The Extra Man – An eOne Films’ Release

 

DVD Release Date: November 16th, 2010

Rated 14A for mature themes, not recommended for children

Running time: 108 minutes

 

Shari Springer Berman (dir.)

Robert Pulcini (dir.)

 

Robert Pulcini (screenplay)

Jonathan Ames (screenplay)

Shari Springer Berman (screenplay)

Jonathan Ames (novel)

 

Klaus Badelt (music)

 

Kevin Kline as Henry Harrison

Paul Dano as Louis Ives

Katie Holmes as Mary Powell

John C. Reilly as Gershon Gruen

 

Our reviews below:

____________________________________________

The Extra Man DVD Review By John C.

*** (out of 4)

When the young Louis Ives (Paul Dano) moves to Manhattan, he ends up sharing an apartment with the eccentric playwright Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline).  Henry is a ‘extra man’ who escorts elderly widows to dinner, but doesn’t know the meaning of gender equality, and Louis is a sincere outsider who still has many issues to work out within himself.  What follows is a series of effective comedic set-ups and an unlikely friendship between the two characters.

 

Telling a quirky story that is reminiscent of a great stage play, The Extra Man is an often dark comedy that admittedly won’t be for everybody.  But with an excellent cast, (watch for a hilarious supporting role from John C. Reilly), sharp script and charming musical score, it delivers constant entertainment from beginning to end.  This is one worth seeking out.

 

The DVD includes feature commentary with Kline and author Jonathan Ames, a secondary commentary with the crew, a few featurettes and a deleted scene.

___________________________________________________________________________

The Extra Man DVD Review By Erin V.

*** (out of 4)

The Extra Man is about a young man named Louis Ives (Paul Dano) who moves to Manhatten after being let go at his college teaching position.  He ends up renting a room with a older gentleman named Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline), who is also very eccentric.  The film’s title refers to Henry’s job as an ‘extra man’ to wealthy widows – essentially, an escort for social functions, to maintain the man-woman seating arrangements…

 

Knowing practically nothing about the film going in, (not even having seen a trailer), I was pleasently surprised by the quirky film that is The Extra Man.  While the style won’t be for everyone, the cast is good, and the story is amusing in it’s eccentricity.  I count this as one that is worth seeing.

 

___________________________________________________________________________

The Extra Man DVD Review By Nicole

***1/4 (out of 4)

The Extra Man is a quirky comedy about two eccentric gentlemen and the equally odd and likable people they encounter.  When 20-something Louis Ives (Paul Dano) loses his job due to an embarrasing habit of his, he sets off to New York City.  There he rents a room at the home of playwright Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline), a backward thinking character who is more quirky than Louis.  Louis, in some ways, is the direct opposite.  He gets a job at an environmental magazine, befriending co-worker Mary (Katie Holmes), a pretty girl who follows a vegan diet.  Although Henry and Louis are different, they become friends.  Henry decides to teach Louis the art of being an “extra man,” a companion for rich older widows.  This new job helps Louis grow in character and maturity.

 

The Extra Man is clever and hilarious.  Free of raunchy content, this comedy relies on clever, British style wit to make it work.  The cast, acting and story are all good.  John C. Reilly plays a funny part, along with the main cast.  This is a unique movie that is worth seeing.

___________________________________________________________________________

The Extra Man DVD Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

The Extra Man is a darkly funny movie about two eccentric New York City roommates, Louis Ives (Paul Dano) and Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline).  The older man, Henry is an out-of-work playwright who supports his cultural activities by acting as an ‘extra man,’ a social (not sexual) escort for wealthy, older widows.  Henry takes the younger Louis under his wing and introduces him to the lifestyle of a ‘gentlemen friend.’  Louis has his own issues.  He is struggling to work as a writer for an environmental magazine.  He has a crush on co-worker Mary (Katie Holmes) but also has a stronger, secret desire to indulge his own private fetishes.  The friendship that develops between the roommates, Henry, Louis and an even more eccentric neighbour, Gershon (John C. Reilly) forms the basis of this smartly written, funny story.

 

The strength in The Extra Man lies in the superb cast.  Kevin Kline is perfect as the politically incorrect, completely eccentric, dry-witted Henry.  Paul Dano is completely believable as a young man who seems to be from another era and struggles with his secret life.  John C. Reilly’s character, Gershon, doesn’t open his mouth until well into the movie.  But once he does speak, he is unforgettable.

 

The Extra Man is quirky and different, but that makes it interesting.  The superb cast makes it worth seeing, especially Kevin Kline’s performance.  This is a smartly written, dark comedy.

___________________________________________________________________________

The Extra Man DVD Review By Tony

***1/2 (out of 4)

Right from the opening scene of The Extra Man we know Louis Ives (Paul Dano) is an unusual young man whose kinky tastes take him from a small town English teaching job to find himself in Manhattan. An aspiring writer who admires the 1920s of F. Scott Fitzgerald, he finds work with an environmental magazine. One of his co-workers Mary (Katie Holmes) is attractive but unavailable. He shares a flat with Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline), a wonderfully eccentric playwright with outrageous opinions surviving in a sort of demimonde as an “extra man” in the company of very rich elderly women.

 

The Extra Man has all the wit and charm of a classic stage comedy and Kline fills his role brilliantly, supported by Paul Dano and the rest of the fine New York cast. John C. Reilly is particularly funny as the mysterious neighbour. This disk will no doubt reward repeated viewings with fresh delights whenever you seek a refreshing break from romance, tragedy, action or cheap laughs.

___________________________________________________________________________

Consensus: The Extra Man is a darkly hilarious comedy with a sharp script and excellent cast. Although it admittedly won’t be for everybody, this is one worth seeking out. *** (Out of 4)