Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

Mary (Meg Ryan) seems to have it all. Unfortunately, her husband has it all, plus one -- and that one is his super-hot mistress Crystal Allen (Eva Mendes). If that's not bad enough, Mary seems to be the last one to know. That means her friends (Annette Bening, Debra Messing and Jada Pinkett Smith) and even her manicurist (Debi Mazar) got the gossip first. Naturally, Mary washes that man right out of her hair and her life, and goes through a bit of soul searching.
The Women is packed with famous females. However, most don't get much screen time. Also, men may squirm at the title, but it's also very descriptive. After all, the only male faces that ever pop up are extras.

Surprisingly not as painful as it sounds, this film is considered to be a "remake" of the 1936 play and 1939 movie of the same name. However, it seems a little more like an updated homage -- or like Sex and the City without the men or the zingers.

The Picture

Blu-ray is not a friend to any of these women. Now, I know women age; I know this every time I look in the mirror. "This is my face; deal with it," says Annette Bening in the first few minutes. Unfortunately, Meg Ryan can't say the same thing. As with many of her recent films, the plastic surgery outweighs the performance/content. In this case, that may be a good thing.

Aside from the faces, some of the clothing and city shots are also fairly crisp. However, considering this chick flick is chock full of everything from fashion shows to flowers to finger-paints to a climactic birthing scene, the 1.85:1 transfer is kind of bland.

The Sound

Women like choices. Unfortunately, The Women doesn't offer any -- when it comes to audio, anyway. It gives the basics - lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 - which matches the less-than-stellar picture. Unless you need your birthing scenes screeching with lossless sound, it probably doesn't matter anyway. Still, some of the dialogue could have used a little boost.

The Extras

Warner didn't give much consideration when it came to the little things. The box-office take on The Women wasn't that huge, so maybe they didn't think it was worth the effort. Maybe they figure that most Blu-ray geeks looking for extras are men, and wouldn't sit within 200 feet of this release. Still, they did give us the obligatory deleted scenes, as well as two featurettes. One little interesting tidbit that is revealed in one: This is actually a comedy!

Final Thoughts

Considering that the film was written and directed by Murphy Brown creator Diane English, The Women should be a lot smarter -- and funnier. It's nice to see an all-star female cast. Unfortunately, the actresses aren't given much to do in this goofy gimmicky chick flick. The high-def isn't even enough to lure viewers. Stick with the original.

Where to Buy:

• The Women on Blu-ray Disc (Amazon.com)

Product Details

• Actors: Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Carrie Fisher, Cloris Leachman, Debi Mazar, Bette Midler, Candice Bergen
• Director: Diane English
• Audio/Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Subtitles: English
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Rating: PG-13
• Studio: Warner
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: December 21, 2008
• Run Time: 114 minutes
• List Price: $35.99
• Extras: 
  • The Women Behind the Women
  • The Women: The Legacy
  • Additional Scenes