I Heart Huckabees DVD Review:

Eco-campaigner Albert Markovski (Schwartzman) is troubled by a coincidence and can’t figure out the hidden meaning behind it. He decides to hire an existential detective team to investigate his coincidence but as Bernard (Hoffman) and Vivian (Tomlin) start to look into his inner self, he becomes involved in an open spaces issue that is about to spiral into a quest for enlightenment.

Director David O. Russell looks into the existential side of comedy but will it have the enlightenment to make you laugh?

‘I Heart Huckabees’ is one of the strangest comedies you will ever see but you just can’t help been intrigued by it. The whole premise is bordering on insanity as each scene becomes weirder than the last. The film deals with every type of emotion and throws in some extreme philosophical theories throughout, getting to a point that it deals with the meaning of life itself. While this may sound heavy going and it is in parts, David O. Russell and his cast present the concepts in a fun and extremely entertaining manner.

David O. Russell has gathered together an excellent ensemble cast to bring you this quirky comedy. The always-excellent Jason Schwartzman continues to make interesting career choices, proving again that he is one of the most talented up and coming actors working in Hollywood today. There is just something endearing and unbelievably quirky about him and the characters he plays. As he did in Wes Anderson’s ‘Rushmore’, he plays a character consumed by his own feeling of self. Albert is intrigued by a coincidence and wants to know it’s meaning but this is only the start of something much greater and life changing. This is another great character for Schwartzman’s talents to explore. Dustin Hoffman and Lilly Tomlin are the perfect choices to play existential detectives Bernard and Vivian. With their unique investigatory techniques, they follow their clients around, documenting their entire lives and offering way on which to find true enlightenment. Hoffman and Tomlin excel in these roles delivering their existential advice and theories with ease and skill. Mark Wahlberg moves away from his usual big budget Hollywood fair to show that he is actually a talented actor as Albert’s existential sponsor Tommy. He is also someone trying to find his true place on Earth and stop his excessive risk taking and violence as a fire fighter. This is a role that shows again that there is more to Wahlberg than just his Hollywood leading man persona.

Jude Law and Naomi Watts bring even more class to the production as the faces of the Huckabees Superstore chain Brad Stand and Dawn Campbell. Both of them are consumed by consumerism and the pursuit of profit and all the finer things in life. This all changes after Brad tries to steal Albert’s existential detectives on spite but for them to reveal things about Dawn and him that would make him look at his life in a completely different way. Isabelle Huppert is existential detective rival Caterine Vauban, who proceeds to try and steal Bernard and Vivian’s clients with her alternative, proactive take on existential theories.

‘I Heart Huckabees’ could be seen as director David O. Russell been slightly overindulgent and this is a story and a group of characters that might seem excessive and far removed from reality but this is what makes the movie all watchable and enjoyable. Some may find it far too over the top to enjoy but this is a movie that has a lot to say and you can’t help but listen. With theories on life and the world we live in, this is a movie that will make you think as you enjoy the excellent cast clearly enjoy every minute of their experience on the film.

Star Rating = * * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen with a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack, this is an excellent transfer. The crystal clear picture brings this existential world to life and the sound enhances the experience superbly.

BONUS MATERIAL

Commentary by director David O. Russell

The director of ‘I Heart Huckabees’ gives you his own opinion on the film and his place in the universe. Revealing his own thoughts on the plot and the characters, he talks extensively about the actors and how he wrote the characters with most of them in mind. He discusses the look of the film and the limited colour pallet imposed on the film. This is an interesting and informative commentary from a man who knows a lot about film.

Commentary by David O. Russell, Jason Schwartzman, Mark Wahlberg and Naomi Watts

This fun and very chatty commentary takes you behind the scenes of the making of the movie. Filled with back stage gossip and the director and cast insights into the story, cast and characters this is a very good and slightly goofy track, much like the film.

I Heart Huckabees Production Doc (34.40 mins)

Director David O. Russell, Jason Schwartzman, Dustin Hoffman, Jude Law, Lilly Tomlin, Mark Wahlberg, Naomi Watts and Isabelle Huppert come together to take you behind the scenes of ‘I Heart Huckabees’. Filmed by the cast and friend Spike Jonze, the documentary highlights the fun the cast had while filming the movie. The cast talk about how they got involved with the project, their characters and what they think of the existential story. It is also your chance to see Dustin Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman and Jude Law as you’ve never seen them before.

Extended and Deleted Scenes (17.56 mins)

Entitled ‘The waiting room’, ‘The Jaffes at Brad and Dawn’s’, ‘Caterine and Albert investigate the Jaffes’, ‘Tommy discovers suffering and cruelty’ and ‘What happens in the meadow at dusk (break dancing), these extended or deleted should have been accompanied by a commentary track or introduction, as some of them are very good.

Outtakes (3.17 mins)

Entitled ‘Tommy’s ADR line’, ‘Dennis Hayes gets pushed’, ‘Tommy shoves Brad’, ‘Caterine “Don’t be fooled’ and ‘Elevator fight’, this collection of outtakes shows the fun the cast and crew had on the set.

Miscellaneous things people did on set (4.31 mins)

A montage of footage from behind the scenes as we see the high jinx from the set.

Infomerical, commercials and PSAS (3.53 mins)

For Huckabees commercials and six PSAS for the ‘Open Spaces Coalition’

Photo Montage (3.41 mins)

A collection of behind the scenes and publicity images from ‘I Heart Huckabees’ accompanied by the music of Jon Brion

Jon Brion brings it to the Huckabees (13.27 mins)

Director David O. Russell and composer Jon Brion take you behind the scenes of the recording of the music and score for ‘I Heart Huckabees’.

Jon Brion’s ‘Knock yourself out’ Music Video (2.04 mins)

Jason Schwartzman and mark Wahlberg star in the promotional music video for the movie.

Infomercial (28.50 mins)

Vivian and Bernard Jaffe and guest discuss the reality and our place in the universe in this mock-infomercial promoting their existential detective service. This is just as strange and bizarre as the movie and just as fun.

Trailers

Previews of Taxi, Sideways, Flight of the Phoenix, House of Flying Daggers and Kingdom of Heaven

OVERALL

With every film they release, Fox seem to put a hell of a lot of effort into their DVDs. The release of ‘I Heart Huckabees’ is another fine example of how a DVD should be put together. Filled with absolute gems for the fans such as the brilliant ‘Infomercials’ and the TV spots for the ‘Open Spaces Coalition’, this is a much buy for David O. Russell aficionados.



Jamie Kelwick