S.O.B. (1981)
Film:
DVD:

Written & Directed by Blake Edwards
Starring Julie Andrews, Richard Mulligan, Robert Webber, Robert Preston, William Holden

Features:

• Theatrical trailer
  

Anamorphic: No.

My Advice: Rent It.

Felix Farmer (Mulligan) has the unfortunate honor of having created the most incredible flop in all of Hollywood history. It's done so poorly at the box office that everyone from the studio head (Robert Vaughn) to the town's biggest gossip columnist (Loretta Swit) are going batshit trying to figure out what has happened and what's going to happen now. Farmer's wife, Sally Miles (Andrews), the star of the film is leaving him, and oh by the way, he's gone insane as well. But then--! In an epiphany (and because his attempts to kill himself aren't going too well), Farmer figures out how to fix the film and save the day. But is Hollywood ready for Farmer's brand new vision?

This film marks the beginning of Edwards' spotty record with plainly unfunny movies. The jewel in his crown, The Pink Panther franchise, was about to be marred the next year with the first of three attempts to do a Panther film without Peter Sellers. However, that was a year away, and luckily this film is not without merit.

Edwards' attempt to "take aim" at Hollywood has its ups and downs. The extended attempts at laughs, such as Andrews' characters' swami/guru (Larry Storch), normally fall flat--whereas the quick in-and-out bits are usually the most inspired. What springs to mind are examples such as...Robert Vaughn in heels and garters and Shelley Winters fighting off a feathered boa while in bed with a black woman. The much-vaunted topless Julie Andrews scene is a bit anti-climactic, to be honest.

The one extended bit that works fabulously is standout Robert Preston. Playing the doctor (who wants to make certain you understand the difference between a quack and a shyster) is a perfect role for Preston and he nails every single line and scene to hilarious effect.

Unforunately, there's really nothing to speak of in the way of features for the disc. There's a cast and crew listing and a theatrical trailer, but nothing more. As a result, any hardcore Edwards completists will want to own the thing, but the rest of us should simply rent it.