DVD Review - Three to Tango

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Site created 12/15/97.

review added: 4/11/00

Three to Tango
1999 (2000) - Warner Bros.

review by Todd Doogan of The Digital Bits

Enhanced for 16x9 TVs

Film Rating: B

Disc Ratings (Video/Audio/Extras): A/A-/C-

Specs and Features

99 mins, PG-13, letterboxed widescreen (1.85:1), 16x9 enhanced, full frame (1.33:1), dual-sided, single-layered, Snapper case packaging, production notes, cast and crew bios, theatrical trailer, film-themed menu screens, scene access (30 chapters), languages: English and French (DD 5.1), subtitles: English and French, Closed Captioned

"It’s the great thing about being friends with a mistress - I’m free most evenings."

Looking for a romantic comedy that’s not too light and not too filling? Well Three to Tango might be just what you’re looking for. Matthew Perry is at his best here (I don’t know if that’s a compliment or a put down), giving his usual kinetic performance this time as an architect who gets mistaken for a gay man. No big deal, except the guy he’s trying to get a big project from (Dylan McDermott) wants him to watch his beautiful mistress (Neve Campbell) and keep her out of trouble (read: having sex with old boyfriends). Who better to watch a beautiful woman than a gay man? I’m sure the plot of this movie is insulting to someone, but that's Hollywood for you. Anyway, to get the job, our man Matthew allows himself to be mistaken – but in doing so, a whole world of confusion gets heaped upon him. Oh what a twisted web we weave. Still, it makes for some funny moments.

Three to Tango isn’t for everyone. I only liked it a little bit. But it’s got a little something, I’ll give it that much. It’ll work as a Saturday night date movie.

On DVD, it actually looks pretty darn good. The widescreen side is an anamorphic transfer, with sharp colors and no artifacting. The blacks are pretty solid and there isn’t a speck of grain to be found. It’s pretty as a picture. The sound is about as plain as you can get for a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. It’s a little more active on the music side, and is very nicely mixed. The extras are light to non-existent. There’s a trailer, production notes and cast and crew bios and that about covers it.

This is a pretty non-threatening flick, that shouldn’t cause too much pain in watching it. Steer your lady friend towards it on the rental rack at your favorite video store, and you can have a good time without pretending - take it from someone who knows. Matthew Perry’s one of those guys that just pisses me off... and yet I liked him in this. Give it a shot.

Todd Doogan
todddoogan@thedigitalbits.com