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Doppelganger

Drew Barrymore fans, rejoice! Now you have the chance to freeze-frame the actress's various T&A shots on the "Doppelganger" DVD; sadly, that's pretty much all you're going to get out of this lame, lopsided, floppy-eared dog of a movie. The story centers around Holly Gooding, a seemingly sound woman who has moved from New York to Los Angeles following a murder in which she remains a suspect. She moves into a room rented out by writer Patrick Highsmith (George Newbern), who begins a love affair with her, only to realize that she might actually be living through dual personalities. ***

Whatever the case may be, the concept in "Doppelganger" of duality is ruined by an illogical and hokey script, not to mention some of the worst acting to come out of an actress like Barrymore in years. It's a shame this wasn't billed as a comedy: there's more laughs in watching the cast try to play their situations nonchalantly than there are thrills. Writer/director Avi Nesher seems more attuned to elements of exploitation than anything else: it's the only explanation for the nudity and the corny violence. Fans only.

Everything you'd expect from an Artisan transfer. The 1.33:1 fullframe image is pretty lousy for the most part, exhibiting a great deal of noise and grain that becomes very bothersome. Colors are okay, but nothing to write home about, while contrast is hit and miss throughout. Edges are nicely sharp for the most part, but show signs of artifacts and haloing. ***

The Dolby Digital 2.0 track is equally unimpressive, boasting a louder-than-needed musical score that provides an uneven balance between it and the dialogue.