Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

She's Out of My League Blu-ray Movie Review

She must play for an AL team, then.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 2, 2010

You're plenty good enough for me, you were just never good enough for you.

Such a tricky bunch, those screenwriters. "There has to be a way," they must have once thought, "to get guys more involved, more attuned, and more willing to go see a Romantic Comedy." Then, somewhere, a lightbulb lit up over someone's head. Literally. Because that's how those things work, dontcha know. "Let's turn the tables on the genre, and instead of putting the emphasis on the girl's point of view, let's switch it around and make the same sort of movies, only with the guy's story playing front and center!" And voila. The male-centric Chick Flick was born. Of course, they still needed to iron out the details. Would Brad Pitt star in all of these movies? Or would guys rather see some average Joe -- hey, someone just like that dude back there in the next to last row! -- up on the screen, someone that's not an international sex icon but rather someone a bit more relatable, someone that the men in the audience could actually bond with and believe in, leaving the theater thinking that they, too, just might someday find the girl of their dreams, even if they are too skinny, too fat, drive a dull car, work a routine job, still live with their parents, play too many video games, read too many reviews at Blu-ray.com, or wear the same underwear for several days straight (hey, how dirty can they get during a nine-hour Call of Duty gaming session or while watching a "Star Trek: The Next Generation" marathon on TV?). Lo and behold, a formula was born: average guy gets hot girl with a little help from his friends and a sprinkling of Hollywood magic, and surprise, the genre works. She's Out of My League is the latest movie about a nobody that has a chance with the hottest girl in town, and while there are no surprises here (are there ever in a movie like this?), the movie's a fun little diversion that's well-made, has characters worth cheering for, and is quite a bit of fun to watch.

What's for dessert?

Everyman Kirk (Jay Baruchel) works a dead-end job as a Pittsburgh International Airport security agent alongside his three friends, Stainer (T.J. Miller), Jack (Mike Vogel), and Devon (Nate Torrence). He's mourning the break-up with his girlfriend Marnie (Lindsay Sloane) when an opportunity of a lifetime presents itself: an attractive young woman named Molly (Alice Eve) passes through his security checkpoint but accidentally leaves her phone behind. Kirk finds it and fields a call from Molly's friend Patty (Krysten Ritter) and sets a date to return the phone to Molly upon her return to Pittsburgh at a party held at the Andy Warhol Museum. Much to Kirk's surprise, Molly's interested in a second date, and all of a sudden an average Joe finds himself in a relationship with a girl that's described by his friends as a perfect "10." Though the relationship seems to be going well, Kirk struggles with his self-esteem, always wondering how a guy like him ended up with a girl like Molly. Can Kirk make it work, or will Molly suddenly realize that she can do better and seek out another guy who's more physically attractive than he?

She's Out of My League plays things pretty straight; there's nothing really new here, at least nothing new enough that separates the movie from the pack, but it does everything right and finds a good balance between several elements that make it a fun -- but not exactly wholesome -- time at the movies. The picture is predictable but not to a fault; when it goes through the motions -- the ups and downs of the unlikely relationship -- it comes expectedly with the requisite resolutions to each problem, but She's Out of My League rises above the level of the "passably mundane" by developing each of its primary and most of its secondary characters to a point that it's easy to overlook any structural predictabilities or deficiencies because it's so easy to root for the relationship and, more importantly, the characters involved. One reason why the film works as well as it does is because it makes even the "10" -- the Molly character -- into a real person, a friendly girl who's not stuck on herself, who doesn't think she's better than anyone else, who sees people for who they are on the inside, and is not obsessive over the superficial. She's attractive, yes, but she doesn't look like a supermodel; she's never caked in makeup but instead has a sweet girl-next-door charm that helps the film and the relationship depicted in it to work within the context of the story. On the flip side is Jay Baruchel's character, Kirk, who encapsulates the "everyman" wonderfully. Baruchel makes it absurdly easy to root for his character because he's so good at being just another guy. No doubt about it, it's the characters, and the leads in particular, that allow She's Out of My League to rise above the crowd.

