Search - Normal on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Movie Release: 2003 DVD Release: 10/07/2003 Format: DVD - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 48 mins Studio: HBO Home Video Members Wishing: 1 Genres: Drama, Marriage Drama, Family Drama

Although undergoing a sex change is not as unusual a procedure as it once was in days gone by, it is still hardly an everyday occurrence -- especially in rural, conservative western Illinois, where Normal takes place. After 25 years of marriage, Roy Applewood (Tom Wilkinson) surprises his wife, Irma (Jessica Lange), by announcing that he'd rather be a woman, and in fact has felt like a woman for most of his adult life. As Roy undergoes the standard hormone and prosthetics process to transform himself into "Ruth," his sudden gender switch elicits shock, surprise, and anger from friends, family members, and co-workers alike -- but also is met with support and sympathy from a number of extremely unlikely sources. Tastefully produced and acted, the film wisely avoids shock value in its subject matter and condescension in its treatment of middle-America types. Directed by Jane Anderson, who also adapted the script from her own stage play Looking for Normal, the made-for-cable Normal premiered March 16, 2003, on HBO. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tom Wilkinson - Roy Applewood/Ruth Applewood
Jessica Lange - Irma Applewood
Hayden Panettiere - Patty Ann
Clancy Brown - Frank
Joe Sikora - Wayne

A family and a marriage faces an unexpected challenge when a middle-aged man chooses to have gender reassignment surgery in this made-for-cable drama, which gets a simple but satisfying presentation for its release on DVD. Normal has been given a letterboxed transfer at the aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The original English-language audio is presented in two mixes, one in Dolby Digital 5.1 and another in Dolby Digital 2.0, while a dubbed track in Spanish appears in Dolby Digital 2.0. The disc also includes closed captioning in English. As a bonus, this release includes an optional commentary track from screenwriter and director Jane Anderson. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide