Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Wallace has not been lucky in love. He dumped his last girlfriend when he caught her cheating on him and was so dejected he ended up dropping out of medical school and moving in with his sister and her young son. Shut away from the world for almost a year, he decides to attend his ex-college roommate’s party where he meets the perfect girl and gets her phone number right before she drops the bombshell that her boyfriend is waiting for her at home—some guys can’t catch a break. After Wallace’s previous relationship, he doesn’t want to be “that kind of guy” and discards her number. As luck would have it, he runs into her a few weeks later at the movies and the pair decide to just be friends—but what if something more develops?

The first scene of the movie is very awkward and uncomfortable, much like our protagonist. But the screenplay really grew on me due to the likability of Daniel Radcliffe’s character and his onscreen chemistry with Zoe Kazan. As with most romantic comedies, you know where it’s going to eventually end up, but the ride getting there is where the fun is as the two develop a close-knit friendship that’s bound to get hot and steamy.

Shot on an Arri Alexa camera, the 1080p presentation definitely delivers the goods. Outdoor shots look the best where the natural light brings out the fine detail of clothing and facial textures. The nighttime scenes and interior shots don’t fare quite as well, as the shadows can get a bit murky. Similarly, the color palette in exterior shots definitely has more zest and pop. Like most films in the genre, the audio track is dialogue-intensive, with a plethora of catchy tunes, which is where the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track really shines.

The repetitive supplemental package includes three deleted scenes, a featurette dubbed “Blurred Lines” on the characters and plot of the film, a behind-the-scenes look with cast and crew interviews, a second look at the characters in “Opposites Attract,” and if you’re a slow learner or weren’t paying attention to the previous featurettes, there’s a third introspective look at the film in “A Modern Love Story.”

Casting can really make or break a film, and that’s certainly the case here. If Radcliffe wasn’t the star, I’m not sure I would have stuck with this gem of a picture after the first 20 minutes; but I’m glad I hung in because the payoff was quite pleasing. Recommended.

Blu-Ray
Studio: Sony Pictures, 2013
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Length: 98 mins
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Michael Dowse
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Rafe Spall