Blu-ray Review – Desperately Seeking Susan

There was a brief, shining moment in 1985 when the world was comfortable with the idea of Madonna as an actress. It was fleeting but profound. The idea of turning pop singers into movie stars wasn't new, but Madonna proved to be a special challenge, leaving the producers to hurdle her substantial thespian limitations and keep her locked into "Madonna Mode." Not really portraying a character, Madonna is playing herself, with the production happy to use her soaring fame and iconic style to sell a weirdly low-key comedy that offers the occasional dip into thrillerdom. She's perfectly appealing but asked to do very little, remaining in a holding pattern of mischief, boosted by a periodic blip of sexuality, while the rest of the feature moves into position at half-speed. Elevated by director Susan Seidelman's ability to conjure a sufficient New York City atmosphere, "Desperately Seeking Susan" has its charms and time capsule appeal, making for an easy sit, but never an engrossing one. There are moments when the picture seems acutely aware of its sleepily idiosyncratic ways, and there are times when it feels hopelessly aimless, with no particular direction to a tale of mistaken identity, domestic dissatisfaction, and the demands of a gun-toting maniac. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com