2000 was the year that Jerry Bruckheimer took a break from explosions (except of course in the universally panned GONE IN 60 SECONDS that people defend like their young) and made some smaller film.
Remember the Titans made enough money to start a football franchise and this little tease made a tidy sum as well. It just goes to show that the uber-producer knows how to make money for a studio like there's no tomorrow.
Can't fault him there. You CAN fault him a little on how formulaic the films are, but they fill a need. A need for audiences to be entertained even though the product is unlikely to leave any kind of long term impression. I had another guy review this for me on my movie site because I was really not in any shape to unload both barrels into a film. The year was so bad and the last thing I needed was more.
So I waited.
I'm glad I did. Here's why....
As appetizing as any menu I've seen.
The Movie
I have restrained myself from using a cheap "Blow" joke here.
In the same vein as Flashdance, one of the films that launched Bruckheimer's career comes Coyote Ugly. It's the tale of a young girl who leaves her roots behind to succeed in the big bad music industry in the big bad apple known as NYC. Of course, she gets a wake-up call (in extremely generic fashion) of the horrors of the aforementioned.
A measly apartment, annoying receptionists (I almost turned the DVD off with one of them), conniving men, and robbery are all unleashed on our hero (the cute Piper Perabo) in the first few scenes and we safely know this is a button pushing generic story from the get-go.
I told you this film had paper thin characters!
In her hometown in New Jersey, her past calls to her (including a nice turn by John Goodman as her pop) but she decides to tough it out.
Scarier than a group of oncoming zombies, if you ask me.
By luck, she's in a diner where a few waitresses from the bar the film is named for are hanging out. They make an impression on her (and me too with Tyra Banks strutting her sexiness up and down the joint) and next thing you know, she's a "Coyote" herself.
What is this, a cheap play?
The bar is a nutty place where the waitresses dance on the bar, do shots with the drooling regulars, and breathe fire.
Basically, a Shoney's.
"Oh, and 25% of your tips will be deposited into Mr. Hefner's account."
What follows is Violet's (Perabo's character) battle between doing what she came for, living up to her father's expectations, and being the best she can be. The rest is window dressing for the most part. Issues about stage fright, a relationship with an accented hunk, the loss of her mother, the trappings of a raunchy bar, and other little nuggets are all basically there to move this film along.
She must use the same hair gel Cameron Diaz uses. Stiller, you naughty boy...
While it's harmless, it's far from original but I have to admit that I actually had some fun with the film even though it was as manipulative as any of Bruckheimer's films. Lots of music sequences (They must have played EMF's "Unbelievable 5 times), the look of a 90 commercial, and paper thin characters are the norm and the kind of substance generally geared towards a younger crowd.
Ok, maybe this film isn't so bad...
Is it sexy? Hell yes. Is it fun? It can be. Are the scenes where she's playing her "serious" music laughable? God yes.
Somehow, it's kinda fun though.
6 out of 10
The Video
A lot of men want to make a deposit in this Banks.
Very nice. I'm not a huge fan of Touchstone's DVD department thus far but this is a classy DVD.
Crystal clear Anamorphic love all around. Sharp colors, and as close to reference quality as I've seen from them. Nice work. Especially considering you can snag this DVD for about 20 bucks.
The only gripe I have is a horrendous layer change as our heroine is going up a staircase.
9 out of 10
The Audio
"What's that leaflet?" ......................................"The SCRIPT, honey."
Since this film is a near musical on some levels, you'd expect a snazzy audio presentation.
You got one.
A really nice, robust Dolby 5.1 track will knock you silly whether it's during one of the impromptu table dances or the quieter moments.
VERY NICE, but what do you expect from a man who oversaw some of the most bombastic films to grace screens. This is Flashdance/Top Gun stuff.
9 out of 10
The Extras
"hmmmm, how is he going to sneak a NATION'S PUNCHED joke into this review?"
This DVD is SAVED by the special features and plucked from a like with General Zod and gang...
? "In Search of Violet: Casting the Lead Role, Piper Perabo"
Cute, but just promotional hoopla.
? "Coyote 101: Actor Prep., What it means to be a Coyote"
It means having a nice ass, but it's still pretty neat.
? "Howling Good Time: Filming Bar Scenes"
..... You get the point.
? Deleted Scenes
Nothing huge was omitted, but it's good to see a film take the time to present them in the same high quality format as the film.
? LeAnn Rimes Music Video
Kill me now.
? Audio Commentary
This is AWESOME. There's a decent selection of vignettes from the creators but the real selling point of this DVD is the group commentary by the gals. The sexy group of women on the cover of the box got together and had a blast recording what is one of the more entertaining and cool commentaries I've heard lately. These girls get along well, and it's almost like we're granted access to a taboo area... the brains of models and actresses. While some would consider that a neutral zone of it's own, it's actually a blast.
A guilty please, but a pleasure nonetheless
8 out of 10
I'm actually not ashamed to own this. That's pretty high praise.
Nick Nunziata anxiously awaits "Muskrat Unattractive"