Entertainment

10:27 AM CDT on Friday, May 26, 2006

By CHRIS VOGNAR / The Dallas Morning News

The marketing campaign for Transamerica is summed up by the art on the DVD jacket. It's one of those plastic pictures that changes when you slant the box this way or that, the kind that makes that high-pitched noise when scratched.

Look at it straight on, and you see a most feminine Felicity Huffman gazing at you in a white gown, ready for battle on Wisteria Lane. But move it ever so slightly and presto! She transforms into a gawky, manly church lady in a sensible turtleneck ensemble.

Now you see her. Now you see him.

Ms. Huffman's gender switcheroo earned her an Oscar nomination as Bree, a pre-op transsexual driving cross-country with a sullen, troublemaking teen (Kevin Zegers). You see, when Bree was Stanley, he fathered Toby, and now they get to take a long road trip, during which they learn important lessons from each other, or something like that.

It sounds too formulaic to work, but work it does, thanks mostly to Ms. Huffman. Much has been made of her physical transformation, and rightfully so. But the interview feature with the actress and writer and director Duncan Tucker reminds us that sound was just as important to this metamorphosis. Bree's liltingly masculine voice reflects a character in flux, uncertain, proud and anxious to complete her change. The voice is low but not comical or broadly conceived. Like everything else in Ms. Huffman's performance, it is utterly convincing, not distracting.

The DVD features have a self-congratulatory tone, which isn't too uncommon. The two interviews – one with Mr. Tucker and Ms. Huffman, the other with Mr. Tucker and Mr. Zegers – form a four-way mutual admiration society. You were great. No, you were great. But Mr. Tucker's commentary track has moments of valuable insight. Observing Mr. Zegers' footloose street hustler, the filmmaker observes that the young man is "unpoliced about his body." This quality creates a fine dramatic contrast to the self-conscious Bree.

The subject matter leads you to expect a transgressive Transamerica , but the results fall on the sweet side. It's a traditional quest story in transsexual clothing.

Criterion steps up with Luis Buñuel's Viridiana, featuring the very Buñuelian elements of the bourgeoisie, peasants and a dinner party. ... A two-disc version of Patton offers extras aplenty and a stirring performance by George C. Scott. ... In the waste-of-time-and-plastic department, a four-disc edition of Kingdom of Heaven is for Ridley Scott crusaders only. ... Get in touch with your inner canine with the first season of The Dog Whisperer. ... Steve Martin should be pleased: BBC has released documentary specials on Egypt and King Tut.

E-mail cvognar@dallasnews.com