She's Out of My League Blu-ray offers solid video and audio in this enjoyable Blu-ray release
Kirk, an average Joe, can't believe his luck. Though he's stuck in a dead-end job as an airport security agent, against all odds Molly, a successful and outrageously gorgeous babe falls for him. Kirk is stunned and so are his friends, family and even his ex-girlfriend. Now he has to figure out how to make the relationship work, even though he's the first to admit, She's Out of My League.
You're plenty good enough for me, you were just never good enough for you.
Such a tricky bunch, those screenwriters. "There has to be a way," they must have once thought,
"to get guys more involved, more attuned, and more willing to go see a Romantic Comedy." Then,
somewhere, a lightbulb lit up over someone's head. Literally. Because that's how those things
work, dontcha know. "Let's turn the tables on the genre, and instead of putting the emphasis on
the girl's point of view, let's switch it around and make the same sort of movies, only with the
guy's story playing front and center!" And voila. The male-centric Chick Flick was born. Of course,
they still needed to iron out the details. Would Brad Pitt star in all of these movies? Or would guys
rather see some average Joe -- hey, someone just like that dude back there in the next to last
row! -- up on the screen, someone that's not an international sex icon but rather someone a bit
more relatable, someone that the men in the audience could actually bond with and believe in,
leaving the theater thinking that they, too, just might someday find the girl of their dreams, even
if
they are too skinny, too fat, drive a dull car, work a routine job, still live with their parents, play too
many video games, read too many reviews at Blu-ray.com, or wear the same underwear for
several days straight (hey, how dirty can they get during a nine-hour Call of Duty gaming
session or while watching a "Star Trek: The Next Generation" marathon on TV?). Lo and
behold, a formula was born: average guy gets hot girl with a little help from his friends and a
sprinkling of Hollywood magic, and surprise, the genre works. She's Out of My League is
the latest movie about a nobody that has a chance with the hottest girl in town, and while there
are no surprises here (are there ever in a movie like this?), the movie's a fun little diversion that's
well-made, has characters worth cheering for, and is quite a bit of fun to watch.
What's for dessert?
Everyman Kirk (Jay Baruchel) works a dead-end job as a Pittsburgh International Airport security
agent alongside his three friends, Stainer (T.J. Miller), Jack (Mike Vogel), and Devon (Nate
Torrence).
He's mourning the break-up with his girlfriend Marnie (Lindsay Sloane) when an opportunity of a
lifetime
presents itself: an attractive young woman named Molly (Alice Eve) passes through his security
checkpoint but accidentally leaves her phone behind. Kirk finds it and fields a call from Molly's
friend Patty (Krysten Ritter) and sets a date to return the phone to Molly upon her return to
Pittsburgh at a party held at the
Andy Warhol Museum. Much to Kirk's surprise, Molly's interested in
a second date, and all of a sudden an average Joe finds himself in a relationship with a girl that's
described by his friends as a perfect "10." Though the relationship seems to be going well, Kirk
struggles with his self-esteem, always wondering how a guy like him ended up with a girl like Molly.
Can Kirk make it work, or will Molly suddenly realize that she can do better and seek out another
guy who's more physically attractive than he?
She's Out of My League plays things pretty straight; there's nothing really new here, at
least nothing new enough that separates the movie from the pack, but it does everything right
and finds a good balance between several elements that make it a fun -- but not exactly
wholesome -- time at the movies. The picture is predictable but not to a fault; when it goes
through the motions -- the ups and downs of the unlikely relationship -- it comes expectedly with
the requisite resolutions to each problem, but She's Out of My League rises above the level
of the "passably mundane" by developing each of its primary and most of its
secondary characters to a point that it's easy to overlook any structural predictabilities or
deficiencies because it's so easy
to root for the relationship and, more importantly, the characters involved. One reason why the
film works as well as it does is because it makes even the "10" -- the Molly character -- into a real
person, a friendly girl who's not stuck on herself, who doesn't think she's better than anyone else,
who sees people for who they are on the inside, and is not obsessive over the superficial. She's
attractive, yes, but she doesn't look like a
supermodel; she's never caked in makeup but instead has a sweet girl-next-door charm that helps
the film and the relationship depicted in it to work within the context of the story. On the flip side
is
Jay Baruchel's character, Kirk, who encapsulates the "everyman" wonderfully. Baruchel makes it
absurdly easy to root for his character because he's so good at being just another guy. No doubt
about it, it's the characters, and the leads in particular, that allow She's Out of My League
to rise above the crowd.
Fortunately, She's Out of My League also works beyond its characters. The film's dialogue
is nicely balanced between outrageously funny jokes and plenty of softer scenes that offer a more
heartfelt sincerity that results in a film that stands on a pretty even keel. Although the picture is
littered with four-letter words, She's Out of My League never feels like it's all that dirty.
Characters have some potty mouths to be sure, but the film's underlying sweetness, strong
characterization, and good performances mask the raunchier elements and accentuate the story.
The film never feels like a string of jokes crudely placed into some bigger frame at the last minute;
this is a solid picture that's been well-conceived from the beginning to allow everything to work in
harmony towards the greater good. Technically, the film benefits from its Pittsburgh setting; the
city is used to fine effect in several nice-looking backdrops (not to mention an extended scene at a
Penguins game and a fly-by of PNC Park) and, frankly, it's a relief to watch a movie like this that
isn't set in New York. Director Jim Field Smith doesn't do anything nifty with the camera, but he
seems to realize that there's a good story, great characters, and some qualified actors to bring it to
life, and he's content to simply let it all play out in front of him. There's something to be
said for a more artistic style, but there's also something to be said for a more routine visual
scheme, and She's Out of My League certainly benefits from a director that knows what
his material needs to work. Hopefully he'll be behind the camera for another movie like this in the
future.
Paramount brings She's Out of My League to Blu-ray with a good 1080p,
2.35:1-framed transfer. Typical of modern Comedies, the image sports a warm appearance that gives
flesh tones a slightly orange tint. Nevertheless, the film's palette is pleasing to the eye, and brighter
shades such as green grasses or the blue water in a backyard swimming pool are noticeably
handsome. The
transfer also reveals good detailing throughout the movie, whether more obvious elements such
as seams in jackets and the texture of cloth furniture, or in more intricate background visuals, such as
the roughness of the pavement outside the airport or small scuffs seen on a wall during a basement
hockey game. Still, some surfaces, particularly faces, can look fairly flat. The image rarely goes soft,
for the most part remaining delightfully sharp and sporting a good sense of
depth in many scenes. Blacks are borderline excellent; darker scenes aren't quite as revealing as they
might otherwise be, but there are never instances of blacks appearing too bright or otherwise
unnatural. This is another in a growing list of attractive new releases from Paramount; it doesn't rival
the format's best, but it's a stable, good-looking transfer that does the material proud.
She's Out of My League arrives on Blu-ray with a good all-around DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless
soundtrack. Obviously, this isn't a powerhouse Action film, but the track handles every element with
ease, whether the uptempo music heard throughout or several more potent effects that find their way
into the track. The film opens with a rich and full musical presentation that boasts a good surround
support structure. Deep bass is evident during a party scene in chapter four, and the rumbling of a
jet engine flying overhead and a hit along the boards at a Penguins
hockey game both rattle the soundstage, delivering convincing sonic elements into an otherwise
talk- and music-heavy film.
Background ambience rarely disappoints; chatter and intercom announcements heard in the airport
scenes, for instance, are nicely reflective of a real-life environment. Imaging is solid, too, with a
backyard pool scene delivering the sound of gently
rolling water spreading out all across the front half of the listening area for a nicely convincing
moment. Rounded out by trouble-free dialogue reproduction, She's Out of My League scores
highly with a quality Blu-ray soundtrack.
She's Out of My League debuts on Blu-ray with a short but fan-friendly collection of special
features. First up is an audio commentary track with Director Jim Field Smith. This is a fairly
cut-and-dry commentary, one that's informative but not a must-listen. The director covers most of
the bases,
speaking on the performances of the cast, the process of shooting in several different locales including
a real security checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport, the intricacies of the story, the
complexities of several scenes, and plenty more. It's a good track for the style of movie, and Smith
carries it well. Devon's Dating Show! (1080p, 7:28) features film characters Devon and Dylan
discussing the intricacies of dating. Also included is a blooper reel (1080p, 6:20) and collection of four
deleted scenes
and one extended ending, all with optional director commentary (1080p, 3:33).
She's Out of My League shows viewers the other side of the Romantic Comedy
ledger, focusing on the guys rather than the girls, and the result is a movie that both sexes should
enjoy. It's high energy, well-paced, reservedly yet smartly directed, and most importantly, it's built
around characters that are likable, making it easy to root for the relationship to work. Funny,
well-acted, relatable, and downright fun to watch, She's Out of My League is a keeper.
Paramount's Blu-ray release of She's Out of My League might not be a perfect 10, but it's an
easy six or seven. Featuring a strong 1080p transfer, a good lossless soundtrack, and an average
collection of extras, genre fans or men looking for a good date movie that they won't despite would be
smart to check this one out. Recommended.
Paramount Home Entertainment has announced the Dreamworks SKG production She's Out of My League for release on Blu-ray on June 22. This R-rated romantic comedy, about a decidedly average guy who can't believe his luck when a successful and gorgeous girl falls for ...
