Movie:
For the Boys, originally released in 1991, was directed by Mark Rydell. Starring in the film are: Bette Midler (Dixie Leonard), James Caan (Eddie Sparks), and George Segal (Art Silver). Midler's performance did win her the 1992 Golden Globe award for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical)."

On the eve of her being awarded a medal by the President, an aged Dixie Leonard recalls her times as a USO entertainer with her partner Eddie Sparks. Dixie sang and Eddie told the jokes, but in their fifty years together, they never stopped bickering. Even so, they entertained the troops of three wars – World War II, Korea, and Vietnam – and even though they didn't always like each other, they stuck together for the boys.

Though I'm not the biggest fan of the film, it's hard to deny that Midler pulls off an incredible performance, which is complex and layered in emotions. Caan also does a good job with his role, though he seems less comfortable in it. The film's main purpose is not on the wars depicted, but on the people portrayed, and to that extent, it succeeds. The film, though, just seems overly long at almost two and a half hours, and as it went on, it was hard to stay interested.

Picture:
For the Boys is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. The transfer is generally quite good throughout, though it is not without flaws. There is some grain, a few specks, and some slight edge enhancement. The image also appears slightly dulled and flat. Colors are muted, but flesh tones are, for the most part, natural.

Sound:
For the Boys is presented in its original Dolby Surround 2.0 track in English and French. Fox has also added a newly mixed Dolby Digital 4.1 track. The 4.1 track offers one main benefit over the original 2.0 track – the music sounds more full and rich. The front soundstage in both tracks is quite directional in both effects and music. Rear surrounds in the 4.1 track provide extra ambience, mainly for the musical numbers. Dialogue throughout the film is easy to understand, though there was some slight distortion in a few scenes. English and Spanish subtitles are also included.

Extras:
Extras include the teaser, trailer, and four TV spots for this film, and trailers for Norma Rae, Working Girl, None Months, 9 to 5, and The Truth About Cats and Dogs.

Summary:
Fans of the film will find that Fox's DVD contains a great transfer, though its not without its faults, and a terrific remixed audio track. For those who haven't seen it, it's worth a rental if you're a fan of Midler or Caan. Rent it.