Jersey Boys Blu-ray tells story of Frankie Valli

Jersey Boys, directed by Clint Eastwood, tells the true-life story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, a pop group who broke out of their hometown bubble to became an international sensation with a unique, brand-defining sound. Originally a Broadway show, the movie features all the same Four Seasons favorites, including Sherry, Walk Like A Man, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You and December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night). Of course, it’s not surprising that Eastwood’s adaption is so faithful to the original stage version. Original show writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice return as screenwriters, retaining much of the original musical’s dialogue, direct address and wiseguy wit. But humor isn’t all that’s returning.

Rather than cast Hollywood actors to sing show tunes, Eastwood chose performers from the original musical. Of the Four Seasons, three have onstage experience. Erich Bergen, Michael Lomenda and John Lloyd Young, who plays frontman Frankie Valli, as well as songwriter Bob Gaudio and arranger Nick Massi, respectively, bring their background in theater to the screen with refreshing confidence.

Christopher Walken plays the arbitrating gangster and real-life mob boss, Gyp Decarlo, who assists the Four Seasons with problems of a dubious nature. Walken is a devilishly charming pleasure to watch, a real scene-stealer, but that’s probably because he’s such an unusual choice for the character.

Vincent Piazza (HBO’s Boardwalk Empire), plays the hot-headed fourth Season, Tommy DeVito. The film raises the interesting question of where the band would be without DeVito, which is a double-edged sword, since the Four Seasons owe both their success and their mounting financial debt to the controlling, self-appointed leader of the group. Much of the band’s career is spent clearing DeVito’s arrears.

Eastwood takes his time to focus on the band members as delinquent youths and their run-ins with the law. These cheeky, Jersey-set scenes only support the rags-to-riches tale, because even when the band is established, they continue to squabble and rough-house like schoolyard boys. The Jersey Boys Blu-ray Combo Pack contains the following special features: From Broadway To The Big Screen, Too Good To Be True and “Oh, What A Night” To Remember. Other movies/TV shows releasing today include: How to Train Your Dragon 2, Let’s Be Cops, Tammy, James Cameron’s Deepsea Challenge 3D, Happy Christmas, About Alex and Iceman (Bing Feng: Chong Sheng Zhi Men). For a full list of new releases, click here. ~Daniel Horowitz