When Stanley (Wilson) first meets the smart and gorgeous Diana
(Richards), he instantly knows that she is the perfect girl for
him. When she agrees on a date, Stanley does everything he can to
make their date the perfect night out on the town. However, things
go wrong thanks to the constant interruptions of an unwelcome
wacko, or bum (Jay Lacopo), who's convinced that he's doing
Stanley a favor.
CRITIQUE
The only reason I
requested The Third Wheel for review is because of a small
interest as to why the film was held back for so long and whether
my friend, who saw it nearly three years ago, was right by calling
it awful. Also, the cast (Richards, Affleck, Wilson) seemed
somewhat interesting. Well, after only ten minutes, my interest
was betrayed. Jay Lacopo's script is quite bland, I really don't
understand why this film was even made. The characters are
not that interesting, the story is weak, and comedy is not present.
Luke Wilson is
required to play the role of a dreamer, Stanley is a guy who
doesn't have the guts to ask out a girl. As it happens, one whole
year passes before he asks Diana out, and that not until his best
pal/co-worker Michael, played by a rather thin Ben Affleck (when
compared to his statue in Paycheck, for example), gives him
advice on how to start a conversation. While on their first date,
Stanley and Diana attempt to engage in conversation, but really
say nothing. Meanwhile, Michael hosts a get-together party at his
apartment with everyone from work there to await the outcome of
the date; they have all made bets against or for Stanley. The rest
of the story then follows Stanley and Diana as they can't get away
from Phil (Lacopo), the man Stanley hit with his car. Phil follows
them to an outdoor play and elsewhere, Lacopo creating a most annoying character
that drags down the story, and eventually the film.
The Third Wheel
is simply not interesting. The story goes nowhere, and no wheels
are turned. Acting is sub-par to be nice. Denise Richards plays a
character who makes the most sense, and strangely enough Ben
Affleck gives his character an awful lot of enthusiasm, such that
carries no weight. Director Jordan Brady doesn't do a bad job
here, he just doesn't get far with the weak script. It's somewhat
interesting, but also a bit disheartening to learn that this is
his second film that got delayed, the other being Waking Up In
Reno, a decent film starring Billy Bob Thornton.
Essentially, The
Third Wheel is a waste of time where nothing of interest is
happening. I doubt this is a film producer Chris Moore and exec
producers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are eager to remember or be
proud of.
THE VIDEO
The film appears in 1.85:1
anamorphic widescreen. Colors are good, but not very bright or
crisp. Definition is okay. Image quality is only decent, the
print image suffering from grain and a few specks. The film
looks decent, nothing more.
Optional subtitles
include English and Spanish.
THE AUDIO
There is not much quality to
speak of in this English 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound presentation.
Dialogue is easy to understand, and most of the soundtrack is
emitted through the front speakers. The quality is decent, but
sometimes also a bit low.
THE EXTRAS
The extras are as
non-existent as the film's laughs.
The
87-minute feature is organized into fourteen chapters.
This disc arrives in an Amaray keepcase, while the cover is
unattractive, looking like the cut-and-paste job that it most
likely is. The
phrases
on the
back cover, like
"the laughs keep coming" and "irresistible all-star cast,"
are clearly misleading.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Third Wheel
is just not interesting. The plot is too bland, the dialogue too
mediocre, and the laughs don't exist. Acting is sub-par at best.
There's no need to even check this film out as a rental.
