past, Run Ronnie Run, and A Bug’s Life. The cast also includes Jennifer Tilly (Bride of Chucky, Liar Liar), Colm Feore (The Caveman’s Valentine, The Red Violin), and David Anthony Higgins (Snake Eyes, Tv’s Malcolm in the Middle).
Video: How does it look?
The Wrong Guy is presented in a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. I am unsure why this wasn’t given the additional enhancement, but it looks solid enough, though of course, an anamorphic spin would have increased sharpness and produced a more pleasant picture. I found detail to be decent, but the image is on the soft side, so don’t expect a crystal clear image from this release. The print has some minor marks and debris, but looks good on the whole, so no serious complaints there. The colors and contrast remain stable, but with the softness, aren’t quite up to snuff at times. So in the end, this is a more than acceptable visual effort, but it could have been much better.
Audio: How does it sound?
A basic, but bland 2.0 surround option is used here and it isn’t memorable in the least, though it is acceptable. Then again, with this kind of material, you can’t expect much in terms of bells & whistles in the audio department. The main focus in on dialogue and the vocals come through well, no volume or clarity hiccups to mention. The sound effects are ok, but remember this is a dialogue driven piece from start to finish, so no real showcase moments. No problems with the music either, as it sounds clean and well placed throughout. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
