Deliver Us from Eva Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Deliver Us from Eva Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 18, 2018

Shakespeare's works often serve as the inspiration for many films, both period films and modern-set films, whether direct and semi-direct retellings or wildly reimagined movies. Some attempt to blend and blur that line between faithfulness and modernity (think the Leonadro DiCaprio's Romeo + Juliet) while others simply repurpose Shakespearean themes and ideas into a more thematically contemporary and modern-set movie. The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's comedies that has been through numerous film recreations, from a Western in McLintock! to a high school story in 10 Things I Hate About You. Deliver Us from Eva is yet another take on the playwright's divisive work, this one taking the form of a fairly agreeable Romantic Comedy.

Four sisters orphaned at an early age take care of one another and remain close as adults. It sounds like they've grown close together, but happy hunky-dory does not a plot make. The problem? Big sister Evangeline, a.k.a. Eva (Gabrielle Union), has grown into a too-helpful adult who interferes in every aspect of her sisters' lives, almost as though she is living vicariously through them, including in their love lives, much to the dismay of their significant others. After one too many interrupted rendezvous, poured out drinks (their father was an alcoholic, and Eva doesn't trust her sisters), and excuse-making for not moving in together or starting a family, the sisters' guys decide to take a stand. They hatch a spontaneous plan when they meet up with an old friend named Ray (LL Cool J) who can charm any woman. They pay him to distract Eva so they can get on with their lives. Of course, the plan sputters and backfires and hilarity ensues as Ray and Eva attempt to overcome their inauspicious, manufactured beginnings while the deliver-us six pray for some relief.

As it is with any variation of The Taming of the Shrew, the females must carry the story, and they do so in Eva. Gabrielle Union is strong in the title role. As the eldest sister who gave up her dreams to raise her three younger sisters at the age of 18, she tends to be over-involved in their adult lives, a nosy note that Union pulls off very well. She captures the character's bossy, overbearing, sister-as-a-mother role with believable sincerity and hilarity alike. Union seamlessly portrays a character teetering on obsessive-compulsive, an overbearing big sister early in the film and a woman whose domineering ways wane as her heart finds a new individual onto whom she can more effectively direct her emotions. The way she softens the character without completely compromising her confidence is very well done, turning her from a menace into a more balanced, agreeable character as the film moves along.

Though LL Cool J plays against type, seemingly more at home in action-oriented titles like Deep Blue Sea or In Too Deep, he plays the character with a charm and intensity that makes him the perfect match for Eva, even maintaining a light, agreeable demeanor when she pushes and pushes in her overbearing, super-serious mannerisms. He woos her in a way that allows him to wine and dine while standing up to her strong personality, all the while not sacrificing his own. His character doesn't succumb to her intensity and stays true to himself as he builds a life with her, much like John Wayne and Heath Ledger in their respective Shrew-based films. LL Cool J flows with his character's transformation, maintaining his essential personality and base characteristics -- he begins the movie as a player of sorts, who sees Eva as a challenge and opportunity for quick money, not a potential love interest -- even as his relationship with Eva exposes his softer underbelly. The grand gesture at film's finale punctuates his character's evolution.

Deliver Us from Eva Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Deliver Us from Eva falls into something of a middle ground for a Universal catalogue title, appearing much more refined and stable than some of the studio's worst offenders but not quite as strong as some of its better efforts. The image can appear fairly flat, with decidedly non-dynamic textural intricacies, particularly on clothes and environments, but faces occasionally find a fair bit of inherent complexity. On the whole, though, flatness -- not smoothness -- prevails. The image has definitely not been processed to death, leaving essential textures intact at a reasonable level of complexity. Colors are fairly pedestrian as well, but there's enough essential saturation and decent depth to please. Skin tones appear fairly accurate, if only a little bit pale, and black levels are OK. The image does reveal some print wear in the form of various pops and splotches, but other source and encode issues are infrequent and not significant. The final verdict? Eh. Could be better, could be worse.

Deliver Us from Eva Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Deliver Us from Eva's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack can be lively as necessary. A church music scene in chapter four delivers spunky, spirited energy. The front side blasts with some impressive width and detail, while the surrounds pick up some necessary support details. Environmental effects -- chirping birds, some chatty churchgoers -- in a scene to follow are nicely integrated. Score and background beats find healthy clarity. Dialogue drives the film, and its presentation is without major hiccup.

Deliver Us from Eva Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Deliver Us from Eva contains a handful of vintage supplements. No "top menu" is included. Extras must be accessed in-film via a crude pop-up menu.

• Deleted Scenes (1080i upscaled, 9:13 total runtime).
• Delivering Eva: Behind-The-Scenes of Deliver Us From Eva (1080i upscaled, 11:07): Cast and crew discuss the film, how the filmmakers created a new style of "black" film, how the Eva character evolved, LL Cool J's performance in the lead, how the three guys resemble the three stooges, and how the sisters and their guys are all examples of "opposites attract."
• Music Video (1080i upscaled, 4:40): "Paradise" by LL Cool J.
• Music Video (1080i upscaled, 3:43): "This Very Moment" by K-Ci & JoJo.
• Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Gary Hardwick discusses the script, the actors, the filming locations, and the way the movie comes together. It's a fairly straightforward commentary track that is often more a play-by-play of the on-screen action than it is an insightful glimpse into the movie.

Deliver Us from Eva Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Deliver Us from Eva finds an agreeable middle ground between a humorous look at an exaggerated, overbearing character and a serious romance that develops between two unlikely individuals. Tonal balance is key to the movie, particularly since that's kind of the entire point, as the characters rally -- as they do anything -- to bring Eva down to a more reasonable, agreeable level. This is a fun little excursion that explores the power of love to soften even the most dominant personality. The cast is strong, the script is witty...it's a fun time at the movies. Universal's Blu-ray delivers acceptable video and audio along with a few supplements. Recommended.