Search - Free Enterprise on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Profanity Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 11/09/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 54 mins Studio: Geneon Total Copies: 1 Genres: Comedy, Satire, Romantic Comedy See Also: Free Enterprise

With a little help from the commander of the Starship Enterprise, two geeky sci-fi buffs venture into the final frontier -- finding a steady girlfriend -- in this satiric comedy. Mark (Eric McCormack) and Rob (Rafer Weigel) are two guys in their late 20s who are emotionally stuck in adolescence; they're obsessed with science fiction, comics, and collectable toys, and they aren't especially graceful or successful in their relationships with the opposite sex. While both have actually been able to turn their obsessions into careers -- Mark edits a sci-fi fanzine, while Rob works at a film production house -- both feel the need for guidance as they approach 30. As children, they used to imagine themselves being counseled by William Shatner, whose role as Capt. Kirk on Star Trek elevated him to the status of a deity in their eyes. To their amazement, one day Mark and Rob meet Shatner in a bookstore and actually strike up a friendship with him, only to discover that he is just as confused about life, women, and work as they are (though he does confess his burning ambition to produce a new version of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in which he plays all the characters himself). Emboldened by his new friendship with Capt. Kirk -- wait, make that William Shatner -- Rob begins pursuing a romance with Claire (Audie England), a fellow sci-fi fan who is pretty, charming, and a few steps up on the maturity ladder from himself. But this is bad news for Mark, who isn't at all happy to be losing his best friend to some girl. Free Enterprise was the first feature for writer/director Robert Meyer Burnett and screenwriter Mark A. Altman, who freely (and rather bravely) admit that the lead characters are based upon themselves. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Rafer Weigel - Robert
Eric McCormack - Mark
Audie England - Claire
Patrick Van Horn - Sean
Jonathan Slavin - Dan Vebber

Love and geeks collide in the romantic comedy Free Enterprise. The film is presented in a mediocre 1.85:1 non-anamorphic widescreen transfer. There are a fair amount of soft colors to be found in this transfer, though otherwise the black levels appear to be solid and dark. Sadly, this transfer was not given a 16x9 enhancement which should disappoint fans. Maybe someday Free Enterprise will get the transfer it deserves -- until then fans are stuck with this lackluster edition. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround in English and sounds adequate, if a tad under-whelming. The sound mix sports crystal clear, distortion free dialogue, music and effects and little else -- directional effects and surround sounds are generally kept to the bare minimum. Also included on this disc are English subtitles. Free Enterprise sports a fairly large number of extra features, starting with a commentary by writer Mark A. Altman and writer/director/editor Robert Meyer Burnett. This is a very funny and often silly track that features a lot of wit, production stories and belly laughs aplenty. An interesting and unique documentary titled "Where No Man Has Gone Before: The Making Of Free Enterprise" was shot entirely on video and features interviews with many of the cast and crew members (including Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner). Fourteen deleted scenes allow the viewer a glimpse at what ended up on the cutting room floor while a trivia subtitle track doles out more jokes about the film. Finally there are some production notes, biographies, theatrical trailers, screen tests, and a glossary for those who aren't in the "know" about the Star Trek universe. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide