Paul McGuigan's US remake of acclaimed French thriller L'Appartement - renamed Wicker Park - is "dumbed down so far, it's just plain dumb". Josh Hartnett stars in this badly received tale of an obsessive executive hunting down the woman he loves, played by former Helen of Troy, Diane Kruger. After lukewarm ticket sales, it seems Hartnett will never get beyond the label of Hollywood's next big thing.

A Stalk In The Park

11 deleted scenes are mostly extended versions of what already exists in the final cut. Perhaps these scenes were trimmed down to keep Hartnett's character from seeming totally psychotic - tailing Kruger through the streets of Chicago, chasing her up stairwells, and photographing her while she sleeps. Yeesh.

It's down to co-star Matthew Lillard to lighten things up in the Gag Reel. Meanwhile Rose Byrne is clearly losing the plot, staggering about, bumping into walls and giggling like a maniac. Amidst the chaos, Hartnett tries desperately to keep a straight face, but when you can't beat 'em...

Snow Flurry

Hartnett developed a fast friendship with Scottish director Paul McGuigan during the making of this film and together they deliver an easy-going commentary. It's low on creative insights though - in fact they spend most of the time whinging about the freezing conditions in Canada where most of the shoot took place. "My head was numb," moans McGuigan. Excuses, excuses, eh? Elsewhere he points out the fake snow from the real snow and takes special pride in some computer-generated snow. Between snow analysis, Hartnett draws attention to his "Jesus moments" ie: shaking his head a lot and looking sad. All this beggars the question: what was the fake snow really made of and did they inhale?

With The Postal Service video 'Against All Odds' rounding off the package, it's hardly an avalanche of extras on this DVD. Only obsessive Josh Hartnett fans need apply.

EXTRA FEATURES

The Wicker Park DVD is out to buy on Monday 7th February 2005.