Neil Simon's "LOST IN YONKERS" has received its dvd debut, and it happilly surprised this reviewer.  Richard Dreyfuss is really good here, but Mercedes Ruehl steals the film in almost every scene.   Ruehl plays the slow-witted,  but deeply caring  granddaughter of a tough/scary grandmother.  Based on his award winning play, Simon adapted the screenplay, and while it has many big laughs, there's some heavy overtones as well.  There is more depth to his characters than typical, and by the film's uneven conclusion, it's hard not to empathize with even the least likeable characters on some level.  Even the reasoning behind the ogre-like grandmother's cruelty is revealed in due time.  When the grandma's widowed son and his children visit her at the film's beginning, we know all is not well in Yonkers.  Eddie needs to leave his children with grandma while looking for work.  It's during their stay there that the significance of relationships is made clear.  Everyone grows in some dimension, rather it's the slow-witted Ruehl learning to have more confidence, the wanna-be gangster, Louie(Richard Dreyfuss) or the kids themselves.  We learn of the significance with which mere encounters can enable us to grow, if we stop to appreciate them. 

Director Martha Coolidge has done a magnificent job here.  While there are some key thematic changes that have been allowed, she allows for an atmosphere in which everyone can and does give their utmost.  David Straitharn gives an unbelievable performance here as the boyfriend of Ruehl.  

COLUMBIA TRISTAR has maintained the correct 1.85:1 aspect ratio with 16:9 enhancement.  The image is well polished, and while colors are a little subdued in spots, they're generally solid.  Fleshtones are natural throughout.  Contrast is excellent, with deep blacks and grays.  The transfer has a style of its own, imperfect, but managing to capture the feel of the '40s era it depicts, without succumbing to cliche' film aging techniques. 

COLUMBIA TRISTAR has included a Dolby 2.0 mix.  As with most comedies, and Simon's dialogue-heavy script, there's not much need for an extremely active surround mix.  Most sound is focused on the front soundstage, but there's a surprising amount of effective rear speaker placement of atmospheric effects.  Dialogue is well-focused and always free of distortion. 

There are three trailers, including the one for "Lost in Yonkers" included here.