Search - Soapdish on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Profanity Movie Release: 1991 DVD Release: 12/04/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 36 mins Studio: Paramount Members Wishing: 21 Genres: Comedy, Satire, Farce, Showbiz Comedy, Media Satire See Also: Soapdish

In the comedic farce Soapdish, the behind-the-scenes lives of several soap opera actors are just as melodramatic as those of their television counterparts. Sally Field stars as Celeste Talbert, the star of a declining TV show. To make matters worse, Talbert's career is thrown into turmoil when her rival, Montana Moorehead (Cathy Moriarty), tries to persuade producer David Barnes (Robert Downey Jr.) to write Talbert off the show. Smitten by Moorehead, Barnes comes up with a scheme to get Talbert off the show by hiring her niece Lori (Elisabeth Shue) and then Jeffrey (Kevin Kline), an old flame and cast member who was written out of the show 20 years prior. Soon, mayhem rules on the set as the cast and crew tangle, culminating in a special episode, broadcast live. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Sally Field - Celeste Talbert
Kevin Kline - Jeffrey Anderson
Robert Downey, Jr. - David Barnes
Cathy Moriarty - Montana Moorehead
Whoopi Goldberg - Rose Schwartz

Wild and wacky antics ensue on a TV daytime drama in the comedy hit Soapdish. Paramount has done an only passable job on this 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. While the colors and black levels look bright and even, overall the picture retains a softness and some lightly intrusive edge enhancement. The audio is presented in a newly created Dolby Digital 5.1 remix, though it isn't overly aggressive or endearing. There are times when the surround feature kicks in (i.e., mostly when composer Alan Silvestri's Latin-flavored music theme starts up), but overall this is a somewhat disappointing soundtrack. However, all aspects of the dialogue, music, and effects are clear of any distortion or hiss. Also included on this disc is a Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack in English, a Dolby Stereo track in French, and English subtitles. Sadly, the only extra features that Paramount has seen fit to include on this DVD edition of Soapdish is a very short and uninsightful behind-the-scenes featurette and a theatrical trailer presented in anamorphic widescreen. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide