Columbia TriStar Home Video presents

I'm With Lucy (2002)

"No date is a waste of time”.- Lucy (Monica Potter)

Stars: Monica Potter, Henry Thomas, David Boreanaz, Julie Christie, Harold Ramis, Anthony LaPaglia, John Hannah, Gael Garcia Bernal
Other Stars: Robert Klein, Craig Bierko, Julie Gonzalo, Julianne Nicholson, Flora Martinez, Marcus Fitzgerald, Austin Lysy
Director: Jon Sherman

Manufacturer: DVSS
MPAA Rating: R for language, sexuality
Run Time: 01h:30m:31s
Release Date: 2003-03-25
Genre: romantic comedy

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
B+	B	A	B	D-

 

DVD Review

To the untrained eye of an average movie goer, Monica Potter is just another actress. However, more astute viewers may notice striking similarities between the 30-something performer and her most popular peer, Julia Roberts. Both share likeable girl-next-door charm, sardonic comedic abilities and terminal cuteness.

Comparisons don't stop there, either.With eyes alternating between monitor and notepad during my initial viewing of Potter's latest I'm With Lucy, more than a few times I found myself shaking my head at how much the two sound alike. This has been more of a detriment to Monica than a blessing, especially when critics accused her of being nothing more than a second rate Roberts (in films like The Very Thought of You and Head Over Heels). If that's not enough to bruise the ego of a working actor, seeing your latest film bypass the multiplex and head directly to video has got to sting. While Lucy won't bring the likening train to a halt, it's an enjoyable slice of romantic fluff aided by a cleverly designed plot and good performances.

Potter is the film's namesake, a New York City writer who's got the world on a string: Employed by one of the nation's top magazines and with a handsome fiancé (Craig Bierko), life couldn't be any sweeter. Until she's unceremoniously dumped inside a crowded elevator and told verbally by her soon-to-be ex that she no longer sexually thrills him. In vaudeville terminology, I guess this is where he gets off.

Nudged back into the singles scene by her sister Jo (Julianne Nicholson) by way of a blind date with a nerdy entomologist (John Hannah), Lucy begins a long road back on the highway of healing. Over the course of the next few months, four additional eligible bachelors enter her life: Gabriel (Gael Garcia Bernal), a quirky, romantic playwright; Bobby (Anthony LaPaglia), a former baseball player finding it hard to adjust to post-game retirement; Miami-based orthopedic surgeon Luke (David Boreanaz); and Barry (Henry Thomas), a computer store manager.

Fifteen minutes into the film, a much happier Lucy in on the verge of marriage. Whoa, did someone forget to change reels for this 91-minute movie? Ah, but this is where filmmaker Jon Sherman really gets our attention. Rather than seeing events unfold chronologically, we shift back and forth between all of these relationships with Lucy finding appealing qualities in all her choices.

Thanks to its unusual shuffle play narrative, Potter's immense likeability and appealing support (especially E.T. vet Henry Thomas in a nice romantic turn and the inspired pairing of Harold Ramis & Julie Christie) as Lucy's parents, I’m With Lucy is a cut above most romantic comedies of late. Second time director Sherman has the sense to know when to cool the gimmicky stuff once our heroine centers in on the finalists for potential soulmate, making for a very entertaining second half.

Rating for Style: B+
Rating for Substance: B

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.85:1 - Widescreen
Original Aspect Ratio	yes
Anamorphic	yes

Image Transfer Review: When it comes to current releases, Columbia is the king of consistency. Pristine, colorful and warm transfer which brings out the best in cinematographer Tom Richmond’s lush location photography. No complaints whatsoever.

Image Transfer Grade: A
 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
Dolby Digital 5.0	English, French	yes

Audio Transfer Review: Typical comedy mix where the center channel does most of the work. Surrounds expand the score and serve as an outlet for ambience and stray sound effects.

Audio Transfer Grade: B 

Disc Extras

Static menu
Scene Access with 28 cues and remote access
Subtitles/Captions in English, French with remote access
1 Original Trailer(s)
2 Other Trailer(s) featuring Stealing Harvard, Maid In Manhattan
Packaging: Amaray
Picture Disc
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: single

Extras Review: With such a varied cast mixed with relative newcomers, fan favorites like Boreanaz and legends like Christie, a Sherman commentary would have been interesting. Instead, we have to make do with the film’s trailer and two other sneak peeks spotlighting current Columbia faves.

Extras Grade: D-
 

Final Comments

In search of a good romantic comedy with an indie-film sensibility? I’m With Lucy is up your alley.

Jeff Rosado 2003-05-29