Fortunately, She's Out of My League also works beyond its characters. The film's dialogue is nicely balanced between outrageously funny jokes and plenty of softer scenes that offer a more heartfelt sincerity that results in a film that stands on a pretty even keel. Although the picture is littered with four-letter words, She's Out of My League never feels like it's all that dirty. Characters have some potty mouths to be sure, but the film's underlying sweetness, strong characterization, and good performances mask the raunchier elements and accentuate the story. The film never feels like a string of jokes crudely placed into some bigger frame at the last minute; this is a solid picture that's been well-conceived from the beginning to allow everything to work in harmony towards the greater good. Technically, the film benefits from its Pittsburgh setting; the city is used to fine effect in several nice-looking backdrops (not to mention an extended scene at a Penguins game and a fly-by of PNC Park) and, frankly, it's a relief to watch a movie like this that isn't set in New York. Director Jim Field Smith doesn't do anything nifty with the camera, but he seems to realize that there's a good story, great characters, and some qualified actors to bring it to life, and he's content to simply let it all play out in front of him. There's something to be said for a more artistic style, but there's also something to be said for a more routine visual scheme, and She's Out of My League certainly benefits from a director that knows what his material needs to work. Hopefully he'll be behind the camera for another movie like this in the future.

She's Out of My League Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Paramount brings She's Out of My League to Blu-ray with a good 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. Typical of modern Comedies, the image sports a warm appearance that gives flesh tones a slightly orange tint. Nevertheless, the film's palette is pleasing to the eye, and brighter shades such as green grasses or the blue water in a backyard swimming pool are noticeably handsome. The transfer also reveals good detailing throughout the movie, whether more obvious elements such as seams in jackets and the texture of cloth furniture, or in more intricate background visuals, such as the roughness of the pavement outside the airport or small scuffs seen on a wall during a basement hockey game. Still, some surfaces, particularly faces, can look fairly flat. The image rarely goes soft, for the most part remaining delightfully sharp and sporting a good sense of depth in many scenes. Blacks are borderline excellent; darker scenes aren't quite as revealing as they might otherwise be, but there are never instances of blacks appearing too bright or otherwise unnatural. This is another in a growing list of attractive new releases from Paramount; it doesn't rival the format's best, but it's a stable, good-looking transfer that does the material proud.

She's Out of My League Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

She's Out of My League arrives on Blu-ray with a good all-around DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Obviously, this isn't a powerhouse Action film, but the track handles every element with ease, whether the uptempo music heard throughout or several more potent effects that find their way into the track. The film opens with a rich and full musical presentation that boasts a good surround support structure. Deep bass is evident during a party scene in chapter four, and the rumbling of a jet engine flying overhead and a hit along the boards at a Penguins hockey game both rattle the soundstage, delivering convincing sonic elements into an otherwise talk- and music-heavy film. Background ambience rarely disappoints; chatter and intercom announcements heard in the airport scenes, for instance, are nicely reflective of a real-life environment. Imaging is solid, too, with a backyard pool scene delivering the sound of gently rolling water spreading out all across the front half of the listening area for a nicely convincing moment. Rounded out by trouble-free dialogue reproduction, She's Out of My League scores highly with a quality Blu-ray soundtrack.

She's Out of My League Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

She's Out of My League debuts on Blu-ray with a short but fan-friendly collection of special features. First up is an audio commentary track with Director Jim Field Smith. This is a fairly cut-and-dry commentary, one that's informative but not a must-listen. The director covers most of the bases, speaking on the performances of the cast, the process of shooting in several different locales including a real security checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport, the intricacies of the story, the complexities of several scenes, and plenty more. It's a good track for the style of movie, and Smith carries it well. Devon's Dating Show! (1080p, 7:28) features film characters Devon and Dylan discussing the intricacies of dating. Also included is a blooper reel (1080p, 6:20) and collection of four deleted scenes and one extended ending, all with optional director commentary (1080p, 3:33).

She's Out of My League Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

She's Out of My League shows viewers the other side of the Romantic Comedy ledger, focusing on the guys rather than the girls, and the result is a movie that both sexes should enjoy. It's high energy, well-paced, reservedly yet smartly directed, and most importantly, it's built around characters that are likable, making it easy to root for the relationship to work. Funny, well-acted, relatable, and downright fun to watch, She's Out of My League is a keeper. Paramount's Blu-ray release of She's Out of My League might not be a perfect 10, but it's an easy six or seven. Featuring a strong 1080p transfer, a good lossless soundtrack, and an average collection of extras, genre fans or men looking for a good date movie that they won't despite would be smart to check this one out. Recommended.