6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 2.8 | |
Reviewer | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.4 |
A humble cop leaves a two million dollar tip to a hard-luck waitress.
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Bridget Fonda, Rosie Pérez, Wendell Pierce, Isaac HayesRomance | 100% |
Comedy | 93% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
French: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 2.0 | |
Audio | 2.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
That was just...fate.
For as predictable as most Romantic Comedies are, most of them work in context thanks to the
feel-good, lighthearted, sometimes almost magical aura surrounding the characters and their
circumstances. It Could Happen to You is no different, but it struggles mightily to keep
from fading into oblivion with most every shot. Working double shifts, pounding out a few extra
reps, and leaving a generous tip, the film remains on an even keel throughout, even if its characters
are painted to such an extreme so as to completely manipulate audiences and removing any and all
doubt from the get-go as to where the movie is headed. Ultimately, this modern-day fairy tale is
saved by excellent chemistry between Nicolas Cage (Ghost Rider) and
Bridget Fonda (Kiss of the Dragon) and
several charming moments that, even in the face of utter predictability and obvious contrivances,
manage to elicit a smidgen of emotion to make the experience worthwhile.
Looks like someone doesn't want to be in the middle of a cat fight.
It Could Happen to You features a 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer. This one doesn't hit the jackpot, revealing a dull, lifeless transfer that never approaches the best the format has to offer. The image takes on a consistently hazy and faded appearance. Fine detail is not at all impressive, either. Most objects seem slathered in Vaseline, wiping away fine detail, but film grain swirls rather heavily over most every frame, save for a few that show no signs of either haze or grain. Colors generally appear washed out and undefined, though a few stick out like a sore thumb, a red dress worn by Yvonne positively dominating every scene it is in. The blue police uniforms, too, sometimes stand out from the crowd, but most other colors become lost in the shuffle of the transfer. The image also sports practically no depth. Flesh tones range from ghastly to rosy, and blacks are hit-or-miss. Perhaps the film is meant to have a dreamy, fantastical, not-quite-real look to it, but either way, this one never impresses.
Like the video transfer, It Could Happen to You's lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack rarely distinguishes itself. A dialogue-heavy Romantic Comedy, the spoken word is delivered cleanly and without any discernible issues. Isaac Hayes' narration, for example, enjoys crisp delivery, his baritone voice flowing from the center channel with a nice bit of authority and vigor. However, the track sometimes feels cramped and constrained. The music that plays over the opening credits sounds restricted, unable to bloom to its full potential. The track features slight ambience across the front, for instance the background music and clattering of silverware as heard in the diner in chapter three. It spreads across the front right and left speakers but leaves the rear channels virtually silent. In fact, the rear channels may as well have been unplugged for this one as they never offer any discernible information. The track plays about as expected as far as heft and presence, but even then it never does anything to make it stand above the crowd.
This Blu-ray release of It Could Happen To You features only 1080p trailers for Made of Honor and 13 Going on 30 and BD-Live (Blu-ray profile 2.0) compatibility.
Though certainly not at the top of the heap of Romantic Comedies, It Could Happen to You delivers a routine film that features good performances but a script that plays out as completely manipulative from the get-go, painting its characters to such extremes so as to remove all doubt as to not only who the audience should root for but the fate of each character. For a film that works on the premise of fate, surprise, and the unexpected, it seems ironic that the film is anything but, playing as a mostly shallow and derivative picture saved only by a pleasant chemistry between its leads. Still, there is something oddly magical about the whole thing despite a laundry list of problems, the end result a film that works when absorbed in just the right frame-of-mind and appreciation for what it seems to be trying to do. Sony's Blu-ray release of It Could Happen to You disappoints. The video transfer leaves much to be desired, though considering the themes of the film, the extremely soft, almost dream-like quality may represent the intended look of the film. Meanwhile, the audio presentation plays as lackluster-at-best, and the disc sports no film-related supplements. This disc would make a nice last-minute or extra gift for the ladies or a decent rental on a rainy Saturday night.
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