DVD Review - Tomcats

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Site created 12/15/97.

review added: 8/21/01

Tomcats
2001 (2001) - Columbia TriStar

review by Todd Doogan of The Digital Bits

Enhanced for 16x9 TVs

Film Rating: C-

Disc Ratings (Video/Audio/Extras): A/A/D

Specs and Features

95 mins, R, letterboxed widescreen (1.85:1), 16x9 enhanced, full frame (1.33:1), Amaray keep case packaging, single-sided, dual-layered (no layer switch), theatrical trailers (for Tomcats, Joe Dirt, Jerry Maguire, Saving Silverman and Starship Troopers), cast and crew filmographies, animated film-themed menu screens with sound, scene access (28 chapters), languages: English (DD 5.1 & 2.0) and French (DD 2.0), subtitles: English and French, Closed Captioned

"No more redheads. No more redheads ever."

Good advice. Jerry O'Connell stars as Michael, an unashamed womanizer who makes a bet with his friends: the last man standing (i.e. unmarried) gets a pool of money they all place in a mutual fund. Seven years later, it's just him and his best buddy Kyle (Jake Busey), who's even a bigger womanizer than Michael. But when Mike finds out that Kyle pines for the beautiful "girl that got away" (Shannon Elizabeth), he makes plans to set-up his friend for marriage and make off with the kitty - a whopping half-a-million dollars by now. But this is a brain-dead comedy, so expect things to get out of hand with goofy twists and turns, and a couple of envelope pushing tasteless visual jokes involving an old lady dominatrix, a visit to the sperm bank and a amputated testicle.

Tomcats is enjoyable for what it is... and what it is isn't much. The men are stupid, the women are objects and the humor is low brow. How can you kick a flick when it's already down? You can't. If you like stupid films about people doing stupid things - you'll probably have fun for the 95-minute running time this film will occupy in you life. But if you like films with something to say, avoid Tomcats at all costs.

Columbia gives us Tomcats in both full frame and anamorphic widescreen (at the 1.85:1 aspect ratio) on this new DVD. You can choose which to watch upon insertion of the disc. Both look great, as is the standard for most Columbia titles. Colors and detail are rich and blacks are solid without any hint of artifacting. All in all, it's a great transfer. The sound is also on par with the Columbia standard. Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 tracks are included and both sound nice. They're both very centered up front, but the 5.1 allows for some nice atmosphere in the surrounds. It's nothing that will give your equipment a workout, but there are a few sound effects and music cues that play with the environment of your home theater.

Extras include nothing more than a handful of trailers for other Columbia films featuring members of this cast, along with the usual cast and crew filmographies. That's it... and I, for one, am thankful of that. I don't think I could live with myself if I had to listen to a commentary track about the filming of Tomcats. I'm sure it was fun, but it's not for me.

If stupid is your bag, then by all means Tomcats works. It's a good way to satisfy your 30 for 30 at Blockbuster some Saturday evening before going out with the fellas.

Todd Doogan
todddoogan@thedigitalbits.com