Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		2.5

All About the Benjamins Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Stephen Larson May 29, 2021

Bucum Jackson (Ice Cube) is a bounty hunter who hopes to one day open his own private investigation firm. The movie opens with a bang. Bucum is raiding the home of Lil J (Anthony Michael Hall) in classic shoot 'em up style. After surviving the fray, Bucum is tasked by his supervisor, Martinez (Anthony Giaimo), to track down the petty felon and hustla, Reggie (Mike Epps). As Bucum chases him by foot on the streets and through a Thai restaurant, Reggie ends up around a photo shoot where the lethal duo of Ramose (Roger Guenveur Smith) and Ursula (Carmen Chaplin) are trying to make off with a $20 million diamond heist. Reggie ends up in the back of Ramose and Ursuala's van. When the two killers decide not to murder him, Reggie later realizes he left his wallet either in the van or with them. He additionally learns it contains the winning numbers to a $60 million lottery ticket! He promises his girlfriend, Gina (Eva Mendes), that he'll get it back but he has to continue eluding Bucum's grasp. But when the bounty hunter uncovers Reggie's secret about the diamonds, the two team up to find them. But they have someone even more sinister than Ramose and Ursula to deal with: the mafioso Williamson (Tommy Flanagan), who has scars on each of his cheeks and acts like a young Al Capone.

Looking up at two unlikely partners.

All About the Benjamins was Ice Cube's attempt to make a twenty-first century buddy film along the lines of 48 Hrs. (1982). He also seems to have tried to duplicate the success of Friday (1995), which he co-wrote and starred in, by pairing himself with Mike Epps, who he attempted to groom into the next Chris Tucker. As funny as Epps is in this film and doing standup comedy, he isn't the actor of Tucker's caliber. Cube's screenplay, which he co-wrote with Ronald Lang, is surprisingly racist instead of serving up a dark comedic critique of racism, which may have been their original intent but it doesn't succeed. The script delivers some cruel and crude jokes. It's also shortsighted on the female characters in giving them subordinate roles. The Mendes character and Pam (Valarie Rae Miller), who works with Bucum and has a semi-romantic fling going, aren't asked to do that much. The camera is all over the place in All About the Benjamins and so is its story.

All About the Benjamins Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shout Select has given All About the Benjamins its global premiere on Blu-ray. The film appears in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The transfer looks struck from a dated master, which probably originates from the one used for New Line Home Entertainment's 2002 DVD. The image has a textured and gritty appearance. Colors are well-saturated. The aerial shots of the beach and water (Screenshots 18-20) are highlights. Shout has encoded the MPEG-4 AVC-encoded BD-50 at a mean video bitrate of 35400 kbps. My video score is 3.75/5.00.

Shout has provided twelve chapters for the 95-minute feature.

All About the Benjamins Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Shout supplies a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround (2994 kbps, 24-bit) and a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo downmix (1627 kbps, 24-bit). Spoken words are lucid and easy to discern. Action sequences receive a robust mix on the 5.1 with terrific separation along the rears. The sound track includes sixteen songs, including hip-hop ballads performed by Sean "Puffy" Combs (the title theme, "It's All About the Benjamins") and Ice Cube ("$100 Bill Y'all"). Composer John Murphy wrote a jazz-based score that's built on one theme.

Shout gives viewers the option of selecting the optional English SDH from the main menu or via remote activation while the film plays.

All About the Benjamins Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Shout has licensed all of the extras from the 2002 New Line Platinum Series DVD:

• Commentary with Director Kevin Bray and Producer Matt Alvarez - Bray and Alvarez are recorded together on this feature-length track. They discuss filming All About the Benjamins in Miami and the surrounding locales. They also address logistical challenges on certain shooting days posed for them. The most enjoyable part is hearing anecdotes about working with Evelyn Brooks and Joan Turner. There are some gaps throughout. In English, not subtitled.

• "Shot Caller: From Videos to Features" (14:22, 480i) - This featurette gives a cursory glance to how music videos were conceived and produced by various filmmakers. We hear from director Kevin Bray, cinematographer Eric Engler, producer/co-writer/star Ice Cube, Brett Ratner, Steve Carr (Next Friday), editor Dustin Robertson, and producer Matt Alvarez. The second half delves into features and the phases of pre-production, production, and post-production. In English, not subtitled.

• "Strictly Business: Making THE BENJAMINS" (12:30, 480i) - This promotional featurette gives a general overview of making All About the Benjamins. Taking head interviews are with Ice Cube, Valarie Rae Miller, Mike Epps, Kevin Bray, Matt Alvarez, Tommy Flanagan, Eva Mendes, Carmen Chaplin, and Glen MacPherson. In English, not subtitled.

• "Miami Nice" (8:39, 480i) - this featurette receives remarks from some of the same cast and crew members in the other featurettes. The "new" interviewees include production designer J. Mark Harrington, set decorator Barbara Peterson, location manager Leah Sokolowsky, and costume designer Sophie de Rakoff Carbonell. They describe (with storyboards occasionally displayed) the colors of the sets, doing the complicated photo shoot, Miami Beach, Williamson's office, and wardrobes. In English, not subtitled.

• "All About the Stunts" (7:49, 480i) - Bray and MacPherson go over how they did the opening trailer park scene. Helicopter pilot Paul Barth explains how the aerial views the boats and bodies of water were done. Special effects artist Rick Jones and Bray talk about how the fish truck and boat dealership scenes were set up and executed. Second unit director/stunt coordinator Artie Malesci explains how one of the speed boats was operated without a driver in front. In English, not subtitled.

• Gag Reel (2:16, 480i) - a brief reel of goofs and slip-ups. They're presented in 2.35:1 non-anamorphic widescreen.

• Deleted Scene (2:17, 480i) - an omitted scene set on a beach where Bucum spies on one of Reggie's friends and then confronts him fess up his whereabouts. It's shown in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and has the best quality of all extras. In English, not subtitled.

• Trina Music Video "Told Ya'll" (4:06, 480i) - This music video features clips from All About the Benjamins along with vocal performances by Trina and rapper Rick Ross.

• Theatrical Press Kit (3:05, 480i) - really an extended trailer with voice-over and interview snippets with the cast and director. We hear from Cube, Epps, Mendes, Miller, and Bray. In English, not subtitled.

• Cast Interviews from the Premiere (1:11, 480i) - footage from the film's 3/6/02 premiere at the Fox Westwood Village in Westwood, CA. This was attended by all of the main actors and who were captured with flashbulbs. They're interviewed very briefly on the red carpet. In English, not subtitled.

• Theatrical Trailer #1 (2:16, 480i) - New Line's original trailer is presented in a letterboxed 2.35:1.

• Theatrical Trailer #2 (1:10, 480i) - a shorter trailer that focuses on a couple of the movie's themes. It's also shown in 2.35:1 without an accommodation for 16x9 playback.

All About the Benjamins Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

First-time director Kevin Bray tries to cram in each and every trope from buddy and heist movies. The results are both scattershot and by-the-numbers. Ice Cube and Mike Epps have decent chemistry together but they can't rise above the hackneyed material. Shout Select delivers an above-average transfer that's taken from an older master. The image looks solid but also soft at times. The lossless audio tracks fare better, especially the 5.1 track. Shout has licensed all the bonus materials from the 2002 New Line DVD but didn't record any new ones. If you saw All About the Benjamins in the cinema back in 2002 and especially liked it, then you'll want to consider buying this disc. I would suggest a RENTAL first. Ice Cube fans may want to purchase but it's not one of the hipster's better movies.