The Woman in Red Blu-ray Review

The AVC encoded image of "The Woman in Red," presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, unfortunately seems to fall short in many respects. The transfer stems from an older scan, resulting in a lack of strong detail – Wilder's expressive face and the picturesque San Francisco settings appear rather soft, while costume textures remain unimpressive. Colors are reasonable but fail to stand out, with skin tones often leaning towards a natural but occasionally overly pink hue. Delineation manages to hold up, albeit minimally, with grain appearing chunky to the point of being borderline noisy.

Dirt and debris are noticeably present on the print throughout the viewing experience, occasionally manifesting in speckle storms that do not escalate to anything severe but are certainly distracting. Despite these flaws, the transfer is devoid of over-processing issues, such as DNR (digital noise reduction), which has been minimally applied if at all. Moreover, digital anomalies like banding and aliasing are virtually non-existent. Even though this results in a transfer that is merely acceptable, it does conjure a reflective glimpse of the film's original 1984 screening experience, minus some of the accumulated dirt. Nevertheless, for an HD presentation, it leaves much to be desired.

The 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio sound mix of "The Woman in Red" effectively manages the film’s mild and nuanced ambiance with consistent clarity and balance. Dialogue exchanges come through confidently, handling both arguments and hushed come-ons with precision. The scoring is supportive, and the soundtrack selections maintain a robust presence, showcasing clean instrumentation. More aggressive urban sound effects and atmospherics are rendered agreeably, contributing to an immersive experience without disruptions such as popping, hissing, or dropouts.

However, there is a notable issue with the overall mix. The dialogue is mixed a few notches lower than the musical soundtrack, which predominantly features Stevie Wonder songs, including the Oscar-winning "I Just Called to Say I Love You." This imbalance leaves viewers with a challenging choice: either crank up the audio to hear the dialogue clearly and risk being overwhelmed by the soundtrack or set the soundtrack at a comfortable level and strain to catch the spoken words. Despite this minor inconvenience, the audio track remains well-rendered. English SDH subtitles are available for those who may need them.

The extras for "The Woman in Red" Blu-Ray are impressively detailed, offering a rich dive into the film's production and contextual background. Film historian Jim Hemphill provides a comprehensive audio commentary, revealing nuanced insights and behind-the-scenes details that considerably enhance understanding and appreciation of the film. His expertise brings to light various homages and subtle references made throughout the movie. Additionally, the inclusion of trailers for other Gene Wilder-directed films adds a nostalgic and expansive look at his directorial works. Though there is no "Play All" option for these trailers, each trailer's individual accessibility remains a notable plus.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: In-depth analysis by film historian Jim Hemphill.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original trailer for "The Woman in Red."
• Trailers: Previews for "The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother" and "Haunted Honeymoon."

Gene Wilder's "The Woman in Red" (1984), an adaptation of the French comedy "Pardon Mon Affaire," showcases his multi-faceted talents as writer, director, and lead actor. The film becomes instantly appealing with its stunning San Francisco locations and a catchy soundtrack driven by Stevie Wonder, especially the memorable hit "I Just Called to Say I Love You." Despite these strengths and its distinguished supporting cast—featuring Charles Grodin, Joseph Bologna, and Gilda Radner—the movie often fails to cohesively merge its elements. The narrative meanders with underdeveloped subplots and technical inconsistencies that disrupt the film’s rhythm. Wilder's vision, though evident, seems scattered, lacking the tighter focus needed to make this semi-farce as compelling as it aspires to be.

The plot revolves around Theodore (Wilder), a mild-mannered ad executive who becomes infatuated with model Charlotte (Kelly LeBrock) after spotting her in a parking garage. Despite being married to a loving wife, Didi (Judith Ivey), and having a family, Theodore’s pursuit of Charlotte drives the film’s comedic arc. The movie humorously depicts Theodore’s clumsy attempts at infidelity, including a subplot involving co-worker Milner (Gilda Radner), who mistakenly believes Theodore is interested in her. While these moments provide some comedic relief, they lack depth, and Theodore often appears insensitive rather than endearingly flawed, which reduces audience empathy.

The film struggles with its identity, juggling between satire on marital temptation, slapstick farce, and conventional comedy without settling on a coherent tone. This lack of focus detracts from the characters' development—many supporting roles are quickly glossed over and abruptly handled. For instance, Joey's (Joseph Bologna) oscillation through relationship troubles lacks emotional impact due to rapid pacing. Additionally, editorial missteps, such as jarring sound effects and mismatched voice dubbing for LeBrock’s character, dampen the viewing experience. Overall, while "The Woman in Red" retains certain charm and humor, it ultimately presents an uneven and scattered narrative that misses its full potential.

"The Woman in Red" Blu-ray offers a mixed experience that treads the line between nostalgic charm and clumsy execution. Gene Wilder leads the cast, capturing the everyman charm he is known for, which helps anchor the film, providing moments of relatable humanity amidst its chaotic narrative. Kelly LeBrock's debut lacks depth but hints at her nascent comedic potential, particularly evident in her later works. The film's attempt to pivot between slapstick comedy, satire, and straightforward narrative results in a disjointed tonal mishmash that somewhat undermines its comedic ambitions. Despite these shortcomings, the inclusion of 80s Stevie Wonder tunes provides an unmistakable period charm that adds to the overall ambiance of the film.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray presentation is competent but unspectacular. The video transfer is clean, preserving the film's original look with reasonable clarity and color accuracy, though it doesn't particularly stand out in high-definition format. Audio quality, while adequate, primarily serves to deliver dialogue clearly and to feature the classic soundtrack effectively. There are no significant issues that detract from the viewing experience, but don’t expect any breakthrough enhancements that exploit modern home theater systems to their fullest capabilities.

As muddled as it is, "The Woman in Red" is not entirely unappealing. Wilder’s performance keeps his character approachable even while he faces moral dilemmas. LeBrock’s understated comic timing and visual appeal bring potential to her role. Notably, the film’s unique cinematic trivia includes being one of the earliest movies to adopt the PG-13 rating, initially permitting more mature content than today’s standards. While it offers sporadic amusement and stylish moments, its inconsistent execution prevents it from achieving lasting impact. It’s worth a rental for die-hard fans of Wilder and LeBrock, alongside a nostalgic appreciation of timeless Stevie Wonder tunes.