With news that Ben Stiller is to be awarded the Charlie Chaplin Award for Excellence in Comedy, this week we’re focusing on his best films on BD. So if you’re stuck for ideas this weekend, why not try out one of the following:
There’s Something About Mary
Currently residing in 12th place on Hollywood’s list of highest grossing comedies, this crude but sweet comedy from the Farrelly Brothers is seen by many as the vehicle that launched Stiller’s career into the stratosphere. Socially awkward Ted (Stiller) can’t believe his luck when high school belle Mary (Cameron Diaz) asks him to be her date to prom. Unfortunately a painful bathroom incident puts paid to that and thirteen years on Ted decides to enlist a shady private detective (Matt Dillon) to find out what happened to her. Loaded with side splitting special features, the BD provides an abundance of insights into the film, including a 43 minute behind-the-scenes feature on the production and development of the project by the Farrelly Brothers. As well as information on the history, music and casting of the movie, extras include gag reels, music videos, set tours and cast interviews.
The Biggest Focker Collection Ever (Meet The Parents / Meet The Fockers / Little Fockers)
It might be every man’s worst nightmare to discover his soon-to-be father in law is Robert De Niro, but Stiller has to deal with just that predicament in the universally loved Meet the Parents franchise. Greg Focker (Stiller) is an unfortunately named, cat hating nurse who’s desperate to impress his girlfriend’s dad Jack (De Niro). The only problem is no one is good enough for Jack’s first-born and the highly strung, ex CIA agent (with a penchant for lie detecting his daughter’s suitors) takes a particular dislike to Greg straight away. The triple movie BD box set comprises a smorgasbord of impressive extras to accompany each of the three films. These include audio commentaries from the actors and directors, interviews with cast and crew, deleted scenes, gag reels and a behind-the-scenes look at make-up techniques, wardrobe, set design and shooting locations.
Tropic Thunder
The ‘Vietnam’ genre of war film has matured into a category of its own now and Tropic Thunder, with Ben Stiller in the director’s chair, takes an action-packed, comedic look at the film industry’s back-stabbing, fraudulence and obsession with money in relation to it. Alongside Stiller, stars Robert Downey Jr, Jack Black, Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey all enjoy themselves in this over-the-top outing which sees a gang of actors dropped into a Vietnam movie set, only to find out it’s actually guerrilla territory inhabited by ruthless drug lords and illegal arms dealers. The BD extras serve up some interesting insights, including commentary tracks from the writer, producer and production designers as well as a bonus one from Stiller, Black and Downey Jr which Blu-ray.com calls ‘perhaps the finest cast commentary every recorded, with Downey, Jr. stealing the show for two straight hours.’ Additional features on pyrotechnics, make-up, set design, deleted scenes and gag reels complete the BD.
So what do you think of our choices? Hit the comments to tell us your favourite Ben Stiller movies, or tell us what else you’ll be looking forward to watching on Blu-ray this weekend.
