DVD Reviews: 13 Going on 30 and Just Like Heaven
We missed a couple of romantic and fun DVDs for Valentine viewing but it's never too late for a sweet couple comedy. Mark Ruffalo, a quirky, cute everyman kind of guy, was the leading man in two of the most enjoyable, recent romantic comedies. Here is the lowdown....
From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
13 Going on 30: "Fun & Flirty" Edition
If you are 13 or remember when you were, you know that you can't wait to be older; to have independence, to be "hot". Well, in this fun flick, Jennifer Garner got to play a grown-up version of her 13-year-old self including all the responsibility and adult challenges that being 30 entails. It's a lot like that old Tom Hanks classic Big, (go rent it) only with a girl.
Video: Lookin' good with 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The 1980's part of the film is full of brightly-colored costumes and everything comes out in vibrant color! No grain or edge enhancement.
Audio: The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is clear and undistorted. All the 1980's era music comes through loud and clear as does dialogue. No fab surround sound stuff but you don't need it here.
Special Features: There was a 13 Going on 30 Special Edition and some of the features are transplanted here. The commentary from that disc is left out but this disc is more girl-friendly with additional features. You get an alternate beginning and ending starring different kid actors playing the young versions of Jennifer and Mark Ruffalo. Interesting and you can see how the kids they went with were better. There are a big 15 deleted/extended scenes and a cute "I Was a Teenaged Geek" featurette that presents some of the major cast members talking about their lives as kids over some of their own pictures. Ewww, man, some of them who look hot now were pretty ugly.
You get a sort of funny blooper reel and a Making-Of featurette "Making of a Teen Dream" that is the standard studio fluffy stuff on set and with the actors. Included is a 1980's fashion flashback that just shows you models wearing some 1980's style outfits. Kinda lame but fun if you are curious about the wild clothes of that era.
There are two set-top games "The 80's Outfit Challenge" where you put the correct clothes together and "Then And Now," that compares the world of the 1980s and now. I really enjoyed the music videos for two 1980's mega-chart busters Pat Benetar's "Love is a Battlefield" and Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl". There are some trailers and some fashion images.
Wrapping Up: Okay, I'm not crazy. When you take the shrink wrap off of this DVD it smells like bubble gum...or maybe it's candy but it has a definite odor. Cute idea. Does it last? I'm whiffing the inside of the case now... yep.. bubble gum. If you have the Special Edition of this DVD, no reason to go out and re-buy it with a few extra features but, if you didn't get to add this feel good chick flick to your collection then, I'd go buy it now with these new features, especially if you are fascinated with 1980's music and fashion. Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo are great in their roles and all supporting players, especially Andy Serkis (of Lord of the Rings fame) and Judy Greer as Jennifer's nemesis in the magazine business, do great work.
From Dreamworks Home Entertainment
Just Like Heaven
Lovesick David (Mark Ruffalo) rents a new apartment in San Francisco and just wants to wallow in the sadness of his recently lost love. Up pops Elizabeth (Reese Witherspoon), who says she lives there. She disappears, making David assume she is a ghost. There is a reluctant mutual attraction. Elizabeth has partial amnesia and the two start researching her past while falling in love.
Video: Just Like Heaven is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, enhanced for Widescreen TVs. It is bright and San Francisco locations look great. The green screen work done on a rooftop garden is excellent (i.e. you wouldn't notice if I didn't tell you)
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, as well as English and French Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, your choice. You can hear the 1980's cover songs on the soundtrack nicely as well as the dialogue. Well-balanced.
Special Features: Filmmaker Commentary – Director Mark Waters, Editor Bruce Green and Director of Photography Daryn Okada talk about shot decisions on the film and how they put Reese in as a "ghost". Lots of cinema secrets.. interesting.
In "The Making of Just Like Heaven" (14 minutes) you get the usual actor, producer and filmmakers comments but Reese and Mark are really charming and obviously enjoyed their roles. It's interesting how Mark had a little earwig microphone in his ear so that he could respond to Reese's comments off camera.
In "Meet the Cast" (13 Minutes) All the major cast members talk about getting the roles and fun on set. Dina Waters, who plays Reese's sis in the film is actually the director Mark Waters' wife. Interesting.
The Gag Reel is about 5 minutes long and is cuter than most. There are some funny line blowing scenes and crewmembers goofing off on the green screen roof set, lots of really endearing goof-ups and messing around between scenes. Really enjoyable. Deleted Scenes- you get three and an alternate ending which was evidently just filmed as a joke by an assistant director. Good thing cuz it would have been disastrous. You get some previews as well.
Wrapping Up: Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Donal Logue and Dina Waters are a great supporting cast and Reese and Mark are cute together. The filmmaker comments are good on this DVD and the gag reel is fun. If you love Mark and Reese you are going to want to add it to your collection or at least rent it.
***
Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.
