For my money, this is truly Danny Devito's finest moment on the silver screen. Special praise also has to go to Queen Latifah. Not only does she prove that her acting abilities go beyond typical sitcom fare, but her singing voice is nothing short of breathtaking. I will be acquiring the film's soundtrack album just for the few songs that she performs in movie. John Bailey's cinematography is a rich canvas of dark shadows and warm, beautifully saturated hues that this DVD reproduces flawlessly.
Image quality is sharp and detailed, with true blacks and superb contrast.
Digital compression artifacts are well concealed by Laser Pacific's usual first rate DVD authoring. The Dolby Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack has a simple, but wonderfully pleasing mix, which is highlighted by the lushly orchestrated songs featuring Queen Latifah. Both the music and vocals have a sweet melodious quality. The soundtrack also contains intricate little sound effects are placed across the entire soundstage, taking advantage of the discrete nature of the Dolby Digital system. Dialogue reproduces with a clear, natural timbre and the track has respectable bass.