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DVD REVIEW FOR
"EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU"

(1996) (Woody Allen, Drew Barrymore) (R)

Length Screen Format(s) Languages Subtitles Sound Sides
101 minutes Letterbox (1.85:1) English English Dolby Digital 2.0 1

PLOT & PARENTAL REVIEW

VIDEO:
(A-) For the most part, the disc’s picture looks quite good, with brightly lit outdoor scenes faring the best and looking rather sharp. While some compression-generated pixelation is present and is more noticeable in certain scenes than in others, it’s never that distracting. And although certain scenes look a bit too warm, they do give the film something of an appropriate, old-fashioned feel. Meanwhile, the rest of the film’s use of color looks great.
AUDIO:
(A-) While the musical numbers sound good (in an old-fashioned, nearly charming way), the fact that they (and the rest of the film) are presented in mono detracts from how the disc could and should have sounded (for clarification, Allen originally recorded the film in mono). Beyond the numbers, the rest of the film is mostly dialogue-driven and delivers what’s expected of it.
EXTRAS:
  • Scene selection/Jump to any scene.
  • COMMENTS:
    Viewers who long for the days of yesteryear when old-fashioned musicals dominated the scene will love this movie. Feeling and sounding like it was made in the 30's or 40's, this is a funny and enjoyable film filled with director Woody Allen’s standard great and diverse cast of performers. While it's always been amusing to see characters suddenly drop everything and start singing no matter what the occasion or emotion, here it's played to a full tilt and that effect is enhanced by performers one doesn’t normally associate with singing.

    When it happens, the film not only pays homage to the bygone era, but it also somewhat gently pokes fun at it at the same time. When characters drop into a song and superfluous extras dance and tap their way on screen, the audience is in on the joke and that makes it even that much funnier. While it's hard to say which actors or actresses are actually doing their own singing, the lip-synching is rough at times as are some of the paper-thin vocals.

    Still, the staging of the musical numbers is fun and sure to please viewers, especially since everyone involved seems to be having a good time. Beyond the musical aspect, this is a standard Woody Allen movie with Allen playing his usual character and Edward Norton ("American History X," "Primal Fear") getting to play a young version of him (complete with similar mannerisms and line delivery). The other performances are good, including Drew Barrymore, Alan Alda, Tim Roth, Natalie Portman (and plenty of others) even though some of them are scattered about. In addition, there are probably a few too many characters with subplots that are never developed enough nor completely resolved. The production, however, is rather enjoyable and will win over viewers looking for a modern movie with an old-fashioned appeal.

    For a musical, however, it’s too bad the audio quality isn’t better. While it never sounds bad, the fact that it was recorded in mono (like most of Allen’s films) shortchanges what could and should have been a better sounding soundtrack. Although the picture looks rather good, the disc contains absolutely no supplemental material (an isolated audio track from Allen or any of the performers would have been a nice addition).

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