The Film
He's crazy and she's crazy -- no really crazy. Benny & Joon is a love story between, well... not Benny (Aidan Quinn) and Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson). They are actually brother and sister. Instead, the object of Joon's affection is Sam (Johnny Depp), and frankly, the two don't seem to have a full deck between them.
They do have a nice connection, though. They both hate the California Raisins (who doesn't?) and enjoy using the iron to make grilled cheese. He does his best Charlie Chaplin in front of the public, and she directs traffic using a snorkel mask. It works because they are both the same kind of weird.
Benny & Joon is a bit predictable and goofy, but it's also goofy in a sweet way and extremely well acted by all three leads. In particular, Depp seems to be drawing on some of his Edward Scissorhands character as Sam, and Masterson is adorable even when she's having a complete breakdown. Also, keep your eyes peeled for a Julianne Moore, Oliver Platt, and a blink-or-you'll-miss-it appearance by William H. Macy.
The Picture
Overall, the image on Benny & Joon is a nice, but slightly mixed, bag. One minute, the film will look pretty sharp; the next, it's sort of soft. Those soft moments are typically during the film's wider shots, but it isn't always limited to those moments. The softness makes the movie seem a little dated. However, so does Johnny Depp's hair. That said, check out some of the dirty faces in the garage and during the poker game, as well as the scene in the park and the bricks at the hospital. The film definitely has a lot of sharpness to it, and fans will appreciate this clean, 1.85:1 transfer.
The Sound
MGM has released another chick flick with a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. It's sort of a shame, because there are some good sound effects popping in those front speakers. It would have been nice to see what this track could do with a full soundfield. That said, this is a dialogue-heavy movie, and that sounds just fine. However, you're going to be bummed when you go to rock out (yes you will!) to The Proclaimers' classic "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)." It just doesn't have that full, dance-worthy sound we were looking for.
The Extras
Don't expect any Johnny Depp commentary here. However, director Jeremiah Chechik does a nice, thorough job explaining the film's production. The "Costume, Make-up Test and Stunt Reel" is definitely worth a peek, showing some interesting behind-the-scenes moments. Last, but not least, if you were wondering why William H. Macy was a blip in this movie, you can catch a little more of him in the deleted scenes.
Final Thoughts
Benny & Joon isn't the best Johnny Depp movie. It's not even the best Mary Stuart Masterson movie. However, the parade of famous faces pretty much makes this one a must-see, especially for rom-com fans. It should be noted that this film isn't a true rom-com, throwing in plenty of quirky curveballs to make you cry, think, and even sing along to a one-hit wonder. Even so, fans of the genre probably count this film as a classic, and shouldn't be disappointed by this solid if not entirely exceptional Blu-ray release.
Product Details
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