Synopsis
OSS major Matt LeBlanc has a track record of ALMOST successfully completing no end ofmissions. His current assignment: infiltrate an all-female factory in Berlin and steal an Enigmacode machine. His team: a pencil pusher, a geek, and a transvestite. This last, played by EddieIzzard (Chaplin in The Cat’s Meow) coaches the rest of the crew in the finer arts ofpretending to be women. The mission goes wrong immediately when the factory turns out not tobe where it …as supposed to be. Our heroes hook up with resistance fighter Nicolette Krebitz asthey search for the actual location of their goal. I confess that I expected tiresome slap-and-ticklehumour in the vein of the Carry On films, and while there is a bit in this vein (notably withmasochistic Udo Kier pursuing LeBlanc whom he imagines to be the girl of his dreams), directorStefan (Anatomy) Ruzowitzky turns in surprisingly sensitive work. The bombing ofBerlin is played absolutely straight, and the gender/sexual politics are handled with an aplombthat is as unexpected as it is welcome. LeBlanc himself is rather out of place, acted off the screenby the rest of the cast (no surprise there), but even he can’t kill a quirky, yet old fashionedadventure film.
Audio
A first-rate job here. The dialogue is clear and undistorted, no matter how much yellingoccurs. The sound effects are extremely well done. The sense of environment is close to total,and the effects really shine during the battle scenes. Bullets whizz out of one speaker andricochet to the next. The front/rear placement and left/right separation is superb.
Video
The 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is blessed with very strong, bright colours. Theblacks are very deep, producing excellent contrasts. The flesh tones are true, the image isextremely sharp, and there is no grain. A handsomely produced disc.
Special Features
Not much to offer here: the theatrical trailer, a still gallery, and cast and crew filmographies.The menu’s main page is scored.
Closing Thoughts
One very pleasant surprise. This film is so much better than it has any right to be, and is thusall the more winning for this surprise.
Special Features List
- Theatrical Trailer
- Still Gallery
- Cast and Crew Filmographies
