Crazy People Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		1.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Crazy People Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 17, 2023

“Crazy People” reportedly had some difficulties making it to the screen, with original star John Malkovich exiting the production after weeks of work, joined by co-star Michelle Pfeiffer, while writer Mitch Markowitz was eventually fired from what was meant to be his directorial debut. It’s not an easy start for any feature, but this production was cursed, forcing producers to clean up the mess by hiring Tony Bill (“My Bodyguard”) to take over as the helmer, while Dudley Moore was brought in to replace Malkovich, joined by co-star Daryl Hannah. This feel of moviemaking panic creeps into “Crazy People,” which takes a promising idea for a ripe farce about the world of advertising and slowly sands off all the rough edges, trying to bring warm feelings to an endeavor that should be served ice cold. There are laughs in the film, big ones too, but the whole offering comes across as half-baked, resembling a picture that once had a clear idea of what it wanted to be, only to change almost everything at the last minute, ending up an unsatisfying blend of tones and jokes.

Emory (Dudley Moore) has had enough. He lives in New York City, fighting endless traffic wherever he goes. His girlfriend has left him, taking almost everything with her. And work at an advertising agency is punishing, with boss Drucker (J.T. Walsh) demanding his staff routinely deliver ace concepts while dreaming up campaigns for the same old products. Emory elects to change his ways, hoping to jazz up his professional life by adding real truth to advertising, presenting products as they are. His partner, Stephen (Paul Reiser), is worried about Emory, sending him to the Bennington Sanitarium to work on his mental health for three weeks, hoping he’ll come back recharged and capable. Welcomed by Dr. Baylor (Mercedes Ruehl), Emory is introduced to his support group, with patients such as Bruce (Bill Smitrovich), Saabs (Danton Stone), Robles (Paul Bates), and George (David Paymer) offering the new arrival a full sense of mental issues inside the facility. Kathy (Daryl Hannah) provides a more intimate relationship, drawn to Emory as she offers physical attention and allows him entrance into her world of “special” places. When a mistake occurs with Emory’s proofs, which are accidentally sent to printers, Stephen witnesses the birth of an honesty movement in advertising, racing back to Bennington to retrieve Emory, who’s befriended his fellow patients, soon putting them to work in the business of selling products to the public.

“Crazy People” introduces viewers to Emory during one of his many mental breakdowns. He’s stuck on an NYC bridge, late for work, surrounded by cars crawling to their various destinations. There’s a universal feeling of frustration, but for Emory, it’s the start of his breaking point, making his way to a job that he no longer holds interest in. Under Drucker, the marketing man is expected to perform as usual, but Emory is tired, searching for the “right hook” to connect with consumers, sick of lying for a living. This epiphany emerges in the form of honesty, with the ad man using the playful ways of truth to sell nonsense to buyers, hoping to tap into something special just by the shock of it all. Emory is bold and quickly dismissed, offered a stay at Bennington instead, with Stephen getting a view of all his co-worker has lost over the last few months, hoping time in a mental health facility will restore his spirit.

Emory is introduced to a collection of cuddly personalities, and the script tries to get as much mileage as possible out of these patients. George has a vocabulary limited to the word “hello,” and Saabs is obsessed with the Swedish automaker, repeating stats about the cars all day. Kathy is a kinder presence, happy to help Emory get used to his surroundings, offering immediate attraction to the new patient, which commences an odd romance between the characters. Kathy shares quiet spaces she favors, and details her history with a brother in the military, trusting he’ll return one day to retrieve her. There’s little subtlety in this subplot, as Bill leans on Kathy and Emory to generate instant warm fuzzies for a movie that tries to make room for a coupling that feels more predatory than cute. Kathy’s unwell, but “Crazy People” isn’t ready to explore her true state of mind.

Plot snaps into place once the advertising mix-up occurs, giving “Crazy People” a sense of mischief as Emory’s approach to selling things actually connects with the public, who eat up marketing that bluntly states corporate intention (Metamucil: “It helps you go to the toilet. If you don’t use it, you’ll get cancer and die”) and makes tempting promises (Jaguar: “For men who like hand jobs from beautiful women they hardly know”). This new advertising frontier is periodically hilarious, and really displays the potential of “Crazy People,” as Emory recruits his fellow patients to work on campaigns, using their tenuous connection to reality to inspire memorable slogans. There’s undeniable energy to this section of the feature, and some playful satire as well, but it doesn’t last long enough.

Crazy People Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers an aged look at "Crazy People," with an older master used for this Blu-ray release. Filtering is present, eliminating all the basics in skin particulars, offering a smoother look at the characters. Softness dials down decorative additions to offices and therapy spaces, and exteriors lack clear dimension. Colors are fatigued, but a simple appreciation for primaries in the brightly shot feature is present, surveying period fashion choices and advertising art. Skin tones are reasonably natural. Grain has been eliminated from the viewing experience, with a blocky appearence. Delineation doesn't lose frame information in full, but blacks tease solidification at times. Source is in good condition.

Crazy People Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides a clear understanding of dialogue exchanges. Performance choices are adequately defined, along with more active hospital interactions. Scoring is pronounced, with a crisp sense of orchestral instrumentation. Surrounds also capture musical authority, joined by mild atmospherics. Low-end isn't challenged.

Crazy People Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:19, SD) is included.

Crazy People Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Comedies about people in mental health hospitals newly dealing with the outside world were strangely common in the late 1980s and early '90s (including "The Dream Team" and "Another You"), and "Crazy People" certainly has the potential to use such a premise to inspire a sharp sense of humor. But that doesn't happen, with formulaic events beginning to crowd the movie in the final act, giving the endeavor a sitcom feel as Emory creates a workplace situation inside the facility and deals with Kathy's heartache. There's a much better film contained within "Crazy People" that's aching to break through, with the picture unfortunately fearful of really going all the way with its premise of truth in advertising. Instead, there are snippets of greatness and a decent use of Moore, with Bill seemingly ordered to make something as easy on the senses and predictable as possible, which takes all the fun out of the viewing experience.