The War Between Men and Women Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

The War Between Men and Women Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 7, 2016

Sincere sexism and comedy is an uncomfortable mix, but 1972’s “The War Between Men and Women” gives the tonal nightmare a try. Starring Jack Lemmon and Barbara Harris, the feature is dripping with acid, with director Melville Shavelson (“Yours, Mine and Ours”) working to locate lightness to a diseased lead character. The mission is impossible, but “The War Between Men and Women” is inventive with its odyssey into the black heart of relationship cynicism, blending animation and fantasy with a more sobering reality, given a certain spin by the talented cast.

Lemmon’s acting challenge is mighty in “The War Between Men and Women.” Portraying a bitter, mean cartoonist nursing female issues and troubles with degenerative eye problems, the actor is tasked with making a monster somewhat human. Of course, Lemmon is skilled with this type of shading, leaning into slapstick and nervous energy, but he also maintains the man’s vulnerabilities. Harris is an excellent counterweight for Lemmon, with the pair locating human touches as the movie explores a few broad extremes. There’s a real thespian quest here that keeps “The War Between Men and Women” involving, studying Lemmon and Harris as they navigate a screenplay that inspects stubbornness, cruelty, and frustration. And it’s all meant to be funny.

The War Between Men and Women Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Making rare appearances on the home video market, "The War Between Men and Women" arrives on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. The recent scan brings the feature to HD with impressive clarity for period cinematography, offering compelling detail on Peter's cartoon fantasies and his apartment messiness. Facial particulars also stand out, easing the film's rare foray into subtle reactions. Primaries are welcoming, with the color palette secure, showing most confidence with costuming and artwork. Grain is managed to satisfaction, remaining filmic. Delineation is communicative. Source is filled with speckling, but broader points of damage aren't encountered.

The War Between Men and Women Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is hit with a large amount of shrillness, featuring crispy highs when tempers flare, and scoring is generally thin, without encouraging definition. Intelligibility isn't threatened, but dialogue exchanges aren't particularly strong, handling measured dramatics the best. Atmospherics are thick, mostly exploring street life and party scenes, while animated adventures are lubricated with more cartoony sounds.

The War Between Men and Women Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

The War Between Men and Women Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The War Between Men and Women" doesn't always hit its mark, with the production unsure how to back out of a few charged dramatic exchanges, and Jason Robards appears in a critical supporting role, though his character is more of a distraction, threatening to turn the feature into a sitcom. "The War Between Men and Women" isn't as cheery or meaningful as it hopes to be, but to watch Lemmon and Harris fuss with the material and character extremes is more than enough to secure a satisfying viewing.