Tadpole Release Date: July 19, 2002 Starring: Aaron Stanford, Bebe Neuwirth, Sigourney Weaver, Robert Iler, John Ritter Directed by: Gary Winick DVD REVIEW (posted 3/14/03)
Movie:
Disc:
The Movie: This small comedy, part junior sex farce and part New Yorker-style short story, is a delight throughout, albeit a minor and forgettable one. Shot on digital video, it tells the story of Oscar (newcomer Aaron Stanford), a precocious 15-year-old misguidedly determined to spend his Thanksgiving break from prep school seducing his (yipes!) stepmother (Sigourney Weaver). He instead finds himself in bed with (yipes again!) her best friend (Bebe Neuwirth), and much upper-crust hilarity ensues. The film is tight, sharp, and witty, though occasionally a little too pleased with its own sophistication. But if the film teaches us anything, it's that such minor transgressions are easy enough to forgive.
The Disc: Director Gary Winick's commentary is superfluous at best, and there is little other bonus material. The way in which digital video translates to home viewing will interest those following the growth of this young medium, but others may be frustrated by the picture's lack of definition and its washed-out quality, and by the sense of removal these engender.
