In and Out on PAL Laserdisc

Dom Robinson reviews

In & Out An out-and-out comedy. Distributed by

Paramount

• Cert:
• Cat.no: PHE 8111
• Running time: 87 minutes
• Year: 1997
• Pressing: 2001
• Region(s): 2, PAL
• Chapters: 28 plus extras
• Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
• Languages: English, French
• Subtitles: English, Dutch, French
• Widescreen: 1.78:1
• 16:9-Enhanced: Yes
• Macrovision: Yes
• Disc Format: DVD 9
• Price: £19.99
• Extras: Trailer
  

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  Director:

  Frank Oz

  (Bowfinger, The Dark Crystal, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Housesitter, In & Out, The Indian in the Cupboard, Little Shop of Horrors, The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Score, Ump, What About Bob?)

Producer:

Scott Rudin

Screenplay:

Paul Rudnick

Music:

Marc Shaiman

Cast:

Howard Brackett: Kevin Kline
Emily Montgomery: Joan Cusack
Cameron Drake: Matt Dillon
Berniece Brackett: Debbie Reynolds
Frank Brackett: Wilford Brimley
Tom Halliwell: Bob Newhart
Peter Malloy: Tom Selleck

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The first film ever to be based on an Oscar-acceptance speech, delivered by Tom Hanks and it’s hard to imagine that a farce as banal and predictable as this could ever be green-lighted. But then it’s in the hands of Frank Oz, who some may know best as the voice of Yoda in the Star Wars films, but when he gets behind the camera he directs some of the most uninspired and unfunny movies ever created including Housesitter, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and the Little Shop of Horrors remake.

When actor Cameron Drake (Matt Dillon) wins the Best Actor award for his role in a gay war film his thanks go far and wide including his teacher Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline), the revelation of Howard being gay surprising not only him but also his fiancee Emily (Joan Cusack) and eventually his parents (Debbie Reynolds & Wilford Brimley).

As the time nears to their wedding everyone overacts and the obvious things happen – The Village People are the first thing Howard hears on the radio in the morning, he dances to a remix of I Will Survive and every motion, every nuance makes him appear gay despite his protestations to the contrary and despite the advances of supposed investigative TV reporter Peter Malloy (Tom Selleck).

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There’s an overall look of grain throughout the film, affecting indoor scenes more than outdoor, which is presented in an anamorphic 1.78:1 (16:9) widescreen ratio. The average bitrate is a high 6.52Mb/s, often peaking over 9Mb/s.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack doesn’t particularly excel in comedies like this so don’t expect for anything out of the ordinary. Dialogue comes in English and French.

The only extra is a 2-minute 4:3 fullscreen Trailer, but there are a decent number of chapters with 28 to its count. Subtitles come in 3 languages: English (and hard of hearing), Dutch and French. The menus are silent and static.

FILM CONTENT
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS


OVERALL Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2001.