Envy (Widescreen Edition)
by Barry Levinson
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Actor: Amy Poehler, Ben Stiller, Christopher Walken, Jack Black, Rachel WeiszDirector: Barry Levinson
Brand: Paramount
Cinematographer: Tim Maurice-Jones
Producer: Barry Levinson
Producer: Josh McLaglen
Producer: Larry David
Producer: Mary McLaglen
Producer: Paula Weinstein
Writer: Steve Adams
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 99 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-09-28
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Dreamworks Video
DVD Reviews of Envy (Widescreen Edition)
DVD Review: Public humiliation on a grand scale...
Summary: 1 Stars
Cliché after cliché after cliché is all I have to say about this film. Creativity was at an all-time low when they decided to make this film. I am surprised that Levinson attached his name to this picture. The story is weak, the characters are dull, and there is not one moment of genius to be found in this film. I was ready for a dark comedy. I knew that this was panned by every critic, so I thought it might be one of those rare finds that Hollywood critics hated, but those interested in film would love. Boy, was I wrong.
Where did this picture go wrong? I would like to start at the beginning (like any good story) and just point out that if you have a character that it unfocused, you do not need to point it out for the viewers. I understood that when Black's character continually mentioned new ideas instead of focusing on the task at hand. I don't need a graph to point out the character flaw. Second, what was the point of Stiller's character? Was he a family man or was he just trying to compete with Black the whole time? This made me think if this "friendship" really did exist. Did Levinson really pull the wool over our eyes by making us think that Stiller was good friends with Black? It is obvious throughout the picture that Black respects Stiller's friendship, but does it work both ways? Hum, something to ponder.
As the film continues, I hope that perhaps we would have secondary characters that help pick up the slack for these main characters, but, sadly, this did not happen. Amy Poehler and Rachel Weisz couldn't have kept this film afloat if they tried. Their moments of glory never happened, which allowed for only one good thing to come of this film (and it really isn't that great), Christopher Walken. He is slowly moving into comedy and he is very good at it, but he should not be used to save the film. I saw that as his sole purpose in this movie, to save the hideous jobs done by Black and Stiller. While I will argue that scripted Stiller is better than ad-lib Stiller, he just couldn't hold himself in this film.
Was it Levinson's direction or was it the story? This is something to consider when watching this film. My feeling was that it was the story. There was just no heart in it. While I did hear rumor that Larry David helped create some of the awkward moments, there was nothing powerful in this story. This is one of the first times that I can honestly fault the story for the negative reaction to this film. It tried for intelligent humor based around a "bathroom" topic. Poehler's secondary story was absurd. Here we have someone fighting for the environment by having rallies at waste centers and living right underneath enormous power lines. I kept waiting for this film to be a bad dream or perhaps a reaction from the radioactive electricity that was floating above them, but it never happened.
Finally, I would like to say that if you are making a movie where a mansion is needed, how about actually using a mansion instead of CGI-ing the house. That was an immediate turn-off for me and just a quick example of the spotty production on this film. What was Levinson thinking? Envy was not like him, and it honestly left me with a bad taste in my mouth for anything Levinson may release next. Where was Wag the Dog? Where was Bandits? It was as if he just threw out anything learned from these films and went back to filmmaking 101 for this movie. Perhaps he had one of his children direct it and he just put his name on it ... the world may never know.
Overall, the stiff performances by two good actors (Stiller and Black) immediately catapulted this film into the "bad" hemisphere. There was nothing redeeming about the story, direction, or other actors that could help bring this film back down. This was a bad movie. From the beginning throughout the unfunny ending credits, Envy just didn't work. I do not recommend this film to anyone unless you are looking for a good night's sleep. It will definitely make your eyes feel heavy to watch.
Grade: * out of *****
Description of Envy (Widescreen Edition)
When one of them becomes mindblowingly quite literally stinking rich by selling an invention a pair of life-long best friends & neighbors (they even work at the same company) finds their bond breaking as the other guy start to go crazy .. With envy. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 05/01/2007 Starring: Ben Stiller Rachel Weisz Run time: 100 minutes Rating: Pg13Bestsellers in DVD
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