Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

People either love or hate Dane Cook. Well, he certainly won't win fans as Tank, the most despicable of many miserable characters in My Best Friend's Girl. In fact, Tank is so disgusting that guys actually pay him to date their ex-girlfriends. He then does everything in his power to repulse each woman, so they run back into the awaiting arms of each ex. Maybe he should just show them a copy of My Best Friend's Girl.

However, there is a plot: Best friend Dustin (Jason Biggs) asks Tank to do that voodoo that he does so well with semi-girlfriend Alexis (Kate Hudson). Alexis, who wants to play the field, is more than willing to hook up with this jerk -- why? Because every character in this movie is a total loser.

Never have we seen such a loathsome bunch of characters. Dustin is a nice guy/stalker. Alexis is a prude when it comes to the guy that loves her, but thinks so little of herself that she jumps all over Tank -- who, of course, is the jerkiest of all the jerks in the movie.

Also, there is a lot of gratuitous swearing. That sort of thing never bothers me, but this film might have more profanity than Pulp Fiction -- and I'm not even counting the word "clamburger."

Still, the film is not without a few chuckles. Alec Baldwin is always entertaining, although completely wasted in a part that lasts only minutes. Also, the montages of Tank being Tank are pretty amusing. However, we're guessing most viewers expecting a cutesy Kate Hudson rom-com will find those few minutes nauseating.

The Picture

Presented in the 1.78:1 format, the transfer isn't anything to blow 40 bucks on. However, it's not really the type of movie that calls for spectacular scenery. Still, this is Blu-ray, so something has got to look good, right? The scenes of Boston are vivid, just like you are there on the street corners. However, those are few and far between. Facial details are great, too. Aside from that, the climactic wedding scene (it's not who you think) also has a good amount of color and detail.

The Sound

We have to wonder why so many Blu-ray Discs are released with a 5.1 soundtrack, yet this one got the 7.1 DTS-HD treatment. It doesn't seem to really know how to use it. The dialogue sounds great, but the technology doesn't do much for the rest of the sound, except during the film's many classic rock tracks.

The Extras

This release is chock full of extras, assuming you are a glutton for punishment. Most notable are "A to Z: Professor Turner's Sexist Rating System" for its few extra minutes of Baldwin, and "Back to Boston, Where it All Began." However, the latter really comes off more as what a favorite son Cook is to Beantown, than an actual look at the location.

Final Thoughts

I often confuse this movie with the Meg Ryan vehicle, My Mom's New Boyfriend. Maybe that's because they are both equally bad. Cook's character is described as "the world's biggest a-hole." I'd like to give that title over to the guy that tried to pass this off as a romantic comedy.

Where to Buy:

• My Best Friend's Girl on Blu-ray Disc (Amazon.com)

Product Details

• Actors: Dane Cook, Kate Hudson, Jason Biggs, Lizzy Caplan, Alec Baldwin
• Director: Howard Deutch
• Audio/Languages: 7.1 DTS HD Master Audio (English), 5.1 Dolby Digital (French)
• Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 2
• Rating: R
• Studio: Lions Gate
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: January 13, 2009
• Run Time: 112 minutes
• List Price: $39.99
• Extras:
  • Audio commentary with actor Jason Biggs, writer Jordan Cahan and producer Gregory Lessans
  • Audio commentary with director Howard Deutch
  • Making it in Beantown: Back to Boston, Where It All Began
  • The Cast's Guide to Dating
  • A to Z: Professor Turner's Sexist Rating System
  • The Prom: A Teen Rite of Passage
  • The Tanking Game
  • Deleted/Extended Scenes
  • Digital Copy