HDTV Solutions.com

Dick De Jong
May 24, 2013
HDTV Solutions

Frankie Go Boom, is a maddening dysfunctional family absurdity wrapped around a rather touchingly sweet love story.

Chris O'Dowd (Bruce) once again flawlessly portrays a character that you just want to slap upside the head the first time you meet him. And as he proceeds to once again blow up his brother Frankie's (Charlie Hunnam) life, your desire to knock some sense and sensibility into his self-absorbed noggin is unabated.

If not for the relationship between Frankie and Lassie (the radiant Lizzy Caplan), I would warn you to steer clear of this ticking bomb. I kept rooting for the crazy characters surrounding them to give their budding romance a chance to blossom.

Speaking of crazy, the looniest pea in the pod is Jack, the over-the-hill TV star, played with over-the-top gusto by Chris Noth. If you think that I'm exaggerating about this film's existential silliness, wait until you witness Noth go on a manic rant while running on a treadmill wearing only a jock strap.

Though I admit that Noth and others like Nora Dunn (Bruce and Frankie's mom) seemed to be relishing the opportunity to let their inner devil-may-care fly free.

Luckily, Hellboy Ron Perlman - who embodies, down to her painted toenails, the character of Phyllis, the transsexual - comes to the rescue of the lovebirds and gives Frankie sensible relationship advice.

The Bonus Features are slim. Writer/Director Jordan Roberts explains why certain scenes were deleted or altered.

And there is the fairly typical "Behind the Scenes" featurette with the seemingly obligatory, congratulatory snippets.

Studio: Universal

Director: Jordan Roberts

Cast: Chris O'Dowd, Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman, Lizzy Caplan, Nora Dunn, Sam Anderson, Whitney Cummings and Chris Noth

Length: 89 minutes

Rated: Not Rated

Video:
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1

Audio:
English:
  DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Subtitles:
English SDH, French and Spanish