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Alex & Emma

Alex & Emma on DVD

What would you get if you took a completely formulaic and predictable romantic comedy, slapped on the most unimaginative title you could think of, then got two of Hollywood’s most charismatic actors to star?

You’d get a 96-minute feature that’s watchable, but not without being slightly painful in places.

Alex (Luke Wilson) is a novelist with writer’s block. He has 30 days to finish his latest novel so he can pay off some Cuban loan sharks that don’t care if they take his money or his life. He hires Emma (Kate Hudson) as his stenographer, and dictates away.

At first the two clash, because if they didn’t, the movie wouldn’t be exactly following the romantic comedy formula. Over the course of the subsequent weeks, though, they grow on each other, even developing feelings for each other (although neither would ever openly admit it). Emma even helps Alex with the story, offering little bits of input as his novel progresses.

The two fall more and more in love, but then something happens to make them fall out of love, and the other has to redeem him (or her) self and they fall back in love and live happily ever after. Thus completes the formula.

Alex & Emma offers a few laughs, but is more of a romance than a romantic comedy. Most of the jokes are not funny at all; thankfully, it’s the charm of its two leading actors, Wilson and Hudson, that is its saving grace. We immediately like both of the characters and want them to end up together, which is the most important part of any romance.

Thankfully, the movie is only 96 minutes long, so we never get bored, and before we know it the characters are making their final lovey-dovey kiss.

If you’ve seen every other romantic comedy and are going through withdrawal, Alex & Emma is probably worth renting. But there are plenty of other, better romantic comedies out there, so see them first.

Alex & Emma quickly became what is known as a flop. It grossed about $25 at the box office, so it’s actually surprising it waited so long to get to DVD (not that we were in any rush).

The disc is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1, and both are pretty good. The video features no dust or grain; fleshtones are good and detail is well done, but it’s a bit soft throughout. Overall color, though, is also very good. The audio track is restricted completely to the front, but we don’t need any more than that. Dialogue is perfectly audible and not overshadowed by the sound effects.

Director Rob Reiner teams up with Luke Wilson to provide an audio commentary for the film. It’s not the greatest commentary ever, but it passes the time well enough. They both have good senses of humor, which makes for an entertaining time. Although there are plenty of gaps of silence, they make up for it when they do talk.

The only other extra on the disc is the film’s theatrical trailer.

Alex & Emma, from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
96 minutes, anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) 16x9 enhanced, Dolby Digital 5.1
Starring Kate Hudson, Luke Wilson, Sophie Marceau, David Paymer
Produced by Rob Reiner, Jeremy Leven, Alan Greisman, Todd Black, Elie Samaha
Written by Jeremy Leven, Directed by Rob Reiner.

 

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