The DVD

Video:
Jack is presented in an anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfer that has its fair share of issues. Fleshtones are accurate and color saturation, for the most part, is quite good. Bright, vivid colors show up in several scenes - the basketball game, comes to mind - but the overall color palette is a slightly muted tone that this transfer handles just fine. Detail, however, is often a bit soft and black levels are not as rich as they could be. The biggest issue with this visual presentation is the abundance of grain (some of which is to be expected from low-budget fare such as this) that becomes apparent from time to time. There are no apparent instances of edge enhancement or digital artifacts, but the print could certainly have used a cleaning, as there definitely some dirt, spots, and scratches present. Overall, this is a transfer that fails to elevate the visual presentation above that of the film's original broadcast quality.

Sound:
The audio on this disc is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 formats that both end up being simply adequate. The 2.0 track is probably much closer to what you may have heard if you tuned into Jack on Showtime. It has little dynamic range, but is well balanced and suits this type of film just fine. Dialogue is always clear, crisp, and distinct, and the score (which I thought was mostly putrid) never becomes overwhelming at any point in the film. Jack isn't exactly the type of film screaming out for a surround mix, but the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio is a nice little upgrade from the 2.0 track. The dialogue seems more natural anchored in the center channel, and there are even a few very subtle surround touches. In this case, it really comes down to personal preference, as both tracks are good. I slightly preferred the 5.1 track to the 2.0, but either track is a fine audio presentation.

Extras:
The first extra feature on this disc is an audio commentary with Director Lee Rose and Actor Anton Yelchin. Rose is alone on the track for the first fifteen minutes or so, and she nearly put me to sleep. She mostly explains what's happening on screen or chooses to stay silent. She does manage to drop in a few tidbits of information about the filming and the fact that Jack is based on the first novel by A.M. Homes, but there's not a whole lot to be gained here. Yelchin livens up the track a bit when he first arrives, providing a few funny moments and some anecdotes from the set, but even he wears out as the track continues. There are many instances of silence throughout the remainder of the track, and what is offered isn't exactly enlightening. It would have been nice to hear some thoughts from Homes, who also wrote the screenplay based on her own book, but alas, she is nowhere to be found on this otherwise sleep-inducing track.

Also included on this disc is a very short behind-the-scenes featurette that you might see playing directly after the film showed on Showtime. It's a highly produced little segment that includes some cast and crew interviews mixed in with clips from the film. Had it been longer, this could have been a worthwhile addition to the film. As it is, however, this featurette is your basic EPK fluff.

Finally, we also have a photo gallery with both candid shots and stills from the film, a few text filmographies, and previews for The L Word and Manhood.

Final Thoughts:
If you're a fan of the work of A.M. Homes, you'll certainly want to give Jack a spin at least once. Although not nearly as strong as The Safety of Objects, there are some noticeable similarities in the tone and oddball humor of the films. Jack may have done well to find someone less intimate with the original novel to adapt the screenplay. As it is, the film struggles with some scenes that seem too fit for the page rather than the screen. That cast, nevertheless, manages to tackle the material with enthusiasm and creativity. The performances of Channing, Silver, and especially Yelchin are what make Jack watchable. I only wish there had been a few extra features that actually gave me a better appreciation for the film included on this disc. While the film is worth watching at least once, the commentary track is a snoozefest and the featurette is simply too much fluff to warrant anything more than a rental.