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DVD REVIEW FOR
"COMPANY MAN"

(2001) (Douglas McGrath, Sigourney Weaver) (PG-13)

Length Screen Format(s) Languages Subtitles Sound Sides
81 minutes Letterbox (1.85:1)
16x9 - Widescreen
English English Dolby Digital 2.0 1

PLOT & PARENTAL REVIEW

AUDIO/VIDEO ELEMENTS:
Apparently starting with the original film stock, the film has something of a low budget look and feel to it. While some images are rather sharp, others are decidedly less so, giving the film something of a hazy/slightly fuzzy look at times. Film artifacts (scratches and other blips, etc.) and pixelation are often rather noticeable and mar the overall look (the latter appearing in solid parts of the picture and in sky shots). Color reproduction is okay, but certainly nothing vivid or spectacular to behold.

That also holds true for the film's audio track, presented in just Dolby Digital 2.0 (rather than 5.1 or DTS). The included songs are passable, but flat compared to the newer mixes, and the various accompanying sound effects are nothing special.

EXTRAS:
  • Scene selection/Jump to any scene.
  • Theatrical trailer.
  • COMMENTS:
    The mistaken identity plot has fueled fiction for thousands of years, and while it can serve most any genre, it's usually best suited for comedies, and that's because of the inherent qualities of such character misconceptions and/or ruses. In such stories, characters often purposefully feign being someone else or living a different life for any number of reasons. Conversely, others often mistake the protagonist for someone else, either with or without the protagonist's knowledge.

    Regardless of the scenario, the humor then stems from the person purposefully or accidentally being involved in the ruse or mistake that usually spirals out of control, as well as others' reactions to that in relation to who or what they believe that person to be.

    Such setups can result in outrageous comedy and slapstick material ("Some Like It Hot" and about a gazillion sitcom episodes) or keen and clever observational humor (such as "Being There"). Unfortunately, neither is present in full force in "Company Man," a slight, screwball comedy that starts off with an okay premise and some decent laughs, but quickly disintegrates into a mess of a film.

    Something akin to one of those bad "Saturday Night Live" skit-based films that quickly runs aground long before its over, this film was reportedly sitting on the shelf for some time. Attempting to create something of an old-fashioned, absurd/silly comedy - what with its fantastical plot and heaping helpings of exaggerated overacting - the film unfortunately turns out to be far more annoying and painful than funny.

    Like "Forrest Gump," the film also tries its hand at comedic revisionism by placing its protagonist in or around various historical events such as the Bay of Pigs invasion, some material individually involving J.F.K. and Marilyn Monroe, and even the explanation behind the birthmark stain atop former Premier Gorbachev's noggin.

    While that may sound cute or clever in a Gump type fashion, and there's certainly some inherent potential with which co-writers and directors Peter Askin (wrote the screenplay for Smithereens, directed HBO's "Spic-O-Rama") and Douglas McGrath (director "Emma," co-writer of "Bullets Over Broadway") could have generated some big laughs - especially considering the CIA's real-life, but bizarre attempts at disposing Castro -- that all but disappears after the first third or so of this thankfully short, eighty-some minute film.

    Somewhat like Stanley Tucci's "The Impostors" and Kenneth Branagh's "Love's Labour's Lost," the filmmakers here are trying to evoke an old-fashioned aura and atmosphere from a bygone Hollywood era. While there's something to be said for that and they do indeed achieve that look and feel, the fact that it trips over the line into forced inanity and that audiences haven't seen this sort of goofy story and characters since Woody Allen's early years and Mel Brooks' outrageous comedies, meant a quick trip to the video shelves for this film.

    That said, the picture does get by for a while on its goofy and silly style and demeanor, and there are some fun and funny bits of dialogue. Some of that stems from the grammar instructor turned spy's matter of fact insistence on correcting everyone's grammatical errors in their everyday speech. Although that running gag is nearly run into the ground, it does make for some funny moments, especially when Denis Leary ("The Thomas Crown Affair," "Wag the Dog") is the unhappy recipient of such advice.

    Once the story fully shifts into its pre-Bay of Pigs Cuban locale, however, it starts to unravel and become more forced than inspired and carefree. While McGrath, who also plays the protagonist, is obviously paying back his former mentor (they worked together on "Bullets Over Broadway"), the presence and related shtick on display by Woody Allen ("Manhattan Murder Mystery," "Annie Hall") does nothing for the film. Although one could make the connection to his role in "Bananas," Allen simply retreads his usual neurotic routine that progressively seems more outdated and less funny with each occurrence.

    Purposefully overacted performances by two of the film's talented actors don't help matters. John Turturro ("O Brother Where Art Thou?" "Do the Right Thing") is in full bug-eyed mode as a crazed and manic CIA agent bent on disposing Castro, while Alan Cumming ("Titus," "Goldeneye") puts a flamboyant and effeminate spin on deposed dictator Fulgencio Batista who casually drops names of other famous dictators.

    While some viewers might enjoy and/or find something to like in their performances - which certainly can't be faulted for effort - most everyone else will probably find them more annoying than funny. Meanwhile, Anthony LaPaglia ("The House of Mirth," "One Good Cop") doesn't do much in playing Castro beyond the standard stereotypes.

    As the protagonist, McGrath ("The Insider," "Happiness") delivers a fun, 1950s type earnestness to his role - something akin to an adult cousin or next-door neighbor to all of the wise and seemingly unflappable TV sitcom fathers of the era. While it's not the sort of role or performance that generates huge laughs, it's often amusing until the film falls out from beneath him and becomes too ridiculous for its own good.

    Sigourney Weaver ("Working Girl," the "Alien" films), who recently seems to have returned to the comedy route with "Galaxy Quest," this film and "Heartbreakers," is decent as the high maintenance wife turned spy novel author, but isn't given enough latitude to really run with the character (although she seems to be having a blast playing the character).

    One of those efforts that too often stumbles across the line from being goofy-funny to goofy-painfully stupid, the film has a decent premise, some good early laughs, and gets credit for trying to resurrect a long dead style of cinematic comedy. Yet, it unfortunately loses steam and most of its senses as it progresses, turning what could have been a charming spy caper into a mostly painful mess.

    Company Man is now available for purchase by clicking here.

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