Review of Dummy

Introduction

It`s been nearly twelve months now, since Adrien Brody triumphantly hoisted an 11-inch balding golden mannequin for his role in The Pianist. Ironically, in 2001 he acted opposite a rather different mannequin in Dummy. Milla Jovovich, who deserves not only an Oscar but canonisation for making red hair look sexy in The Fifth Element, also stars in Dummy, which gives me two reasons to watch this film. On the other hand, this film is about ventriloquism, an `art`-form that ranks a smidgen above mimes and clowns in my estimation. When I was a kid, Keith Harris and Orville just freaked me out, and Roger de Corsey and Nookie Bear probably left me needing therapy. Oh well, it`s a risk I have to take to review Dummy.

Steven is your typical Jewish son, introverted and unassuming, living with his sister and parents at age thirty, and stuck in a disenchanting job. Of course that`s when he decides to pursue his dream and become a ventriloquist, so he quits his job and buys a little wooden friend to practise with. While his family aren`t exactly supportive, at least his best friend Fangora, a brash and loud aspiring punk singer, is there to encourage him. When he goes to the employment offices he is instantly attracted to Lorena, his employment counsellor, and despite his shy nature and better instincts, relies on Fangora`s unique outlook to advise him on matters of the heart. That of course is less than successful, but rather than give up, he turns to the only other available source for advice, the dummy.

Video

Dummy has a 4:3 aspect ratio. For a 2001 film that`s more than suspect, confirmed when I saw the trailers (online only as this is a bare bones disc.) had a 1.85:1 ratio. Not that I really needed the confirmation as the film is cropped to the worst degree. I get the feeling that there hasn`t been any attempt at panning and scanning, and just the central image has been chosen and cropped for the whole movie. Consequently, many scenes are missing characters or action. Occasional scenes often have two characters conversing, and you can see only the barest hint of their presence. When Steven first meets Lorena, the camera stays on Lorena, but Steven`s reaction is completely lost in the area that is cropped.

For what it`s worth, the image is clear and sharp enough, with just a hint of grain, and a little bit of print damage.

Audio

The sound comes in a DD 2.0 English soundtrack, once again strange in a film that has the Dolby Digital logo in the end credits. The sound is acceptable for the most part, and most of the dialogue is clear. Some of the ventriloquism could use subtitles though, sadly absent from this disc.

Also at 44:25 on the test disc, there was a brief burst of static.

Features

The front screen has two options, Play or Chapters, of which there are six. I`m assuming you get a case.

Conclusion

Someone please spare me from the stereotypical Jewish family. Overbearing and pushy mother, eccentric father whose sole contribution is "Listen to your mother", son who is the apple of the family`s eye and can do no wrong, and a daughter who is constantly belittled and criticized. It`s the Geller family from Friends. In fact it`s every other family in US sitcom land. It`s a tired worn-out hackneyed cliché that makes me want to bang my head against the nearest wall in frustration.

Dummy is one of those heartfelt American movies about pursuing your dreams and never giving up hope, which gets made on a regular basis. Give up your job and be a ventriloquist, why be a wedding planner when you can sing? It`s so apple pie! But Dummy is mildly amusing, and diverting enough for 90 minutes. It`s never offensive, and if it weren`t for the profanity it could be a family film. The gags are witty and raise an occasional chuckle, as does Steven`s (Adrien Brody) ineptitude at socialising. Milla Jovovich is the bright spot as the irreverent Fangora whose powers of persuasion and forthrightness is a nice contrast to the neuroses of the rest of the cast. The ventriloquism, despite my qualms actually works well in this film, I must admit one of the funniest moments was the ventriloquism school, and the way that the dummy became Steven`s alter ego, and even therapist was movingly done. It`s a shame that more wasn`t made of that aspect in the film. Also funny was the running theme of stalkers. Steven`s sister had a stalker, and Steven inadvertently became one when he took Fangora`s advice regarding Lorena, and… well I don`t want to spoil the ending.

Dummy is one of those lightweight comedies that are instantly forgettable. Never really ascending above the average, it may raise a smile or two, but not much else. The disc isn`t helped by the cropped image, or the bare bones nature. I couldn`t really see anything here that presaged Brody`s Oscar triumph, but at least if the acting gig doesn`t work out he has the ventriloquism to fall back on.