Dirty Deeds

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Film: C

 

 

Another entry into the grossout teen film cycle, David Kendall’s Dirty Deeds (2005) tries to combine the comedy formula with a scavenger hunt.  It is a good idea, but the screenplay by Jon Land & Jonathan Tries takes little advantage of a good idea and the film turns to be the same old thing all over again.  That’s a shame, because the film is exceptionally cast, including Milo Ventimiglia, Lacey Chabert and Zoe Saldana.  The unknowns make a better showing than expected.

 

At 85 minutes, it quits while it is ahead, while what could have turned out to be outright cartoon performances are more balanced than expected.  That makes the many failures of the story all the more frustrating because if this had been handled with more temperament and thought through more thoroughly, this could have been a great breakthrough independent comedy.  Instead, it settles for second best, which will be more obvious as its cast moves on to bigger and better films.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1/16 X 9 image has detail troubles with slight digititis in the detail throughout, though the color is not bad.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is on the harsh side throughout, which is annoying and likely a problem with the audio transfer.  The mixed performance is sad, because this is obviously intended to sound and look a little better than this DVD comes through as.  Too bad there was not a DTS track to compare.  A trailer, cast interviews and little featurette involving Major League Baseball.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo