Review of Say It Isn`t So

Introduction

If you thought American Pie or Something About Mary plumbed the depths of bad taste, then prepare to go "ee-flickin`-yuk" at some of the scenes in this Farrelly Brothers-produced gross-out comedy. The blurb on the box isn`t kidding when it`s described as the "nastiest" comedy of the year - if you aren`t offended or grossed-out by this picture then you probably shouldn`t be out in public yourself. Having said that, this is a hysterically funny and above all romantic comedy that will have you cringing and laughing all evening. You just won`t be able to show it to your Auntie Audrey.

Video

An anamorphic 1.85:1 presentation, the picture is next to flawless. Pleasantly colourful in spite of the natural palette of the locations, pictorially there is nothing to complain about. Any movie that includes drop-dead-gorgeous Heather Graham in the cast list is visually blessed in any case.

The extras are produced in 4:3, with sequences from the film letterboxed. There are a few digital artefacts visible in the deleted scenes, but as these are not produced from master-quality material, you can`t complain.

Audio

This is a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix that mostly offers a general ambience surround. It only gets adventurous in certain sequences when it explodes (literally) into startlingly effective life. The extensive musical-library soundtrack utilises the mix nicely without being overpowering.

Features

There`s a Director`s commentary by James B Rogers, a short "making of" featurette (of the sort used on "Box Office America"), five TV spots, the theatrical trailer and no fewer than six deleted scenes. These are presented in 1.85:1 letterbox and material actually in the movie is shown in black and white with the deleted material in colour. Curiously, one deleted scene should have been left in the picture to better explain a later joke and the alternative ending is much more satisfying.

Conclusion

I laughed myself sick. There are a few gags that make you go "oh, that`s nasty", and a few characters you`d love to beat to death with a shovel, but under all the machinations there`s a really charming romantic story and you`ll be rooting throughout for Chris (American Pie) Klein`s hero. You just may never go to the hairdresser`s again...