Blu-ray Review: It Could Happen to You (1994) - Page 2

As a romantic comedy goes, the film is a strict paint by number affair, following the well-worn, well-established formula that we all know to expect. What is most unfortunate about the film though is not it's strict adherence to the formula, it's the fact that it tries to pass itself as remotely true. There's even a narrator (played by Isaac Hayes) who appears repeatedly just to further establish the veracity of the story. Obviously viewers shouldn't take a "based a true story" claim to mean that a movie is true, but this film stretches the claim to the extreme. Yes, this film only claims inspiration from a true story, but they're trying to have the viewer draw the same conclusion as "based on a true story" would. Imagine if the new Star Trek movie had been touted as "inspired by a true story," after all, people have gone to space. Surely the notion of the space race helped inspire Roddenberry initially, so technically the claim could be true, it would just never be made because of how silly the idea is.

The Blu-ray itself contains no special features and is a strictly average presentation. It is 5.1 channel without much of a need for the surrounds, the colors are middling, and the textures are none too defined, despite it being in high definition. There is a grainy nature to the film that seems odd for a film from the mid-'90s, but perhaps the director, Andrew Bergman (Striptease), was attempting to make the film more of a "classic" love story or a cinéma vérité look to add to the shaky truth claim it is staking out. Whatever the truth of the reason for the look is, on Blu-ray it looks distinctly mediocre.

If one is looking for a purely forgettable romantic comedy, It Could Happen to You certainly foots the bill. It will neither astound nor disappoint, at least, that is, as long as you're not hoping to see anything akin to a true story.

Page 1 — Page 2
Spread the word
Bookmark and Share
Profile image for josh-lasser

Article Author: Josh Lasser

Josh Lasser, formerly known as "TV and Film Guy," and complete with a Masters Degree in Critical Studies in said areas, gives his opinions on TV, Film, and Entertainment in general. All of which he does in a shameless attempt to try to get paid to do the exact same thing. …

Visit Josh Lasser's author pageJosh Lasser's Blog

Read comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own
  • It Could Happen to You [Blu-ray] It Could Happen to You [Blu-ray]

    Nicolas Cage, Bridget Fonda and Rosie Perez star in this irrepressible romantic comedy inspired by the true story of a humble cop who leaves a two million dollar tip to a hard-luck waitress. ...

Article comments

Add your comment, speak your mind

Personal attacks are NOT allowed.
Please read our comment policy.
Please preview your comment.

blogcritics lists for Nov 30, 2009

fresh articles Most recent articles site-wide

fresh comments Most recent comments site-wide

most comments Most comments in 24hrs

top writers Most prolific Blogcritics for October

top commenters Most prolific Commenters in 24 hrs