The Butcher's Wife on DVD

Demi-Goddess at Work

The Butcher's Wife is a whimsical romantic comedy that's well worth a look. It stars Demi Moore as a clairvoyant from North Carolina who meets the man of her dreams (George Dzundza), sweeps him off his feet, and comes back to his New York butcher's shop as his new wife.

Marina, (Moore) really is clairvoyant and her personality and talents immediately begin affecting the neighborhood around her. She gives advice to all who seem to be in need of it, most of whom change their lives based on her visions and thereby improve their situations and their happiness.

Except for the local shrink, played by Jeff Daniels. He doesn't believe in her talents and figures that, instead, she must be nuts.

He's wrong, of course, and as he tries to psychoanalyze her he realizes (much to his chagrin and very, very reluctantly) that there may be something to what she claims. Even if there isn't, he's drawn to her and begins falling in love.

Except that he can't. She's married, a neighbor, and kind of a patient.

It's a tale of true love discovered, revealed as untrue, and then found again and as the plot weaves through the lives of the ensemble cast you're pulled along with it and really start to care for these quirky people and their lives.

Moore, Dzundza and Daniels are wonderful in their roles, as is the supporting cast, especially Mary Steenburgen as a blues-loving choir director. Other players include Frances McDormand, and Margaret Colin.

We actually laughed out loud more than once during "the Butcher's Wife," and we hadn't been expecting a lot when we went in.

In an age of mean spiritness from Hollywood, and superficial movies that are just mindless retreads, The Butcher's Wife is a wonderful respite. It's warm, funny, smart, and in the end it celebrates true love in a decidedly old fashioned way.

The DVD is presented in anamorphic widescreen, 16x9 TV compatible, with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Video quality is very good, and the audio is also up to snuff, though there isn't a lot of surround information in evidence (but when there is, it's very good).

Extras are limited to the theatrical trailer.

The Butcher's Wife, from Paramount Home Video
104 min., anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1), 16x9 TV compatible, Dolby Digital 5.1
Starring Demi Moore, Jeff Daniels, George Dzundza, Mary Steenburgen
Produced by Wallis Nicita and Lauren Lloyd
Written by Ezra Litwak & Marjorie Schwartz, Directed by Terry Hughes.

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