Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 8, 2013

My late dad was a store manager for Sears in a couple of major metropolitan markets and he used to catch considerable grief from the corporate types because he absolutely refused to let his stores start offering “holiday” displays and products until at least partway into November. That seems like an actually quaint point of view nowadays. Just the other day I ventured into my local big box home improvement store, only to be assaulted by rows of plastic Christmas trees, big blowup Santas and other relics of winter holidays. Hey, folks, it’s not even Hallowe’en yet, the last time I checked. And yet, here we are with a straight to video sequel to 2010’s fitfully entertaining Alpha and Omega, with—yep, you guessed it—a holiday subtext.

Much like the original film, Alpha and Omega 2 is pretty standard fare, this time focusing on Winston's grand-pups, who of course get involved in various shenanigans and some supposedly dangerous travails. It's by the numbers fare, ending with a feel good denouement which finds a major character having a holiday change of heart and the pups and their parents finding something akin to domestic bliss. You've seen it a thousand times before, but your toddler to small tot probably haven't, so this might provide a brief video babysitting respite for parents wondering why it's already Christmas when summer has barely ended.

Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

I had pretty much the exact same reaction to this sequel's AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1 as I did to the first film. The transfer has no issues, but the animation is so generic and undetailed that the actual look of this feature is just bland and generic.

Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is decently immersive, offering some good ambient environmental effects and delivering both dialogue and the occasional wolf howl with excellent fidelity.

Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Wolf's Tale: The Making of Alpha and Omega 2 (1080p; 8:14)


• Personality Test - Are You An Alpha or Omega?


• Wolf Fun Facts Trivia


• Following the Pack: A Sneak Peek at the Upcoming Alpha and Omega Adventures (1080p; 1:48). Yes, there are upcoming Alpha and Omega adventures.

Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is completely undemanding, generic fare and certainly suitable for very young children. The message of family and redemption is none too subtle, but obviously appropriate for the holiday season this straight to video release prematurely celebrates.