[amazon_link asins=’B07G1C5WXF’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’moviegazett03-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’666f5eab-e2db-11e8-82c4-69029f5e6f7c’]The feature directorial debut of comedienne/actress Judy Greer, A Happening of Monumental Proportions follows several distinct storylines that don’t really come together in the end. What starts out as an average day for widowed accountant Daniel Crawford (Common), quickly gets worse as soon as he arrives for work. He finds himself accused of break room sabotage. At the same time, his affair with his assistant (Jennifer Garner) is revealed by her very angry husband, Bob (Keanu Reeves, The Matrix). Fired from his job, Daniel is about to speak his daughter Patricia’s (Storm Reid) sixth grade class for career day, when Arthur (Bradley Whitford), the corporate executive who just fired him, shows up.

Meanwhile, for Principal Nichols (Allison Janney, I, Tonya) and Vice Principal Ned (Rob Riggle), the discovery of a dead groundskeeper has triggered panic. The two decide to hide him in the teachers’ lounge to avoid exposure. And depressed music teacher Christian (Anders Holm) is gobsmacked after learning his dreams of performing are dashed; feelings he’s unable to keep from his young students. In a contrived subplot, the needy new kid (Marcus Eckert) asks Patricia to be his girlfriend within minutes of meeting and cries when she rejects him. It’s very creepy.

Greer juggles so many stories, given the 82-minute runtime, any emotional impact is lost. For reasons not entirely clear, Daniel is positioned as the lead character, forcing Common to shed his calm demeanor in favor of an uncomfortable fidgetiness. While Judy Greer was able to gather an incredible cast, they are shamefully underused.

Presented in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio, this standard DVD transfer looks as good as it can. The image is clean, and colors are vibrant throughout. Viewers should be pleased with this presentation.

The 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio provides a clean, clear, and fairly immersive experience when considering the limitations of standard DVD. The limited effects are apparent, and dialogue is clean, clear and concise throughout. English, English SDH and Spanish subtitles are included.

The following extras are available:

  • A Sneak Peek at A Happening of Monumental Proportions (5:54) The cast and crew discuss working with Judy Greer and why they wanted to be a part of the film.