In a World… Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Lake Bell, Jeff Garlin, Fred Melamed, Demetri Martin, Rob Corddry, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Eva Longoria, Geena Davis, Corsica Wilson

Director: Lake Bell

Format: AC-3, Blu-ray, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: January 21, 2014

Run Time: 93 minutes

 

        There are a few different ideas crammed into Lake Bell’s cleverly conceptual industry comedy, with some working better than others. Amidst the apparently competitive world of voiceover narration for trailers is an opportunity to speak the immortalized words “In a world” for a new blockbuster franchise of films similar to The Hunger Games. Although most expect the deep voice of a veteran voiceover actor (Fred Melamed) to be chosen, the world of voiceover is thrown into chaos when his daughter, Carol (Bell), is considered alongside him.

 

        The premise of the film is creative enough to inspire plenty of industry comedy, but instead gets distracted with unnecessary and unbelievable character development and a storyline straying too easily into predictable Rom-com territory. This is the difficulty with films that have actors playing parts they wrote for themselves and direct themselves. Bell is funny, but the forceful insistence that she is drab and unattractive is silly and unbelievable, regardless of how many scenes she wears sweatpants and leaves off the make-up. Bell also takes a few too many unnecessary jabs at all women with high pitched voices, though newcomer Corsica Wilson plays the stereotype perfectly.

 

        Had the film focused more on the voiceover aspects of the film, this film may have been great. It is still a clever comedy, but one which wears thin with unneeded characters and scenes written in to fit the many supporting characters filled by talented actors. Bell may have many industry friends willing to take small bit parts in her film, but the bottom line is that this movie may have worked better had it not been so much of an ensemble. Among the talented actors briefly appearing in the convoluted script is Demetri Martin, Rob Corddry, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Eva Longoria and Geena Davis.

 

        The Blu-ray release includes a commentary track with Bell, along with a number of deleted scenes and an alternate opening. There are also promo trailers, which play into the humor of a film about the construction of trailers. The gag reel is the last of the extras, and it shows just how fun it must have been to work on a film with this crew of talent.  

       

Entertainment Value: 7.5/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 7/10

Historical Significance: 6/10

Disc Features: 7/10