Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

The Answer Man Blu-ray Movie Review

Why do bad things happen to good premises?

Reviewed by Casey Broadwater November 13, 2009

There are two types of people in the world: those who read self-help books, and those who think Dr. Phil is a pop-psychology snake oil salesman who kind of looks like a walrus. If you stand long enough in a bookstore, you’ll see both kinds. The hopeful scour the self-help aisle to find cures for their particular neurosis, while others, wandering through inadvertently on their way to the fiction section, notice the preponderancy of Chicken Soup for the (fill in the blank) Soul titles and quicken their pace, hoping no one spots them. I’ll admit to falling into the latter group—it certainly doesn’t help that “Self-Help” is always right next to “Sexual Well-Being,” where no one feels comfortable loitering—but I’ve got no problem with people trying earnestly to better themselves. And if the sales of The Purpose Driven Life or the latest piece of guru advice from Deepak Chopra or Tony Robbins are any indication, people are doing this in droves. But on the opposite end, what is it like to be one of these self-help authors, doling out life lessons to an emotionally needy readership? Surely these sage scribes live in perfect tranquility, in a Zen-like state of balance and harmony and near-constant insight. Right?

Candles: the gateway to the cosmos.

Well, I can’t speak for Rick Warren or Dr. Phil, but the answer man of The Answer Man, Arlen Faber (Jeff Daniels), has a few kinks to work. Twenty years ago he published Me and God, an inspirational best seller that changed the spiritual outlook of an entire generation. His book provided answers to life’s toughest questions and spawned a cottage industry of spin- offs, from Me and God for Teens and The Me and God Diet to Me and God for Atheists. It is widely accepted that Faber has God on speed-dial, and that he became a Salingeresque recluse not to avoid people, but to enjoy direct fellowship with the divine creator of the cosmos. When we first see Arlen, he’s sitting in front of a window in the lotus position, serenely meditating. Then, the doorbell rings. Shooting a look of near-satanic fury, Arlen spews a stream of obscenities. Clearly, he doesn’t like to be interrupted. Somewhere along the line, Arlen lost his one-on-one God connection—or, perhaps he never had one—and he now spends his days reading all twenty-one volumes of Unlocking the Door to the Heaven Within, trying to recapture the magic. It isn’t working. He’s crotchety, self-obsessed, and to make matters worse, his back is going out. “I do not accept this, this is bullshit, I do not accept this,” he says, trying to muster some mind-over-matter inner healing when he slips a disc.

Arlen crawls on all fours to The Straighten-Up Healing Center, a chiropractic clinic owned by Elizabeth (Lauren Graham), a single mom with attachment issues. With a few deft, bone-cracking touches, she fixes his back and, before you know it, they’re dating. Meanwhile, Arlen has been blackmailed into reluctantly giving life advice to Kris (Lou Taylor Pucci), a young alcoholic—newly discharged from rehab—who owns a nearly bankrupt bookstore. Let’s see, Kris’ store is about to go out of business, and Arlen is a reclusive author who has turned down every interview and book-signing event for the past twenty years. Hmmm. I wonder…might Arlen arrange, out of the goodness that Elizabeth has recently pulled out of his heart, an appearance at Kris’ bookstore to coincide with the 20th anniversary re-release of Me and God?

I’m sorry for the lack of a spoiler alert, but honestly, if you haven’t figured out exactly what’s going to happen in The Answer Man at least twenty minutes before it happens, then you’re probably either praying, meditating, or asleep. This would-be quirky indie comedy offers no surprises as it cycles through a cinematic Rolodex of rom-com clichés, calling up each, in turn, as needed. The film isn’t bad—it’s not interesting enough to be a magnificent failure—but the plot is more predictable than the lunar cycle and the jokes frequently deflate with the sad hiss of leaky comedy. The script seems conflicted, prescribing slapstick—like Arlen crawling on all fours—and then giving us an attempted dose of witty repartee, serving up broad comedy and then expecting us to feel moved by cloying tenderness. The character of Arlen Faber is equally contradictory. He’s an embittered anti-social grouch, prone to quoting Sartre, who once wrote, “Hell is other people.” Then, of course, he’s coaxed out of his cynical shell by the one woman who can see through all of the metaphysical nonsense that clouds his persona like an aura and into the pained and relationally bereft man beneath.

