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Two Weeks Notice
Warner Bros. // PG-13 // April 29, 2003
List Price: $27.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
It's no great revelation to say that Hollywood enjoys repeating itself and presenting very similar movies over and over. A great example of this is the romantic comedy, a genre which has been around almost as long as film. Most of these films fit a specific formula and offer few surprises. However, I noticed that many recent films of this nature have been adding subtle twists. Not in the plot, heaven forbid, but in the characterizations and dialogue. For lack of a better word, these films have gotten a bit weird. And that's a good thing. The newly released "Two Weeks Notice" is a perfect example of this trend.
The Movie
Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) is a politically/socially active lawyer who devotes her life to helping those less fortunate and saving old buildings. In her quest to save a community center in Coney Island, she confronts real estate George Wade (Hugh Grant), who is sorely in need of a new chief counsel. These two adversaries strike a bargain -- Wade will save the community center if Lucy will come to work for him. Although she is hesitant to work for the enemy, Lucy dreams of all of the public service work that she can do with Wade's millions.
That dream soon becomes a nightmare, as Lucy finds herself becoming involved in every facet of Wade's life, as the man can't seem to make a decision for himself. Feeling stifled by Wade's neediness, Lucy decided to leave his employ. Can Wade survive without her, and more importantly, will he realize that she is more than just an employee to him?
On the surface, "Two Weeks Notice" is no different from dozens of other romantic comedies. Bullock plays the spinster-type who is too wrapped up in her work to seek romance. Grant is the irresistible playboy who can't be tied down. Will these opposites really attract? On that front, the film doesn't really offer anything new, save to say that Grant and Bullock are very good in their roles, and this is the least annoying that Bullock has been in years. Writer Marc Lawrence ("Miss Congeniality", "Forces of Nature") gets his first feature-film directing gig here, and he keeps things moving along at a nice pace, although some scenes are oddly edited.
So, what makes "Two Weeks Notice" worth watching? The answer is the sly sense of humor which creeps through the film, and the impeccable comedic timing of Hugh Grant. I must admit that I haven't always liked Grant, but he's certainly found his niche with these comedic roles. It's his uncanny ability to seem sophisticated and befuddled at the same time that makes him funny. That and the fact that he's given some great lines in "Two Weeks Notice". There were times when I didn't really care if Lucy and George got together, I just wanted to see Grant bounce around on more mattresses. And while Bullock has her funny moments here, Grant totally steals the show, with Robert Klein, as Lucy's loopy father, coming in a close second.
Video
"Two Weeks Notice" is offered on this DVD in an anamorpihic widescreen and has been letterboxed at 1.85:1. (A full-screen version will be sold seperately.) The image looks very good, as it offers a sharp and clear picture, showing basically no grain and zero defects from the source print. There is some slight artifacting at times, and some noticable distortion around the green-screen effects. The colors are very good, especially the reds and blues. While the transfer isn't breathtaking, it looks exactly as a brand-new movie should.
Audio
As with the video, the audio is good, but not great. The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track provides clear dialogue, with no hissing and distortion. And while this dialogue is the most important factor in the movie, the track could have done a better job of delivering ambient street noises in the surround channels and bass response with the music. While those elements are there in small doses, there isn't enough to create any sort of atmosphere.
Extras
The extras on this disc should follow the film's example and turn in their resignation. We start with a lackluster audio commentary featuring writer/director Marc Lawrence, and stars Bullock and Grant. All three come across as very lethargic and none seem to know what to do...to the extent that Grant questions if people really listen to commentaries. In between the occasional tidbit about the film, the trio comment on which women Grant finds attractive. Truly a missed opportunity. Also disappointing is the 13-minute "HBO First Look: The Making of 'Two Weeks Notice'". This is your standard Hollywood press-kit, as it features mostly clips from the film, interspersed with the occasional comment from Grant or Bullock.
Fairing much better are the two deleted scenes offered on the DVD, one of which is an extended ending. This scene wouldn't have necessarily made the film any better, but it's certainly interesting. "Two Bleeps Notice" is a special branching feature which allows the viewer to see outtakes when a special icon appears on-screen. Some of these are very funny (once again, Grant is funny), but I wouldn't recommend using this feature when watching the movie for the first time. The extras are rounded out with the theatrical trailer for "Two Weeks Notice".
