Down With Love on DVD

Down With Love could very well be the most – and least – formulaic romantic comedy in history.

It follows the standard formula of “guy meets girl; guy and girl fall in love but don’t know it yet; guy (or girl) does something stupid to ruin the potential relationship; guy and girl realize they’re in love; guy and girl get back together; guy and girl live happily ever after” to a T.

However, it also does each part of the formula in a way we’re not used to. It’s a tremendously clever, unbelievably charming movie that you enjoy more the more you think about it.

Barbara Novak (Renee Zellweger) has just written a book called Down With Love, about women not needing men for anything other than meaningless sex. Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor) is a prize winning, womanizing man’s man who works for Know Magazine. When Catcher is supposed to do a story on Barbara, the two fall into a battle of the sexes that should be remembered for years to come. Both are smart, charming, and manipulative.

But, as you would expect, the two begin to fall for each other, causing both of their plans to backfire. So can one or both of them go against everything they stand for and live happily ever after? You can probably answer that question on your own.

The movie succeeds in so many area, including style, story, and acting. But the one area it should have done so well – comedy – it doesn’t quite make it. There are a few very funny moments, but many of the humorous lines/situations aren’t funny enough to make you laugh out loud. You think it’s funny, just not that funny. More "cute" funny.

But you’re willing to overlook that because everything else works so well. Zellweger and McGregor are more charismatic here than you knew two people could be, and their chemistry is worthy of an Oscar (if only they had an Academy Award for Onscreen Chemistry). The supporting cast, consisting chiefly of David Hyde Pierce and Sarah Paulson, are equally lovable.

Set in the early 1960s, the filmmakers made it look as authentic as humanly possible. CGI effects were used subtly to make New York of new look like New York of old (except for having the modern Canadian flag hanging outside the United Nations building before the flag was actually adopted by the Canadians - but that's pretty nitpicky!). Costume Designer Daniel Orlandi crafted clothes that look like they’re straight out of 1960s. Everyone looks glamorous and sophisticated, but never slutty or pompous. They've captured the era superbly.

Down With Love is a witty, charming, and stylish romantic comedy that men can enjoy just as much as women. If you’re looking for a good date movie, this one can score you some points and entertain you. Possibly the best film in its genre in several years.

The film was unjustly overlooked this past summer in theatres, but Fox is hoping it can gain new life on video. To help ensure its success, they’ve given it a very respectable special edition DVD.

Presented in anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, both picture and sound are excellent. Bright colors are sharp, fleshtones are good, whites don’t drown anything out and blacks don’t just look like a big blob of no color. Detail is perfectly visible in every scene, down to (and including) the fabric in the clothes. Flawless picture adds to the charm of the movie, so this is a very pleasant touch.

Audio is split very evenly through the five channels, with dialogue using the front, and score and sound effects using the rears very effectively (but also use the fronts as well). Mark Shaiman’s musical score is outstanding, and is like a supporting character in the movie, so it’s nice to have it spread so well to make you feel like you’re in the movie as well.

Director Peyton Reed (Bring it On) provides a very good audio commentary. He’s very pleased with the film, but isn’t smug about it. It’s clear everyone involved had a great time making Down With Love, and Reed is no exception. He has a great time reminiscing, but tells us quite a bit about the filmmaking process.

There are also some deleted scenes with optional commentary (some are good, but unnecessary), an amusing gag reel, and the HBO First Look special. There are a series of short featurettes on costumes, music, special effects and a few others that, when combined to a single featurette, could have been far better. Each vignette is too short to really tell you a whole lot, but at least they touch on pretty much everything. Finally, there is a “Here’s To Love” music video performed by Zellweger and McGregor that is undeniably catchy.

Down With Love, from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
102 minutes, anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) 16X9 enhanced, 5.1 Dolby Digital
Starring Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, David Hyde Pierce, Sarah Paulson
Produced by Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks
Written by Eve Ahlert & Dennis Drake
Directed by Peyton Reed

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