Synopsis
Carolyn McDuffy (Christina Ricci) appears to have it all. She is the most dynamic memberof her sorority. She’s dating the most popular boy on campus. Her unspeakably shallow life isperfect. The sorority does some charity work with challenged athletes, and Ricci is paired up withPumpkin (Hank Harris). She is at first disgusted, then fascinated, and then… Life, of course, goesspinning wildly out of control. Though the trailer suggests this might be another gross-outcomedy, …ts tone is in fact closer to Harold and Maude or Rushmore. Pumpkin takes a while todraw you in (McDuffy and her friends are so repulsive you can’t imagine spending a movie intheir company), is far too long, and a little uncertain in its narrative arc. But by and large itworks, which is no mean feat, given its subject.
Audio
The sound is crisp and clear, but the surround aspect leaves something to be desired. Nocomplaints with the music, but the sound effects are a little on the low-key side, and couldcertainly be kicked up a notch.
Video
The film comes in both fullscreen and 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen modes. The flesh tonesare sometimes a bit pale, but the colours and contrasts are otherwise strong, and the blacks deepand grain-free.
Special Features
Surprisingly, for what was a fairly major release, all we’ve got is the trailer.
Closing Thoughts
This is a comedy with the guts to work its iffy premise all the way through. Not enough filmscan say that. Worth checking out.
Special Features List
- Trailer
