Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

Well gee, a movie where the dorky guy gets the girl? Who would've thought? Um, everyone. However, there's something very likeable about She's Out of My League. That something is Jay Baruchel.

Playing almost every role he's done since Judd Apatow's 2001 TV comedy, Undeclared, Baruchel has the likeable nerd down to a science. Even with roles in Knocked Up and Tropic Thunder under his belt, he's the slightly less successful Michael Cera. However, instead of embracing his inner (and outer) geek as cool, his nerdy superpowers work against him here.

Nobody questions Cera's pairing with hotties Kat Dennings (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist), Martha MacIsaac (Superbad), or Ellen Page (Juno).

However, asking why a "hard 10" like Molly (Alice Eve) would even consider Baruchel's Kirk is a running theme of She's Out of My League -- hence, the title.

Despite the predictable plot, Baruchel plays that lovable loser well and the film is very reminiscent of very '80s flicks like Better Off Dead, Can't Buy Me Love, and even Just One of the Guys. It's a little crude and corny at times, but She's Out of My League is easy on the brain and pretty enjoyable for fans of the genre.  

The Picture

She's Out of My League kicks off with a shot of a sad Jay Baruchel against a gorgeous airport (yes!) backdrop. From there, the 2.35:1 transfer is good, but slightly dim. A lot of fleshtones seem a bit on the orange side, but outdoor scenes with grass and sparkling pool water pop extremely well. Detail is also more than decent, most notably in Molly's hair, Kirk's worrisome face, and even in very crowded airport and hockey venues.

The Sound

Like most comedies, She's Out of My League is mainly dialogue. However, there's an unusual amount of ambient noise, which never disappoints. From the roar of airplane engines to the roar of Penguins fans, this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track has plenty to play around with. In some spots, the omnipresent pop soundtrack seems to dominate the action. However, it's a very nice step up from most rom-com tracks.

The Extras

She's Out of My League ranks a 2 when compared to most Blu-ray releases, as far as extras go. Aside from the obligatory deleted scenes and blooper reel, there's "Devon's Dating Show!" This 7.5-minute short has co-stars Nate Torrence (Get Smart) and Kyle Bornheimer (TV's Worst Week) riffing on first dates, first kisses, and other extremely useless topics.

Final Thoughts

She's Out of My League is certainly not a perfect 10. It's a bit cliche, crude and corny in sports. Still, between a nice image, above-average sound and a very charming Jay Baruchel, it ranks at least a notch above most rom com drivel and is well worth your time.

Product Details

• Actors: Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, T.J. Miller, Mike Vogel, Nate Torrence, Krysten Ritter, Geoff Stults, Lindsay Sloane
• Director: Jim Field Smith
• Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (French, Spanish, Portuguese)
• Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Rating: R
• Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: June 22, 2010
• Run Time: 104 minutes
• List Price: $39.99
• Extras:
  • Commentary by Director Jim Field Smith
  • Devon's Dating Show!
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Blooper Reel