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Specifications:

- DVD-Video

- Double-sided

- Single layer

- Region 1

- Run time: approx. 96 minutes

- Subtitles: English, Spanish, French

- Scene selection: Static menus

- Package: Keep case

Video Features:

- Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1

- Full screen

Audio Features:

- English: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround

- English: Dolby Surround

- French: Dolby Surround

Bonus Materials:

- Director's Commentary

- Deleted Scenes with optional
  Director's Commentary

- Talent Files

- Theatrical Trailers

Release Dates:

Theatrical Release:       2000

DVD Release:              07/25/00

Review Date:               08/23/00

List price:                     $ 24.95

Avg. on-line price:       $ 17.00

Pre-order price was:    $ 17.00

Starring: Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Neve Campbell,
    Jamie Lee Curtis, Casey Affleck, William Fichtner

Director: Nick Gomez

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Studio: Destination Films (Columbia Tri-Star Home Video)

Movie: B-        Video: B+        Audio: B+        Extras: A-

Summary: Mona Dearly is dead and everyone in town wants to thank the one that is 
   responsible for her death.  Chief of Police Wyatt Rash has the task of interviewing 
   the dumb heartless son, the cheating husband and his mistress, his own daughter 
   and her fiancé.  The case becomes one of "who didn't want to kill Mona" because 
   everyone wanted her dead.  Watch this movie and you'll be in for some great 
   laughs.  The bonus materials are generous and the director's commentary is a 
   must watch.

The Story

The movie starts out with a comedic fictional play on the Yugo Car Company which chose Verplanck, New York to test its vehicles.  This explains why everyone in this small town drives a Yugo.  The only way to tell one car from another is the personalized  license plate (which is sometimes pretty wacky).  The town is full of colorful and eccentric characters who discover "Mona Dearly is dead" and therefore they've "got to celebrate".

From this point, Chief of Police Wyatt Rash (Danny DeVito) has to investigate the case of who didn't want kill Mona since everyone had wished Mona Dearly dead.  He has the task of interviewing the prime suspects:  the dumb and heartless son Jeff Dearly (Marcus Thomas), Mona's cheating husband (William Fichtner), his mistress (Jamie Lee Curtis), Bobby (Casey Affleck), and his own daughter (Neve Campbell).  So as the police chief interviews the characters there are inconsistent flashbacks from each of these white trash's point of view.  These colorful, off-the-wall characters make you laugh through the end to discover who is the actual killer and thank him/her for doing it.

Throughout the movie, Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, and Jamie Lee Curtis gave great performances portraying their respective roles.  I was surprised at how Bette Midler lets herself go to look true to her character.  She is a classy lady but you wouldn't have guessed that if you only knew her from this movie.  Jamie Lee Curtis picked out her own wig and wardrobe to portray the sinister slut.

The Extras

This DVD has the traditional director's commentary, but Nick Gomez is very honest in telling the history behind the film with a great sense of humor.  I would recommend watching this commentary since I enjoyed it even more than the movie itself (believe it or not).  Lots of fun facts.  There are four deleted scenes with Nick Gomez's optional commentary.  I like the "Murderous Scenarios" deleted scene, and thought that it would have worked well had it not been deleted.  The director wisely deleted the three remaining scenes.

The talent files allows curious viewers to learn more about Nick Gomez (director), Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Jamie Lee Curtis, Neve Campbell and Casey Affleck (yes, he's the brother of Ben Affleck and has been in many movies with him).  I always like going through this section to learn more about the actors.  And of course, there is the tempting yet non-disclosed theatrical trailer of "Drowning Mona".  There are also theatrical trailers for "To Die For", "As Good As It Gets", "Desert Blue", and "Wild Things".

Video & Audio

The image quality of this enhanced widescreen DVD is quite good.  The colors are accurate and shadow details are nicely captured in the darker scenes.  The Dolby Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack is balanced and effective.

Recommendation

I'm sure you'll get a kick out of watching this crazy, off-the-wall comedy of this fictitious town full of people who wanted to see Mona Dearly dead.  After watching this film, I am more appreciative of the blessing of the caring and loving people I am surrounded by every day.

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