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A Case of You Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Justin Long, Evan Rachel Wood, Vince Vaughn, Brendan Fraser, Sam Rockwell
  • Director: Kat Coiro
  • Format: Blu-ray, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: Unrated
  • Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
  • Release Date: February 4, 2014
  • Run Time: 91 minutes


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            Every aspect of A Case of You reads like a first draft screenplay which places all of its chips on a solitary clever idea, but the unwillingness to follow that premise through with believable character choices leaves us with a protagonist that comes off as creepy and insecure and a romantic interest who is either self-absorbed or just plain stupid. This is unfortunate, because a bit more work in the screenwriting phase or clearer direction from the three writers may have made for an engaging and socially relevant romantic comedy. Instead, we are given a half-baked idea and characters that seem intentionally oblivious as the only means to propel the story forward in the desired direction.

     

            Sam (Justin Long) works as a writer adapting films into novelized form, which is one of those jobs that any struggling writer would be extremely grateful for, but A Case of You uses this as a movie cliché for our protagonist’s crippling self-esteem issues. Sam has so little faith in himself that he is unable to even accomplish the simple task of asking out a young barista in the predictably hip coffee shop where he makes his unoriginal attempt at being a serious novelist. Birdie (Evan Rachel Wood) doesn’t even reject Sam, but merely ends their friendly conversation to help another customer. Unable to take the leap and ask her out, Sam instead begins obsessively memorizing her Facebook profile in an attempt to trick Birdie into believing he is her perfect man.

     

            Not only is this behavior extremely creepy, Sam’s behavior while pathetically attempting to be Birdie’s ideal man is far from believable. The fact that Birdie puts up with his false demeanor and contrived personality is a huge setback in the logic of the plot, and one which the screenwriters never truly try and negotiate with any honesty. Unfortunately, this makes Birdie a one-dimensional character with no real depth or insight, which feeds right into the negatively possessive manner with which Sam attempts to trick her into falling for him. Sam comes off as a stalker trying to gain ownership of a cute girl he has nothing in common with, and the portrayal of Birdie as an object to be owned is never addressed.

     

            The Blu-ray release includes interviews and a trailer. A Case of You also includes supporting actors Peter Dinklage and Brendan Fraser, both wasted in flashy supporting roles that have no real purpose beyond a few forced laughs.

           

    Entertainment Value: 7.5/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 5/10

    Historical Significance: 2/10

    Disc Features: 3/10

     

     

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