DVD of the Week – Be Kind Rewind (2008)
by HELEN GEIB
When I reviewed Be Kind Rewind, I wrote that it was a sweet comedy that celebrates popular art and the importance of community life. I don’t really have anything to add to that summary, and I still think it ought to be enough to convince anyone this movie is worth seeing.
That, and the side-splitting movies within the movie (having suffered through Rush Hour 2 in the theater, I can attest that the Be Kind Rewind remake is waaaay more entertaining than the original, and the Ghostbusters remake is an inspired tribute to a great comedy).
I really, really liked this movie. If you haven’t seen it, go rent it. Now.
The DVD release is bare bones, without any extras except a behind the scenes short feature. The lack of features is particularly surprising for a film that has all the hallmarks of a labor of love by the cast and writer-director Michel Gondry and a story that revolves around the magic of moviemaking. The publicity website for the film’s release had more features than this DVD. I suspect either a total lack of studio confidence, or a special edition in the works.
Original Commentary Track review of Be Kind Rewind by Helen Geib.
Other new releases this week: The Bucket List, Funny Games, Jumper, The Other Boleyn Girl, Witless Protection
How did you get this movie so soon? I thought it was being released on the 17th, or am I as usual sorely mistaken?
Hm, you may have the more up to date info. I don’t actually have the disc in hand; in making these weekly picks, I use a website that purports to provide accurate listings of new theatrical releases and new DVD releases. (It’s usually quite reliable!) Well, if I jumped the gun on this one, there’s no harm in stoking anticipation for this great title.
Yeah, you’d really expect more features, even though I don’t think this did as well as they wanted it to. I liked it a lot and I think it had an important message behind it.