The scene is New York's Grand Central Station, and a lost, very
pregnant 18 year-old girl, Connie Doyle (Ricki Lake), receives train
tickets from an angelic bum. It appears to be fate, and Connie blindly
boards the train where she meets another couple expecting a child. But
the train crashes, and the couple dies. When Connie awakens, she's
adorned by flowers in a hospital room, and the authorities think she's
the now-deceased expectant mother...and heir to a family fortune! Soon
escorted to a huge mansion ("Nice digs " she says), street-
smart Connie quickly takes advantage of this situation. But living a
lie results in many pitfalls into misunderstandings, and let the
screwball comedy ensure...
Perhaps it would have been easier to
suspend disbelief reading Cornell Woolrich's source novel "I
Married A Dead Man," but Phoef Sutton's crackpot script is,
well... in the twilight zone. The sheer means with which Connie is
brought into this rich family by mistaken identity is laughable -
through a train wreck!? It's just too highly implausible. First of
all, it's difficult to believe the family had never met the expectant
mother prior to the accident. Second, the shrewd mother-in-law,
(Shirley MacLaine) clearly has a keen antennae for foul play, but is
all too easily charmed by and welcomes clunky Connie with open arms,
thus, taking the Cinderella role as the "Fairy Godmother."
Nice idea, but MacLaine is just too smart for the role. Third, and
worst of all, Ricki Lake's body language and worry-wrinkled brow
screams "I'm not her! I'm Connie Doyle." And the fact that
that one phrase - the truth - is the hinge this film hangs on leaves
the plot full of more holes than Swiss cheese. But then again,
Ii still liked the film. Sure, it's a manipulative plot device, but
Connie and the family's gimmicky charms are endearing. Sure, its silly
plot, but this is little more than a fluffy "girlie" film
with a tone as nonthreatening as any Disney kiddie ride. I also liked
the warm, lovely score by Patrick Doyle, the sharp framing by director
Richard Benjamin, and some playful and warm photography by Alex
Nepomniaschy. And perhaps most subtle was Jacqueline Cambas and
William Fletcher's rhythmic editing, which keeps the pace snappy and
the rhythms on target.
And it must be said that the
earnest performances certainly saved the film, and would we really see
such a puff piece otherwise? MacLaine dresses to the nines in dashing
style - her character used to be on Broadway, you know - and she's
warmer than I've seen her in a while. Her son and potential suitor
Bill, played by the towering Brendon Fraser, looks nothing like
MacLaine, but what the hell, his goofy mannerisms are charming. And
Ricki Lake has to carry the film, and I thought she was fine if
sophmorish. Some scenes stop dead due to her lack of comedic timing
(watch the dumb way she finishes her soup at the dinner table), but
like fellow talk show host Oprah Winfrey, Lake is generally
comfortable on screen, Mrs. Winterbourne is not a great film, but a
fun diversion to get lost in some lazy afternoon.
Video: How Does The Disc Look?
Remastered in high
definition and downconverted for this new 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen
transfer, Mrs. Winterbourne looks terrific. Colors are sharp, vivid
and always pleasing, and fleshtones appear very natural. Interior
scenes fare especially well with discernible gradations and excellent
contrast. Blacks are very deep and shadow detail strong, giving the
film a nice depth and three-dimensional appearance. Conversely, some
evening scenes in the third act are very grainy with faded blacks, and
there was one scene where Lake and Fraser are walking down a cobble
stone street where the whites bloom. Otherwise, the print is in
excellent shape with just a few blemishes to distract, and edge
enhancement and artifacts are minimal at best. Overall, a very nice,
presentation.
The other side of this double-sided disc presents
the film in pan and scan, with a bit of the sides noticeably sliced
off and heavier grain. Stick with the widescreen, and it's commendable
that Columbia provides both versions to whet all appetites.
Audio: How Does the Disc Sound?
The audio is
presented in 5.1 Dolby Digital, and is quite a surprise. Dynamic range
is very wide with rich and smooth bass taking nice advantage of the .1
LFE channel. Highs sound very natural and warm even in the highs, and
the stereo separation among the front channels is quite expansive and
full. Surrounds are engaged often and split while supporting the front
with pleasing sidewall imaging. Surround effects are used gently but
frequently, and Patrick Doye's music is full and pleasing, though a
tad strong in some sections. Dialogue is always comprehensible and
natural. This mix bucks the odds against the typically bland romantic
comedy mix with an enveloping, experience.
A 2.0 stereo French
mix is also included as well as English Closed Captions, and English,
French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Thai and Portuguese subtitles.
Supplements: What Goodies Are There?
No supplements
are included, not even a trailer.
DVD-ROM Exclusives: What
do you get when you pop the disc in your PC?
No ROM extras
have been included.
Parting Thoughts
Mrs.
Winterbourne is a cute little film with earnest performances, although
the goofy plot couldn't hold water. The video transfer is very good
looking and the audio surprisingly rich, which in my book that can
sometimes compensate for lack of extras, especially on a film as
slight as this. Fans should be impressed with the quality of this DVD,
though others may want to check it out a as a rental first.
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