Crazy
Rich Asians (2018/Warner
Blu-ray w/DVD)/Ernie
Kovacs: The Centennial Edition
(1951 - 1962/Shout! Factory DVD Set)/Little
Italy (2018 Lionsgate
Blu-ray)/Puzzle
(2018/Sony DVD)/Wallflower
(1948/Warner Archive DVD)
Picture:
A- & C+/C+/B+/B-/C Sound: B+ & C+/C+/B+/B-/C Extras:
A/B+/C/B/C- Main Programs: B+/B+/C+/B/C+
PLEASE
NOTE:
The Wallflower
DVD is now only available from Warner Bros. through their Warner
Archive series and can be ordered from the link below.
Here's
a solid cross-section of all kinds of old and new comedy for you to
consider...
Based
on Kevin Kwan's best seller novel, Rachel Chu is a Chinese American
following her boyfriend Nick Young to Singapore for his best friend's
wedding, but little did she know her boyfriend 'Nick' is the heir to
one of the richest families in China. She sudden is thrown into a
world of high society and socialites in Jon M. Chu's Crazy
Rich Asians
(2018).
Rachel
Chu goes with her boyfriend to meet his family and suddenly feels
like she is in a Cinderella story when she discovers her 'boyfriend'
is a prince and he is from a super rich family. But unfortunately,
his friends and family make her feel like she is the outsider/evil
witch/gold digger who after the family fortune. Her main opposition
is her boyfriend's mother who feels her son is marrying beneath him
and that she is just a 'commoner', but the real truth is the complete
opposite, her boyfriend didn't tell her about his family because he
didn't want her to like him because of his money or his social up
bringing, but for who he is. When they discover a secret about her
past that she didn't even know, her own relationship is put to the
test. Is she 'good enough' for Nick... or is she a passing fancy?
This
was a romantic comedy making fun of Asian stereotypes and family.
Michele Yeoh sets the movie off well and humorously with her opening
scene. The movie is basically a modern Cinderella story mixed with
Asian culture and values, but in a modern context that has made it
one of the surprise hits of the year.
The
1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is a great digital shoot
and to think the 4K version has not been issue yet, so those with
standard HD should be fine, plus the
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix is well recorded, mixed,
clear and pleasant. Extras
include commentary with director and author, Crazy
Rich Fun,
deleted scenes, gag reel and trailers.
Next
we have a big 9-DVD collection, Ernie
Kovacs: The Centennial Edition
(1951 - 1962) that combines previously issued volumes of Kovacs on
DVD from a few years ago, most of which we reviewed at this link with
an Edie Adams set (his wife, if you did not know) here...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12463/Here's+Edie:+The+Edie+Adams+Collection+(MVD
Two
Collection
sets and an ABC
TV
DVD single mean a few discs we did not cover before, but the loss of
an older illustrated booklet on Kovacs, so the result is the same
ratings we gave the previous combined sets. The 1.33 X 1 image and
lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 mono still look and sound fine, though I bet
a 1080i upscale with lossless sound might bring out more from this
classic material. Extras include
a little more than the last sets, so you get the 1987 ATAS Hall Of
Fame Induction, Andy McKay 8mm Home Movie (silent, though a new HD
transfer would be nice if the film prints still exist), Baseball
Film, Charlie Clod In Brazil, Dutch Masters Commercials, Ernie's
Opening Monologue, Home Movies: Golf With Edie And Ernie, Howard, The
World's Strongest Ant on "A Hot Date" and "Howard's
Campground", Interview: Algernon Gerard, Archaeologist,
Interview: The World At Your Doorstep, Introducing Coloratura Mimi
Cosnowski, Irving Wong: Tin Pan Alley Songwriter, J. Burlington
Gearshift, Making Of "Baseball Film", Martin Krutch, Public
Eye, Matzoh Hepplewhite, Miklos Molnar's Glue, Muriel Cigars
Commercials Featuring Edie Adams, Original Theatrical Trailers: "Wake
Me When It's Over"
and "Five
Golden Hours",
Our Man In Havana" Behind-The-Scenes Footage, Percy Dovetonsils
: "Ode To A Housefly", "Ode To Electricity" and
"Ode To Stanley's Pussycat", Remembering Ernie With George
Schlatter And Jolene Brand, Rock Mississippi In "Fingers Under
Weskit", Silents Please, Skodney Silsky, Hollywood Reporter,
Strangely Believe It: Writers To Blame, Superclod Test, Surprise
Audience Member, Take A Good Look: "Clues" and "Sales
Film”, The Kapusta Kid In Outer Space Meets Olivia Scilloscope, The
Mysterious Knockwurst and Trailer For "Operation
Mad Ball"
- "It Happened To Ernie".
