Down With Love [WS]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Due in large part to it opening the same weekend as The Matrix Reloaded, Down With Love, Peyton Reed's knowing homage to the Doris Day/Rock Hudson romantic comedies, found little traction at the box office. This woefully underappreciated film gets a superb DVD release from 20th Centurey Fox that will hopefully help it find the audience it richly deserves. The film is presented in a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The colors in this film popped off the screen and the transfer has expertly captured their vibrancy. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1, while Spanish and French soundtracks have been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround. English and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a commentary recorded by director Reed. He is full of praise for his hard-working cast, and delivers a ceaseless series of anecdotes about how his film is similar to and different from the films it is paying homage to. Deleted scenes, with optional director commentary, a series of making-of featurettes, a gag reel, and a making-of special that originally aired on HBO round out this excellent package. The icing on the cake is the music video for "Here's To Love," the song number performed by stars Ewan McGreggor and Renée Zellweger. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Cinemascope)
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Surrond
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Subtitle: Spanish, English
• Features:
  • cc Audio commentary by director Peyton Reed
  • Deleted scenes with optional director's commentary
  • HBO special
  • 8 production vignettes
  • Gag reel
  • Music Video: "Here's to Love" performed by Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Renée Zellweger - Barbara Novak
       Ewan McGregor - Catcher Block
       Sarah Paulson - Vikki Hiller
       David Hyde Pierce - Peter MacManus
       Rachel Dratch

• Director:

  Peyton Reed

• Producer:

  Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks

• Screenwriter:

  Eve Ahlert, Dennis Drake

• Cinematographer:

  Jeff Cronenweth

• Composer (Music Score):

  Marc Shaiman

• Featured Music:

  Ron Miller

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Chris Douridas, Laura Z. Wasserman

• Editor:

  Larry Bock

• Production Designer:

  Andrew Laws

• Art Director:

  Martin Whist

REVIEWS:

• Peyton Reed's Down With Love walks a very fine line. By creating what is simultaneously a satirical look at and a sincere love-letter to the no-sex comedies of Doris Day and Rock Hudson, Reed has fashioned a confection of a movie that will either alienate viewers or fill them with giddy delight. For the film to work on any level, the performers have to find and maintain the perfect tone. Luckily the players are more than up to the task. Ewan McGregor has the ability to preen without irony and still manage to communicate the humor in his character's vanity. Rarely has an actor gotten more laughs with just his body and boxer shorts. Renée Zellweger proves once again that she is a first-rate actress by expressing her character's proto-feminist thinking, while still being able to want for all the things she is supposedly against. She also delivers one of the most difficult but hilarious monologues ever written, and pulls it off in great style. David Hyde Pierce and Sarah Paulson provide flawless support throughout, with Hyde Pierce getting huge laughs with some very subtle throwaway material. Those unfamiliar with Pillow Talk and Lover Come Back may have a difficult time accepting the look, pace, and tone of the film, but those who appreciate style for the sake of style as well as unabashedly romantic comedies will find much to enjoy in Down With Love. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
• {$Peyton Reed}'s {#Down With Love} walks a very fine line. By creating what is simultaneously a satirical look at and a sincere love-letter to the no-{\sex comedies} of {$Doris Day} and {$Rock Hudson}, {$Reed} has fashioned a confection of a movie that will either alienate viewers or fill them with giddy delight. For the film to work on any level, the performers have to find and maintain the perfect tone. Luckily the players are more than up to the task. {$Ewan McGregor} has the ability to preen without irony and still manage to communicate the humor in his character's vanity. Rarely has an actor gotten more laughs with just his body and boxer shorts. {$Renée Zellweger} proves once again that she is a first-rate actress by expressing her character's proto-feminist thinking, while still being able to want for all the things she is supposedly against. She also delivers one of the most difficult but hilarious monologues ever written, and pulls it off in great style. {$David Hyde Pierce} and {$Sarah Paulson} provide flawless support throughout, with {$Hyde Pierce} getting huge laughs with some very subtle throwaway material. Those unfamiliar with {#Pillow Talk} and {#Lover Come Back} may have a difficult time accepting the look, pace, and tone of the film, but those who appreciate style for the sake of style as well as unabashedly {\romantic comedies} will find much to enjoy in {#Down With Love}. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

CUSTOMER REVIEWS: