Shot in 2001, Plan B shows Diane Keaton doing what Diane Keaton does best; clunky and comedic slapstick. She’s the highlight of this film, yet around two thirds of the way through I was kinda hoping she’d settle on her character a bit more. She starts the film very nervously and klutzes her way through it until she finds some inner strength, but then it deserts her again.

Anyhow, the story is about Fran Maloni who’s married to a loser. A real loser as it turns out, because he’s just been murdered and left her with an enormous mound of gambling debts (among others). His former employer, a Mafia leader (and also the man that him) takes her in as a bookkeeper/secretary and it isn’t long before he asks her to kill a dude (Maury Chaykin) for him.

Naturally, being Fran and a clumsy nerd, she’s a little averse to doing a hit, and so she concocts Plan B: she’ll say she killed him and store him at her brother’s house in Florida. Then comes another hit. And another.

After some discussion, the cons all agree it’s the best way to get out of the crime biz and finally do whatever they want to do in life. Being ‘dead’; gives them all a fresh start. However, there is still measured reluctance regarding Fran’s power and this is the part where Fran the clumsy nerd becomes Fran the calculating controller and that would be that; until the boss figures it out and comes after them all, reducing Fran to a clumsy wreck again.

This is an interesting idea for a film, and while it’s been handled fairly well, there is a lingering doubt as to some of the connections made in the script. (First the boss loves the idea of dumping bodies in Florida, but then thinks better of it etc.) Still, it’s an interesting film and does have some wittier moments that will raise a chuckle. Don’t try to find any deeper levels in it though, because they aren’t there.

As to picture quality, everything looks great, naturally. This is a recent film and all and generally they tend to look pretty good upon making the transfer to DVD. However, in the occasional black fades and pauses in darkness (commercial breaks?) there is a bizarre horizontal striping across the screen, creating two levels of black. I’ve never seen that before. It looked kinda like ghosting or static interruption, but obviously isn’t. There are also occasional moments of grain, particularly evident in the Boss’ office. It’s poorly lit in what looks deliberately like afternoon sun, but does cause a bit of loss of detail in the deeper shadows and the mentioned graininess. Happily, these scenes aren’t always bad because there are quite a few scenes within said office.

Sound is good here and delivered in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround. Surprisingly it has a bit of work to do, with the surrounds sounding crisp and clean throughout. Dialogue is all easily understood and well delivered (and occasionally enters the surrounds) while the sound effects (mostly car engines and gunshots, with the occasional overloud punching sound) are all fairly even as well. Music has been crafted by Brian Tyler and suits the film well, lending it frantic comedy panic or menacing mood accordingly. It’s entirely suitable to the film and sounds very even throughout, highlighting rather than overstepping itself or dominating the action.

By way of extras we are granted but a theatrical trailer delivered in 1.78:1 and 16:9 enhanced, though it seems to be describing a different film. Natasha Lyonne (American Pie) is mentioned as main cast though she has but eight or so lines in the whole movie and seems limited to standing around in her underwear or a revealing bikini for most of her scenes. Plus, the trailer has a really dickie voiceover of the variety I truly despise. On top of that indignity, being a rental, we are gifted to receive a Warner Bros Movie World trailer and a Dolby trailer both of which are thankfully fast-forwardable. Oh, it’s the steam train one, in case you care.

This is a rather mundane film for a rental and I'm not sure how well this will go. In video stores there are probably only, like, three copies or something and two are always in. Diane Keaton is amusing as the bungling Fran while Paul Sorvino (Romeo + Juliet) does well as the menacing Mafia boss. Maury Chaykin is another highlight of the film, playing his usual role of just off crazy and is particularly awkward.

Check it out as a rental by all means, but reconsider the purchasing angle afterward.