"Dazed and Confused: Flashback Party Edition" (Rated R; List price $19.98)
Release date: Nov. 2
"Dazed and Confused" is one of those movies that never get stale. Or, to paraphrase a memorable quote from Matthew McConaughey's character in the film, "We get older. It stays the same age."
Even Wooderson (Matthew McConaughey) would be bummed about the lack of extras on the special flashback edition of "Dazed and Confused."
(Universal Studios)
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An ambling look at what happens on the last day of class at a Texas high school circa 1976, it's not only one of the most honest and hilarious teen movies ever made, it's also the film that launched numerous acting careers, including Ben Affleck's, McConaughey's, Parker Posey's and Adam Goldberg's. The influence of "Dazed" is so great that some former friends of director Richard Linklater, who share the same surnames as three of the movie's characters, recently filed a lawsuit against Universal Studios, claiming that the movie has caused them embarrassment and ridicule due to their fictional counterparts' often irresponsible behavior.
But if anyone has a right to be angry with Universal Studios about "Dazed and Confused," it's fans of the movie. After waiting several years for a special edition DVD with bonus features, Universal has delivered the "Dazed and Confused: Flashback Party Edition," whose extras can be watched in less than 30 minutes. To speak in terms "Dazed" fans can understand, this disc is a lot like Pickford's party: a whole lot of build-up to a whole lot of nothing.
Apart from the nine deleted scenes, most of which aren't particularly revealing, there are no extras directly related to the film. None. Instead there's "The Blunt Truth," a fake, four-minute public service announcement against marijuana use that plays like a silly outtake from "That '70s Show" and two actual PSAs from the 1970s that, while fun for nostalgia's sake, are apropos of nothing.
Where's the director's commentary from Linklater, who has delivered entertaining tracks on "School of Rock" and the Criterion Collection's "Slacker"? Where are the bloopers? Where's the documentary about the film that explains how the movie was cast, how much of the scenes were improvised and whether or not the cast drank actual beer on the set? Nowhere to be found. Ultimately the only reason to buy this DVD is for the convenience of viewing and reviewing the movie itself.
"Dazed and Confused" can be bought individually or as part of the "Ultimate Party Collection," which also includes a special edition of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." (If you already own "Fast Times," you may not want to bother with that one either. The film's been remastered but the extras are exactly the same as the ones on the previous DVD release.) So instead of getting an in-depth look at a film that many count among their favorites, we've gotten a DVD aimed at stoners who want to fight for their right to party. I can only hope that in my lifetime, the Criterion Collection obtains the rights to put out "Dazed and Confused" on DVD. Maybe its DVD team will do it right.
Most Ben-filled Bonus Point: It's fun to see a very young Affleck in some of the DVD's deleted scenes. He may be having a tough time on the screen these days, but as the obnoxious Fred O'Bannion, he creates a memorable -- and strangely lovable -- jackass.
Also on DVD this week: Just in time for Election Day, "The West Wing: Season Three" arrives on DVD Tuesday. And one of the most anticipated releases of the season, "Shrek 2" comes to DVD this Friday. A review will be featured in an upcoming edition of "Bonus Points."
Coming in next week's "Bonus Points": A special edition of "Gone With the Wind."
If you have feedback about "Bonus Points" or want to suggest a DVD for review, e-mail Jen Chaney.
