Though the other actors in Numb definitely take a backseat to Perry, their performances are compelling. Mary Steenburgen deserves kudos for her restaurant scene near the end of the film that is somewhat reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally. Her portrayal of Dr. Blaine, a therapist-turned-lover for Hudson, provides the film with some of its best laughs. Kevin Pollak is rather underused. He pretty much eats and drinks soda while throwing witty remarks in Matthew Perry's direction.
Lynn Collins is wonderful as Hudson's love interest, Sarah. She plays the character with a kind of offbeat quirkiness that makes it easy to like her. Somehow, her life seems so unaffected and innocent, while Hudson's life is so chaotic and edgy. There is something very admirable about the way she keeps coming back to Hudson despite the huge obstacles their relationship inevitably faces.
The DVDs 1.781:1 anamorphic transfer looks rather impressive. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 (English).
The most interesting special feature on the Numb DVD is the audio commentary with writer/director Harris Goldberg. He hardly takes a breath throughout the film's 93 minute running time. He tells stories from the set, talks about directing, and his effort to keep the film as real as possible. While these running commentaries can often render viewers catatonic, Goldberg is such an engaging speaker I found the commentary to be a wonderful addition to the film.
The DVD also includes a featurette with the cast members which is mostly a rehash of the information revealed in the commentary.
Article comments
1 - Derek Fleek
I agree. It's an overlooked gem that most should acknowledge for its peerless story and fitful performances. Great review.
2 - GAC
I want my 77 minutes of life back. This movie sucked. Kept giving it 5 more minutes, never got better.