Comedy



Synopsis

Gene Wilder is Duffy Bergman, a “controversial” cartoonist (though the brief glimpses ofhis cartoons fail to explain his wild success). After a traditional romantic comedy “meet cute,”he and Christine Lahti fall in love and marry. When Wilder’s growing obsession with having ababy meets with frustration, the marriage cracks apart.

Let us consider the subject matter of Nimoy’s directorial track record: Baby Boom.Three Men and a Baby. The Good Mother>. This piece. Bit of a trend, wouldn’tyou say? At any rate, this effort is nothing to write home about: unfunny comedy andmanipulative tear-jerking. Yawn.

Audio

The sound arrives in both 5.1 and 2.0, but one has to wonder why anyone went to the troubleof creating a 5.1 mix, when the result is essentially undetectable. There is virtually no surroundto speak of, except when music is playing — all sorts of obvious opportunities for envelopingsound effects (as when Wilder and Lahti are in a taxi stuck in New York traffic) are wasted.

Video

The picture gets off on the wrong foot, with a very grainy and dirty opening. The picturequality improves after the credits, but dirt and specks continue to show up sporadically. Theblacks, flesh tones and colours are fine. An acceptable transfer, then, but the print could be inbetter shape.

Special Features

None.

Closing Thoughts

Late-career stuff for Gene Wilder. In other words, steer clear.



Synopsis

Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello essentially play themselves. Once a teen surf idol andMouseketeer, they are now, respectively, a stressed-out car salesman and a neurotic housewife.Their son is a leather-bedecked punk who addresses the camera directly to itemize the failingsof his parents. A trip to LA revives aging pair’s youthful spirit, however, thanks also to cameosfrom everyone from Bob Denver (in Gilligan outfit) to Pee-Wee Herman.

Nostalgia is one thing, …
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