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I confess I never saw So I Married An Axe Murderer until it
had been on home video for a few years. I never really wanted to see it
before then… not even when it hit the big screen (where it flopped)… and
I went to the movies at least once a week at the time. I guess my reasoning
behind that decision was that it just didn’t look “Mike Myers-y” enough
to me (which is probably due to the fact that he didn’t write it). Like
many others at the time, I had grown accustomed to Myers’ numerous characters
and comical lunacy on “Saturday Night Live”, so
I had developed this conception that Myers was only funny if he donned
a wig or was in makeup. Sadly, a lot of other people (Myers included, probably)
feel that that theory is true (just look at some of his other works). It
isn’t.
-01.jpg) Not only is So I Married An Axe Murderer one
of Myers’ few big screen jaunts in which he appears as a regular
guy, it’s also one of the few in which he really doesn’t
break the fourth wall (the imaginary wall where the camera and crew
are and by “breaking” it, the onscreen characters actually
acknowledge the audience).
The story tells us the tale of Charlie Mackenzie (Myers), a commitment-phobic,
modern-day beatnik living in commitment-phobic modern-day San Fran
(OK, the 90s) who falls head over heels for Harriet, a girl in a
butcher shop (the unbelievably bland Nancy Travis - an actress whom
I always inadvertently seem to block from any movie I may have seen
her in and automatically replace with Nancy Allen instead). As
his love for Harriet grows, Charlie realizes this could (at last)
be the one… but when his mother (Brenda Ficker) and his best
friend Tony (Anthony LaPaglia) - who happens to be a police officer
- begin to read about an axe-wielding murderess that does away with
her hubbies on the wedding night, everybody (including Charlie)
begins to suspect that Harriet isn’t all she’s cracked-up
to be.
-02.jpg) OK - generic back-of-video-box description aside - So
I Married An Axe Murderer succeeds in many ways. Not
just because it’s goofy, but also because it’s--well… okay,
it is a goofy movie! But it’s a good kind
of goofy! This film also marked Myers’ first appearance
in dual roles (á la Peter Sellers) as he not only plays
himself, but his father, Stuart (a character based on his own real-life
father and that was kinda-sorta brought over from “SNL”),
who’s now-familiar Scottish accent would carry on to the Austin
Powers and Shrek films. And let’s not
forget several noteworthy cameo appearances that only add to the
hilarity: Michael Richards as a insensitive jerk (or, Michael
Richards, if you prefer), the underrated Charles Grodin as
a fussy driver, Mike Hagarty, Steven Wright as a pilot, the late
great Phil Hartman as an Alcatraz guide named Vicky, and, best
of all, the magnificent Alan Arkin (he’s good in just about
anything… with the exception of The Santa Clause
3, that is) an LaPaglia’s far-too-gentle boss.
-03.jpg) Even if you’re not a Myers fan, So I Married An
Axe Murderer deserves a look.
Presentation
This Special Edition DVD release of So I Married An Axe
Murderer receives an upgrade from its earlier 1999 DVD
release with an newly remastered High Definition transfer which
slightly improves the 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen picture and boasts
new (and improved) 5.1 Dolby Digital English and French soundtracks. Optional
English and French subtitles are provided.
The Full Frame version included on the ‘99 release is not
included here. Why? Because Full Frame sucks, that’s why!
-04.jpg) Extras
Now then… with all of the worthy praise for this fine film
and transfer out of my system… let’s explore the “Special
Edition” aspect of this DVD release, shall we?
When the DVD arrived at my home, I was a bit perplexed by the
lack of any listed Special Features on the backside of the slip
cover that housed this Special Edition release. I figured “Well,
this is just the slipcover that houses the regular artwork and sometimes
slipcovers do not reveal any information like cast, crew, Extras,
etc.” (and it’s true - they don’t), so when
I removed the regular DVD amaray from the slipcover, I was even
more confused that the other cover made no mention of the
Bonus Features this Special Edition had on it.
At this point, I was laughing to myself, thinking “Come
on, it’s not like they didn’t include any Special Features
on this Special Edition DVD!”
…
-05.jpg) Guess what?
This Special Edition DVD contains five trailers.
That’s it.
Five fucking trailers!
Hey, Sony! What the fuck, yo? Who do you think you are… Paramount?
I cannot even begin to express my displeasure at this
DVD release in this particular department - the audio/video
departments are fine, but this is totally unacceptable! Don’t
write “Special Edition” on a case if you have no intention
of including Special Features! The words “class-action” come
to mind… quickly followed by “false advertising”.
-06.jpg) Oh, wait… here’s something… front side of the
cover included a sticker advertising Free Music Downloads. Yay. Oh,
and there’s the whole High Def remaster and new 5.1 sound.
That still doesn’t make it “Special”.
Boo.
The Bottom Line
It’s a great movie, but it’s also more than a bit obvious
that this release was simply put out to cash-in on the theatrical
release of Myers’ The Love Guru. Perhaps
there will be an “Ultimate Edition” released someday.
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