If
you are a hardcore completist, you'll want to also track down the
older sets, but otherwise, you'll be fine here.
Hayden
Christensen (the older Anakin from the Star
Wars Prequels)
and Emma Roberts star in the new romantic comedy Little
Italy
(2018), which is now making its way onto video. From the Director of
How To
Lose A Day In Ten Days,
Donald Petrie, comes a charming and heartfelt romance that is similar
to Romeo and Juliet in some ways (only not as tragic).
The
film also stars Alyssa Milano, Danny Aiello, Jane Seymour, and
Andrea Martin.
In
Little Italy, nothing much changes... which is why Nikki (Roberts)
decides to move away and pursue her career as a chef. But when she
has to go home, she encounters her childhood friend Leo
(Christensen) and the two start up a romance. The only problem is
that their parents have feuding pizza shops in Little Italy, which
makes things a bit complicated!
The
romantic comedy has a stylized and cinematic look and nice colors
presented in 1080p high definition with a 2.39:1 widescreen aspect
ratio and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix, both of which are of the
norm for the Blu-ray format and up to standards. I didn't notice
anything particularly off-putting about the presentation and felt
that it was pretty sharp and consistent throughout. A digital copy
is also included.
Special
Features include...
Behind
the Scenes of Little Italy Featuring Cast and Crew Interviews
and
Trailer Gallery
Little
Italy
is your typical romantic comedy that fans of the genre will enjoy.
It's nothing too shocking or original and follows some familiar story
beats, but is a fun and easy watch.
Puzzle
(2018) is an interesting romantic comedy/drama starring Kelly
Macdonald (Trainspotting) and Irrfan Khan (Jurassic
World)
that is a simple yet charming watch that's perfect for date night.
Macdonald steals the show and really owns her leading role, so much
so that I wouldn't be surprised if she earned a nomination or two for
her work here.
Agnes
(Macdonald) is a normal housewife with a loving husband and kids that
grows tired of doing the same thing every day. When she sees an ad
to help build puzzles, she meets Robert (Khan) whom she befriends and
soon finds solace in this obscure hobby. A film about self growth
and life changes, this film by Marc Turtletaub (producer of Little
Miss Sunshine)
is a fine screenplay and film.
Puzzle
also stars David Denman, Bubba Weiler, and Liv Hewson.
Presented
in anamorphically
enhanced 2.40:1
widescreen and a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, the presentation here
is of the norm for DVD and looks fine for the format. The film is
very well shot and has a high end cinematic look that's very organic.
Special
Features include...
Commentary
with Marc Turtletaub
Alternate
Ending
Completing
the Puzzle
Featurette
Theatrical
Trailer
and
Previews for other Sony films.
Finally
we have the amusing,
if not hurt-my-stomach-funny Frederick De Cordova film Wallflower
(1948) by the then-comedy director later for being the man to helm
most episodes of The
Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.
Robert Hutton is a young man back in town, a little older, but old
friends with two stepsisters (Janis Page and Joyce Reynolds) who are
suddenly both more interested in him. He is interested in one over
the other, which starts a competition to give him the 'most variety
of choices' to see who he really wants, if either!
More
a pre-sitcom than any kind of screwball comedy, it only runs 77
minutes and has a few amusing moments, but it is also on the safe
side and is as much a time capsule of the immediate post-WWII era if
nothing else. Edward Arnold is here to play his usual comedy
schtick, joined by Barbara Brown, Ann Shoemaker and Jerome Cowan in
an early screenplay by Phoebe and Henry Ephron, so its competent and
worth a look. Otherwise, just don;t have high hopes and enjoy it for
what it is.
Though
professionally made, the black and white 1.33 X 1 image has a print
that is not always in the best shape or as clear as it should be,
while the
lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is also a little weak, suggesting the
transfer material is down a generation. Its watchable, but be
careful of volume switching or high volume playback. The only extra
is a decent Original Theatrical Trailer.
To
order the Wallflower
Warner Archive DVD, go to this link for them and many more great
web-exclusive releases at:
http://www.wbshop.com/
-
Nicholas Sheffo (Kovacs,
Wallflower),
Ricky Chiang (Rich)
and James
Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
