SUGAR
& SPICE ($25) is a likable, albeit quirky teen comedy that spoofs
the idealized notions of high school life. As expected, head cheerleader
Diane Weston (Marley Shelton) falls for the school's new star quarterback
Jack Bartlett (James Marsden). In no time flat, Jack manages to knock
up Diane, so the hopelessly in love twosome get married, despite their
being disowned by their parents. Life goes on for the perfect high school
couple- they stay in school; find a place to live and even managed to
find jobs. Additionally, Jack remains captain of the football team and
Diane continues cheerleading- even though she has started to show in a
BIG way. Diane, realizing that they won't be able to make ends meet on
the part time jobs that that they’ve gotten with their high school backgrounds,
she decides to follow the example of Keanu Reeves in POINT BREAK
and rob a bank. With the assistance of her friends in the cheerleading
squad, Diane and company begins hatching the plan. Much of SUGAR &
SPICE is pretty goofy, but I enjoyed the film and it had me giggling
on a fairly regular basis. The appealing cast of SUGAR & SPICE
also features Marla Sokoloff, Melissa George, Mena Suvari, Rachel Blanchard,
Alexandra Holden, Sara Marsh and Sean Young.
New
Line Home Video has made SUGAR & SPICE in full screen and 16:9
enhanced wide screen presentations. Of course, this review will only refer
to the 2.35:1 version of SUGAR & SPICE. As usual, New Line
comes up with a great looking transfer. The image is clean, bright and
very well defined. Colors are strongly saturated, without a hint of smearing
and the flesh tones are very appealing. Blacks are deep and solid, plus
the picture provides a very healthy dose of shadow detail and good depth.
The film element is just about blemish free, although a bit of grain does
creep into a few shots. Digital compression artifacts do not present any
problems.
SUGAR
& SPICE features a pretty standard comedy mix that doesn't really
push the limits of the Dolby Digital 5.1 channel format. Directional sound
effects aren't abundant, but they are effectively deployed and pan across
the sound stage in a convincing manner. There is even an occasional split
surround effect, but they are pretty subtle. Dialogue is cleanly rendered,
with excellent intelligibility. Pop music and the film's score by Mark
Mothersbaugh are well integrated into the mix and reproduce with very
good fidelity. Because of the nature of the material, the bass channel
sits on the bench most of the time. However, when it does come into play,
it sounds rather solid. An English Dolby Surround soundtrack is also encoded
onto the DVD, as are English subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound enhance the amusing interface of the
DVD's interactive menus. Through the menus, one has access to the standard
scene selection and set up features, as well as a few extras. Four deleted
scenes are present on the DVD, although two of them are extended versions
of existing scenes that had to be cleaned up a bit for the Ratings Board.
Cast filmographies and character biographies are also present on the DVD,
as is a theatrical trailer for SUGAR & SPICE.
SUGAR
& SPICE isn't great cinema, but it is an amusing film and I had
a good time watching it. But then again, I always enjoy watching attractive
young women in cheerleader uniforms shaking their pompoms. Anyway, New
Line's DVD looks great and sounds just fine. So if you have any interest
in SUGAR & SPICE, you can't go wrong in picking up a copy of
the DVD.
SUGAR
& SPICE ($25) is a likable, albeit quirky teen comedy that spoofs
the idealized notions of high school life. As expected, head cheerleader
Diane Weston (Marley Shelton) falls for the school's new star quarterback
Jack Bartlett (James Marsden). In no time flat, Jack manages to knock
up Diane, so the hopelessly in love twosome get married, despite their
being disowned by their parents. Life goes on for the perfect high school
couple- they stay in school; find a place to live and even managed to
find jobs. Additionally, Jack remains captain of the football team and
Diane continues cheerleading- even though she has started to show in a
BIG way. Diane, realizing that they won't be able to make ends meet on
the part time jobs that that they’ve gotten with their high school backgrounds,
she decides to follow the example of Keanu Reeves in POINT BREAK
and rob a bank. With the assistance of her friends in the cheerleading
squad, Diane and company begins hatching the plan. Much of SUGAR &
SPICE is pretty goofy, but I enjoyed the film and it had me giggling
on a fairly regular basis. The appealing cast of SUGAR & SPICE
also features Marla Sokoloff, Melissa George, Mena Suvari, Rachel Blanchard,
Alexandra Holden, Sara Marsh and Sean Young.
New
Line Home Video has made SUGAR & SPICE in full screen and 16:9
enhanced wide screen presentations. Of course, this review will only refer
to the 2.35:1 version of SUGAR & SPICE. As usual, New Line
comes up with a great looking transfer. The image is clean, bright and
very well defined. Colors are strongly saturated, without a hint of smearing
and the flesh tones are very appealing. Blacks are deep and solid, plus
the picture provides a very healthy dose of shadow detail and good depth.
The film element is just about blemish free, although a bit of grain does
creep into a few shots. Digital compression artifacts do not present any
problems.
SUGAR
& SPICE features a pretty standard comedy mix that doesn't really
push the limits of the Dolby Digital 5.1 channel format. Directional sound
effects aren't abundant, but they are effectively deployed and pan across
the sound stage in a convincing manner. There is even an occasional split
surround effect, but they are pretty subtle. Dialogue is cleanly rendered,
with excellent intelligibility. Pop music and the film's score by Mark
Mothersbaugh are well integrated into the mix and reproduce with very
good fidelity. Because of the nature of the material, the bass channel
sits on the bench most of the time. However, when it does come into play,
it sounds rather solid. An English Dolby Surround soundtrack is also encoded
onto the DVD, as are English subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound enhance the amusing interface of the
DVD's interactive menus. Through the menus, one has access to the standard
scene selection and set up features, as well as a few extras. Four deleted
scenes are present on the DVD, although two of them are extended versions
of existing scenes that had to be cleaned up a bit for the Ratings Board.
Cast filmographies and character biographies are also present on the DVD,
as is a theatrical trailer for SUGAR & SPICE.
SUGAR
& SPICE isn't great cinema, but it is an amusing film and I had
a good time watching it. But then again, I always enjoy watching attractive
young women in cheerleader uniforms shaking their pompoms. Anyway, New
Line's DVD looks great and sounds just fine. So if you have any interest
in SUGAR & SPICE, you can't go wrong in picking up a copy of
the DVD.