"Two Weeks Notice" is an unusual specimen, as it offers a truly hackneyed and predictable story, combined with some creative and off-the-cuff humor. Hugh Grant is in peak form here, giving the movie the goofy edge that it needs. Free from unnecessary profanity or sex, "Two Weeks Notice" is good for most audiences, despite its PG-13 rating. The DVD offers a solid transfer, but the extras are truly lacking.
The Movie
Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) is a politically/socially active lawyer who devotes her life to helping those less fortunate and saving old buildings. In her quest to save a community center in Coney Island, she confronts real estate George Wade (Hugh Grant), who is sorely in need of a new chief counsel. These two adversaries strike a bargain -- Wade will save the community center if Lucy will come to work for him. Although she is hesitant to work for the enemy, Lucy dreams of all of the public service work that she can do with Wade's millions.
That dream soon becomes a nightmare, as Lucy finds herself becoming involved in every facet of Wade's life, as the man can't seem to make a decision for himself. Feeling stifled by Wade's neediness, Lucy decided to leave his employ. Can Wade survive without her, and more importantly, will he realize that she is more than just an employee to him?
On the surface, "Two Weeks Notice" is no different from dozens of other romantic comedies. Bullock plays the spinster-type who is too wrapped up in her work to seek romance. Grant is the irresistible playboy who can't be tied down. Will these opposites really attract? On that front, the film doesn't really offer anything new, save to say that Grant and Bullock are very good in their roles, and this is the least annoying that Bullock has been in years. Writer Marc Lawrence ("Miss Congeniality", "Forces of Nature") gets his first feature-film directing gig here, and he keeps things moving along at a nice pace, although some scenes are oddly edited.
So, what makes "Two Weeks Notice" worth watching? The answer is the sly sense of humor which creeps through the film, and the impeccable comedic timing of Hugh Grant. I must admit that I haven't always liked Grant, but he's certainly found his niche with these comedic roles. It's his uncanny ability to seem sophisticated and befuddled at the same time that makes him funny. That and the fact that he's given some great lines in "Two Weeks Notice". There were times when I didn't really care if Lucy and George got together, I just wanted to see Grant bounce around on more mattresses. And while Bullock has her funny moments here, Grant totally steals the show, with Robert Klein, as Lucy's loopy father, coming in a close second.
Video
"Two Weeks Notice" is offered on this DVD in an anamorpihic widescreen and has been letterboxed at 1.85:1. (A full-screen version will be sold seperately.) The image looks very good, as it offers a sharp and clear picture, showing basically no grain and zero defects from the source print. There is some slight artifacting at times, and some noticable distortion around the green-screen effects. The colors are very good, especially the reds and blues. While the transfer isn't breathtaking, it looks exactly as a brand-new movie should.
Audio
As with the video, the audio is good, but not great. The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track provides clear dialogue, with no hissing and distortion. And while this dialogue is the most important factor in the movie, the track could have done a better job of delivering ambient street noises in the surround channels and bass response with the music. While those elements are there in small doses, there isn't enough to create any sort of atmosphere.
Extras
The extras on this disc should follow the film's example and turn in their resignation. We start with a lackluster audio commentary featuring writer/director Marc Lawrence, and stars Bullock and Grant. All three come across as very lethargic and none seem to know what to do...to the extent that Grant questions if people really listen to commentaries. In between the occasional tidbit about the film, the trio comment on which women Grant finds attractive. Truly a missed opportunity. Also disappointing is the 13-minute "HBO First Look: The Making of 'Two Weeks Notice'". This is your standard Hollywood press-kit, as it features mostly clips from the film, interspersed with the occasional comment from Grant or Bullock.
Fairing much better are the two deleted scenes offered on the DVD, one of which is an extended ending. This scene wouldn't have necessarily made the film any better, but it's certainly interesting. "Two Bleeps Notice" is a special branching feature which allows the viewer to see outtakes when a special icon appears on-screen. Some of these are very funny (once again, Grant is funny), but I wouldn't recommend using this feature when watching the movie for the first time. The extras are rounded out with the theatrical trailer for "Two Weeks Notice".
"Two Weeks Notice" is an unusual specimen, as it offers a truly hackneyed and predictable story, combined with some creative and off-the-cuff humor. Hugh Grant is in peak form here, giving the movie the goofy edge that it needs. Free from unnecessary profanity or sex, "Two Weeks Notice" is good for most audiences, despite its PG-13 rating. The DVD offers a solid transfer, but the extras are truly lacking.
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