Directors latest a throwback to previous work

Fans of Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight," "Erin Brockovich" or "Ocean's 11," expecting to see something similarly light and entertaining from his recent work, "Full Frontal," will be gravely disappointed. \n"Frontal" is a scathing Hollywood satire containing a movie within the movie entitled "Rendezvous." Nicholas (Blair Underwood) and Catherine (Julia Roberts) both star. Carl (David Hyde Pierce) is the struggling magazine writer who penned the script. He is unhappily married to Lee (Catherine Keener), a draconian human resources executive. Lee's sister, Linda (Mary McCormack), is a mopey masseuse with plans of meeting experimental theater director, Arty (Enrico Colantoni), whom she's spoken to on the Internet. Arty is prepping a Hitler-themed play entitled "The Sound and the Fuhrer," which stars a blood-drinking nut job of an actor (the hilarious Nicky Katt). Most of these characters converge at the 40th birthday party of Gus (David Duchovny), the horny yet depressed producer of "Rendezvous." \nCameos also inundate this already confusing and ironically melodramatic scenario. Brad Pitt and director David Fincher both appear as themselves in a knowing and utterly funny "Seven" send-up, and British badass Terrence Stamp briefly reprises his role from Soderbergh's "The Limey." Sound complicated? It is, often unnecessarily so.\nMuch like the film itself, the DVD is a mixed bag. The transfer often looks horrible as a majority of the flick was shot on intentionally grainy DV (exceptions include the "Rendezvous" segments, which were shot on 35 mm). The sound mix also doesn't really register, as the film is primarily dialogue driven. Soderbergh and screenwriter Coleman Hough deliver a decent commentary that the director dominates. Much of the discussion is both entertaining and insightful, but the track doesn't hold a candle to those on the "Out of Sight," "The Limey" or "Ocean's 11" DVDs.\n"Frontal," which was budgeted at $2 million and shot in 18 days, could best be described as a throwback to the earlier, more experimental days of the auteur's career. It's reminiscent of films such as "Sex, Lies, and Videotape," "Kafka," "Gray's Anatomy" and "Schizopolis." Opening to scathing reviews and lackluster business this past summer, \n"Frontal" is better than the negative buzz would suggest. In fact, it's well-worth renting now that it's available on DVD. Just enter with an open mind.