If there's a more left-of-center mainstream romantic comedy, I'd like to see it (OK, perhaps Superbad could make the cut). Suffice to say that comedian Mike Myers' first big post-Wayne's World outing, the curious cult fave So I Married an Axe Murderer is probably one of his most bizarre efforts. Yes, I'm saying this before I've seen The Love Guru, which might top Axe Murderer for sheer oddity.

This 1993 rom-com, directed by Thomas Schlamme (who would go on to helm episodes of "The West Wing" and the short-lived "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") and written by Robbie Fox, relies on a mostly conventional plot -- boy meets girl, boy marries girl, boy suspects girl might be psychotic killer -- spiced up with trademark Myers weirdness (he plays two roles, the protagonist and the protagonist's irascible father) and side-splitting cameos (the late Phil Hartman memorably appears as a tour guide at Alcatraz).

Myers stars as Charlie Mackenzie, a poet of the Beat persuasion who pals around with frustrated policeman Tony (Anthony LaPaglia) and happens to meet cute with Harriet Michaels (Nancy Travis), a butcher who sells Mackenzie a tasty (urgh) haggis. Said haggis is for Mackenzie's screwball family, led by the loudmouth patriarch Stuart (Myers again, doing a dry run for Austin Powers' Fat Bastard) and over-sexed matriarch May (Brenda Fricker). Despite Charlie's proclivity for dumping perfectly suitable girlfriends, he woos Harriet and decides to pop the question -- even though he's convinced she's "Mrs. X," a so-called "honeymoon killer."

So I Married an Axe Murderer isn't just strange because of the cameos and weird one-liners ("Head! Move! Now!") -- it's also a bit jarring to see Myers playing the straight man (although he does cut loose as Stuart) in a comedy film. Obviously audiences felt the same way, because this movie marks the first and last time he would anchor a production playing it (mostly) straight.While So I Married an Axe Murderer does have its eminently quotable moments, it's pretty much your cookie-cutter romantic comedy, one that's left your mind almost as soon as it's over.

This "special edition" updates the previous 1999 release by adding ... well ... look below for more information regarding the bonus features. Not having the previous disc available for comparison, I can't speak to whether Sony spiffed up the transfer, but the case does say this edition was "remastered in high definition."

The Video:

Presented in a crisp 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, So I Married an Axe Murderer looks pretty solid, considering its age. Skin tones are warm and accurate, black levels are appropriately inky and fine detail doesn't suffer from any noise or smearing. Overall, it's a great rendering of dated material that looks vibrant and well-saturated.

The soundtrack's stuffed with early Nineties pop hits (if you're not sick of "There She Goes" by the film's conclusion, there might be something wrong with you) and non sequitur-laced banter, but the Dolby Digital 5.1 track gets a few moments to shine near the storm-drenched climax. Otherwise, it conveys dialogue and score with no distortion or other problems. An optional French Dolby Digital 5.1 track is included, as are optional English and French subtitles.

I'll bite, Sony: Why is this labeled as a "special edition" when there's not a shred of supplementary material on board, aside from a few paltry trailers?

So I Married an Axe Murderer isn't just strange because of the cameos and weird one-liners -- it's also a bit jarring to see comic Mike Myers playing the straight man (although he does cut loose as Stuart) in a comedy film. Obviously audiences felt the same way, because this movie marks the first and last time he would anchor a production playing it (mostly) straight. While So I Married an Axe Murderer does have its eminently quotable moments, it's pretty much your cookie-cutter romantic comedy, one that's left your mind almost as soon as it's over. Rent it.