Reach for Me Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		2.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Reach for Me Blu-ray Movie Review

The road to death is paved with love

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 5, 2011

“Reach for Me” is a distressing tale told with a certain amount of rascally behavior to help counteract the gloom than collects throughout the film. It’s a movie about the approach of death and the connections that keep us alive, following a handful of characters as they come to terms with their mortality at the very moment they’ve discovered further reasons to live. It’s an ephemeral touch that powers much of the feature, sold through vivacious performances and the occasional bit of unforeseen profundity, contributing to a refreshingly oddball take on well-worn material. It’s not deep, but “Reach for Me” hits a few alert notes of human acceptance that assists in the digestion of the less effective elements of the script, offering an uneven but sincere viewing experience for those in the mood for a tearjerker with a saucy kick.

Alvin (Seymour Cassel) is a cancer patient living out his final days at the Valley Meadow Hospice Center. A curmudgeon with a wily sense of humor, Alvin has witnessed his fair share of roommates pass away, observing a gradual lifelessness overcome these men he’s befriended. The latest addition to his room is Kevin (Johnny Whitworth, “3:10 to Yuma”), a young man who’s nearing the end of his battle with cancer, requiring attention from the staff (including Alfre Woodard and LeVar Burton) and his devoted girlfriend, Sarah (Lacey Chabert, “Mean Girls”). At first reluctant to make peace with his new roomie, Alvin grows to care about the sick man, urging him to investigate his own paralyzing tragedies, including the loss of bitter wife Nell (Charlene Blaine, who also produces) long ago. Also on Alvin’s mind is Valarie (Adrienne Barbeau), a fellow patient who takes a liking to the old man’s salty charms, commencing a romance that arouses their spirits and gives them both something to live for.

The director for “Reach for Me” is LeVar Burton, a television legend best known for his work on “Roots,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and PBS’s “Reading Rainbow.” A fantastic actor, Burton continues his interest in filmmaking with this feature-length effort after a career dominated by episodic television work. “Reach for Me” plays to the helmer’s expertise with acting, with screenwriter Michael Adams submitting a modest tale of soulful awakening, building a series of vignettes involving multiple characters, requiring a helmer capable of concentrating on the nuances of emotional response and comedic timing. It’s not a particularly challenging piece of writing, but the leisurely storytelling permits Burton a chance to pull something substantial out of his cast, concentrating on small encounters and teary confessions, working to explore the complications of life inside a facility devoted to finality.

“Reach for Me” is a dramedy, hoping to balance the quirk of the characterizations with the sobering reality of death. Burton doesn’t have the strongest grip on tone, but his intentions are admirable, playing up Alvin’s naughty behavior in the first act, where the senior comments graphically on late night phone sex commercials, playfully spanks nurses, and generally gives anyone who steps into his line of sight a hard time. Despite its older cast and feel for delicate issues of mortality, “Reach for Me” isn’t a gentle production, potentially alienating some viewers out there ready to sit down with a tasteful Hallmark Channel effort. Alvin is much more rascally and cantankerous, giving Cassel something to play beyond a tortured man facing his last days. The levity actually helps, allowing Burton to work with both light and dark encounters. He overdoes it on occasion, but the attempt is satisfactory. Besides, most of the movie takes place inside a single hospital room. A paint fight, some sexualized shadow play, and cursing actually bring life to the proceedings. It can’t all be weeping and dying.

Despite some stiff banter sprinkled around by Adams, Burton manages to establish some flavorful performances. In the lead role, Cassel is a corker, contributing admirable work with a complex articulation of emotions, maintaining the impish qualities about the character without losing his heart. He’s paired well with Barbeau, who manages to register a few tender moments of vulnerability with limited screentime. I also found Chabert sensitive and invested as Kevin’s distraught love, working diligently to preserve the glorious distractions of life (e.g. international travel, Italian food) for her boyfriend, yet fully aware of his limited time left. The ensemble (Burton and Woodard are also quite welcome onscreen) is lively and committed to making “Reach for Me” mean something, despite its claustrophobic setting and grim overtones.

Reach for Me Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation is quite vivid when it comes to color replication, pushing through with bright, lively hues that launch this engorged palette of primaries. Costumes and set design details (especially seasonal changes) are generous with yellows and greens, keeping the film's energy up with an explosive sense of visual life. Skintones are natural, conveying different stages of illness without losing human appeal. Clarity is excellent, providing a comprehensive look at the cast, keeping their close-ups textured and meaningful. Sets are on the spare side, but decorations are easily observed, including the complicated workings of medical equipment. Banding is a sporadic problem, as is macroblocking, which plagues several scenes. Crush is also a nuisance, removing edge delineation out of dense hairstyles and lower-lit encounters.

Reach for Me Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 Dolby Digital sound mix is a fairly standard presentation of voices and scoring, which compete for a largely frontal assignment. Dialogue exchanges are strong, retaining a good amount of weight and emotional distance. Scoring sounds satisfactory but rarely dimensional, leaving the surrounds a little lacking as it works to sell the emotions of the moment. Soundtrack selections, including a song by Chabert, are thin but passable, with agreeable detail on instrumentation. Low-end is sparse, while atmospherics are generally reduced, best utilized to create a sensation of community life at the hospice center. No distortion was detected.

Reach for Me Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interviews (6:49, HD) sit down with the cast and crew to discuss the origin of the screenplay, the development of the creative process, and the execution of the characterizations. It's a promo piece, making the conversations highly rehearsed, lacking any serious postmortem reflection. To have professionals explain themselves is always welcome, but this featurette doesn't penetrate deep enough, striking a vital sense of BTS insight.

• A.A.R.P. Breakthrough Achievement Awards Ceremony (3:21, HD) is merely an acceptance speech from Charlene Blaine, who receives an award on behalf of LeVar Burton.

• Film Festival Award Ceremonies (4:45, HD & SD) offers even more podium action, covering acceptance speeches from the Lake Arrowhead Film Festival, and crowd response from the Oldenberg International Film Festival (based in Germany).

• Seymour Cassel: Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation (4:16, HD) presents a major honor for the actor, backed by The Hollywood Reporter. Luke Wilson and Connie Stevens help to welcome the veteran to the stage.

• Testimonials (1:35) lines up a handful of audience members to share their love for the film, emphasizing the power of its emotional content.

• Special Introduction with Lee Iacocca (:40, HD) is a brief reminder to appreciate life and love, and to enjoy the show.

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:35, HD) is included.

Reach for Me Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A few odd touches, including Alvin and Kevin futzing with a clogged colostomy bag, keep the movie on its toes, but it's only a matter of time before tears must flow. Burton dutifully serves up some climatic tear-jerking, reaching a bit too melodramatically at times, yet it's a surprisingly restrained effort. "Reach for Me" isn't sweet, but there's a kindness about it that's disarming, carrying throughout the entire film. Again, don't sit down with it expecting a G-rated affair concerned with the submissive steps to Heaven. Prepare for a picture that's mildly mischievous, solidly acted, and agreeably directed. It's modest, but entertaining.

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