Jeff Daniels is a suitable grump, and he plays the physical comedy well, but when it comes to his gradual transformation from sour recluse to redeemed spokesman for spirituality, the script doesn’t give him much leeway. His chemistry with former Gilmore Girl Lauren Graham fizzles more than it flames, but she’s likeable as the emotionally guarded, overprotective mom who only wants to do what’s best for her kid. Lou Taylor Pucci does a fine job as well—he’s like a scruffy terrier disguised as Johnny Depp—but his subplot never engages. Oddly enough, the film features two young indie darlings, Juno’s Olivia Thirlby and Kat Dennings, of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, but they’re given next to nothing to do here, serving as Elizabeth’s assistant and a bookstore clerk, respectively. Still, they liven up what would've otherwise been a pair of throwaway roles. Arrested Development’s Tony Hale also makes periodic appearances as an inquisitive, Me and God-loving mailman, and his bits present the film at its funniest.

Unfortunately, the disparate elements of the script never gel, the performances are adequate but dry, and the film wastes the potential of its premise. I don’t think anyone is really surprised when a psychiatrist turns out to be totally bonkers—see Running with Scissors or the recent tragedy at Fort Hood—but self-help gurus really do seem to have it together, frequently developing legions of cultish followers. There’s promise for great comedy here, or a salient and unusual drama, but The Answer Man tries to have it both ways and can’t keep a firm grasp on either genre.

The Answer Man Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Answer Man arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer courtesy of Magnolia Home Entertainment. Like the film, this transfer is average across the board, never truly impressive but also free of any apparent technical issues. The Answer Man has the bright, realistic look characteristic of most romantic comedies, but it's not quite as polished as its bigger budgeted cousins. The image has a tendency to look a little soft; close-ups are sharp and reveal a good deal of fine detail and texture, but mid and long range shots aren't quite as crisp and resolved as they could be. Colors are strong and occasionally vivid—particularly Lauren Graham's frequently vibrant tops—and skin tones look natural throughout. While contrast sometimes seems a little flat— the picture doesn't have much presence—black levels are strong and there's no crush or soupiness in the shadows. The film's grain structure varies from barely visible during bright outdoor scenes to moderately chunky indoors, but there's nothing overtly distracting here. There's really not much memorable about The Answer Man, and the same can be said for the film's adequate but lackluster picture quality.

The Answer Man Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, there's not a lot to say about The Answer Man's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. The audio never really calls attention to itself; it serves its purpose by being clear and comprehendible and decently deep, but there are few talking points here, no scenes with particularly immersive editing, no sonic bombast, nothing worth mentioning. As with most romantic comedies, well-prioritized dialogue is the key active ingredient in this track's audio recipe, and it comes through cleanly throughout, with no unnatural muffling, crackling, compression, or reverberation. The rear channels are sparsely used to bring some ambient life to interiors and the Philadelphia city streets, but most of the time they're bleeding with Teddy Castellucci's score, which tries to be emotionally manipulative—ah, this moment is so tender—but never engages on any level. Like the video quality, and the film itself, the audio is neither good nor bad. It's just, well, forgettable.

The Answer Man Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Commentary with Director John Hindman, Producer Kevin Messick, and Actor Lauren Graham
This track hits all the usual talking points—production details, casting, little on-set anecdotes—but despite the laughs and the genuine geniality between the participants, this really isn't a must- listen experience.

Characters of The Answer Man (SD, 10:14)
Here, Writer/Director John Hinden talks about how amazing it is to see his words come alive on the screen, and all the principal actors say a few words about their characters.

The Answer Man: From Concept to Creation (SD, 9:57)
Would-be writer/directors take note: John Hindmen had just about zero experience in the movie industry—he didn't even have an agent before pitching the script—but he was passionate about making this film. And here you go, The Answer Man is now being released on Blu-ray. Though interviews with Hindmen, his producers, and the cast, we see how the film made the unlikely journey from script to screen.

HDNet: a look at The Answer Man (1080p, 4:33)
Your average EPK-style promo, with director and cast interviews, a generous plot synopsis, and plenty of clips from the film.

Also from Magnolia Home Entertainment Blu-ray (1080p, 9:26)
Includes a promo for HDNet and high definition trailers for The Great Buck Howard, World's Greatest Dad, Food, Inc., and Is Anybody There?

The Answer Man Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Answer Man is passable entertainment if it's a rainy Sunday afternoon and you're not feeling particularly discriminating, but it leaves no impression whatsoever. The story is uninvolving, the comedy goes stale, and the relationship element will set few hearts a'flutter. Similarly, the audio/video presentation of this Blu-ray disc is merely sufficient. If you still think you might want a taste of The Answer Man's answers, I'd suggest a rental.