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I can hear the pitch from actor Miranda Richardson’s
agent trying to convince her to make “Enchanted Apirl”.
Agent: “Miranda, love, how would you like to make a movie
where you’re on holiday and really BE on holiday? You know
a relaxing kind where you can fall asleep under the stars.”
Miranda: “Sounds good particularly after making “The Crying
Game”. I could use a relaxing vacation.” Agent: The audience
will fall asleep as well. Miranda: Well they could use a
good rest. ***
Remember when all of those relaxation CDs and DVDs
were really, really popular (for some people they still
are)? Well “Enchanted April” is like a feature film of those
CDs and DVDs. The truth is that if you caught this in theaters
you were likely to hear someone snoring behind you because
the only type of enchantment that this movie brings is like
the spell that put Sleeping Beauty into her long, long slumber
only you don’t get a kiss from a prince to wake you up here
you the measly credits will have to do. ***
“Enchanted April” won two Golden Globes back in 1993
and to the best of my knowledge has never received a U.S.
DVD release. Perhaps that’s because the film put those in
charge of doing the transfer or marketing to sleep as well.
It’s a languid and slow paced movie that features a terrific
cast with nothing much to do except relax. ***
The plot as such takes place in the 1920’s where two
Rose (Richardson) and Lottie (Josie Lawrence) with too much
time on their hands decide they need a vacation away from
their husbands (Alfred Molina and Jim Broadbent). They arrive
at their little location spot to relax with a flapper in
waiting (Polly Walker) trying to fight off the insistent
pursuit of Rose’s husband among many other men that want
to…relax with her. You’re expecting a cat fight or, at the
very least, a very embarrassing scene between Rose and the
flapper. Instead, you get nothing but women relaxing and
rediscovering their love of nature and their love lives.
***
Even for those that are romantically minded (my wife)
“Enchanted April” was as effective as a strong sedative
at putting her to sleep. Nothing puts her to sleep. ---
Image & Sound:
“April” looks far from enchanting with a fairly dark
and grainy transfer like you’d expect from an action or
horror film. The images range from pleasant looking to soft
as a feather pillow. It’s probably not what fans of this
film (all two of you) would want to see. ***
Audio sounds decent with a credible sounding 5.1 mix
that will put you right in the meadow with Rose as she relaxes.
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