Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Bachelor Party Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 29, 2014

1984’s “Bachelor Party” isn’t master class cinema by any stretch of the imagination. It’s a bawdy comedy created during a time when juvenile antics and bare breasts were celebrated by the moviegoing public, making it the knuckle-dragging alternative during an iconic summer of blockbusters. I’m not about to defend the picture’s iffy comedic interests, but it’s hard to discount small blips of charm that manage to help “Bachelor Party” not only find a personality, but numerous laughs as well, making it the rare horndog farce of the era to actually provide considered punchlines. It’s lewd and crude, but not unpleasant, with star Tom Hanks single-handedly sustaining screen energy with his rubbery, class clown performance, which, interestingly, represented his career follow-up to “Splash.” Over the course of a few months, Hanks went from being a mermaid’s sweetheart in a Disney film to a degenerate party animal. And people say he has no range.

Rick (Tom Hanks) is a habitual goofball, a school bus driver with no plans for the future other than to wed his girlfriend, Debbie (Tawny Kitaen). Breaking the news of his upcoming nuptials to his best friends, Rick is volunteered for a bachelor party, with pal Jay (Adrian Zmed) planning a celebration that mixes drugs, hookers, and live bands, thrilling attendees such as dimwit Ryko (Michael Dudikoff), Rudy (Barry Diamond), suicidal Brad (Bradford Bancroft), and Gary (Gary Grossman). Because Debbie’s father, Ed (George Grizzard), hates Rick, he sends her arrogant ex, Cole (Robert Prescott), to ruin the evening, with the blonde behemoth hoping to buy off the groom and reclaim his lost love. As the festivities commence, Jay’s hotel suite comes alive with all types of debauchery, while Rick struggles to maintain focus on his forthcoming life with Debbie, who’s already freaked about her fiancé’s big night with a bevy of strange, willing women.

“Bachelor Party” emerges from screenwriters Pat Proft and Neal Israel (who also directs), who previously collaborated on “Police Academy,” which was a major hit during the explosive box office year of 1984. The men are certainly capable of cooking up their fair share of R-rated mischief, but they appear to appreciate zaniness even more. While “Bachelor Party” isn’t gentle, it’s surprisingly good-natured tomfoolery, using the potential of a hotel blow-out to horse around with humor from bygone eras, with much of the feature resembling a beach party movie from the 1960s. There’s a villainous moron in Cole, who spends the picture trying to thwart the festivities, only to be outwitted by Rick’s posse at every turn. There’s the Frankie and Annette dynamic between Rick and Debbie, two lovebirds who find their union put to the test on this special night, despite clear interest in each other. And there’s an escalating war of pranks between Rick’s party and Debbie’s bridal shower attendees (including the late, great Wendie Jo Sperber), adding some gamesmanship to the controversial evening.

“Bachelor Party” makes it a point to be lighthearted fun, toppling its skin film origins to maintain a comedic rhythm with a varied cast of characters. These are guys committed to snorting coke, cheat on their spouses with street hookers, and carry on like zoo animals who’ve finally tunneled their way to freedom, but they’re a remarkably likable bunch, with the screenplay preserving their schoolyard-partnership timing and circle-the-wagons loyalty, defending Rick when outside forces conspire to sever his relationship with Debbie. There’s no particular depth, but Israel gives it his all, trusting shtick might disable expectations for a customary titillation experience. “Bachelor Party” is silly, written with a freewheeling attitude that encourages horse play, unafraid to introduce some vaudeville routines into a feature where a donkey overdoses on cocaine. Leaving melodrama behind, concentrating on the basics of male bonding and humiliation, the moviemakers find a screwball tone in the opening five minutes and stick with it throughout, always keeping the jokes coming and the performances wonderfully exaggerated.

Granted, not everything has aged well with “Bachelor Party.” Stereotyping is common, and the movie’s treatment (forget about a basic understanding) of women leaves much to be desired. Nothing’s egregious, but there’s discomfort in a few of these directions, including the bridal party’s need to dress up as prostitutes to check in on Rick’s shindig, soon caught up with the wrong pimp. There are also a few superfluous scenes devoted to Gary’s encounter with a transsexual person, buttoned with a shower-scrubbing, grossed-out reaction. The screenplay isn’t exactly open to sensitivity, requiring those new to these shenanigans to mentally hurdle the ugly stuff. Mercifully, Proft and Israel are more interested in impish excursions over angry ones, allowing the picture to continue on its merry way without disruption.

“Bachelor Party” is best remembered for the monkey business it manages to get right, including Rick’s incessant baiting of Ed, ruining family dinners and tennis time to drive the concerned father crazy. Dumb pranks at a male strip club (involving a character named “Nick the Dick”) between Rick’s group and Debbie’s army are salvaged with a distinct summer camp vibe, rescuing the scene. There’s plenty to enjoy at the party itself, as Israel captures insanity with a roomful of revelers, the aforementioned donkey, and a song from a shirtless Zmed. And the climax, which takes the effort to a multiplex for a showdown during 3-D film festival is as nutty as it sounds, and just about perfect. At the very least, the screenplay was quite prescient about the future of theater construction.

Bachelor Party Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.84:1 aspect ratio) presentation introduces "Bachelor Party" to the HD realm with some reservations, including the appearance of mild filtering, which disrupts the filmic appeal of the grainy image, giving it a video-like presence and some haloing. Perhaps we're dealing with an old master here, but all is not lost. For a catalog title, colors arrive in healthy condition, eased along by the production's use of hot pinks and light blues, which register as intended. Skintones are natural and welcoming. Fine detail achieves sharpness, allowing the viewer to study party sequences, while close-ups are served well, preserving reaction. Blacks are a bit crushed out, but nothing extreme, with most of the movie taking place in brightly lit areas.

Bachelor Party Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is contained but appealing, managing a healthy sense of cinematic life out of a limited range. Performance extremes are preserved with a pleasing balance, keeping frequent screams in check while the group dynamic is never overwhelming. Dialogue exchanges are crisp and tight. Interestingly, the track is perhaps the freshest home video representation "Bachelor Party" has ever enjoyed, with the feature's liberal use of ADR popping out in a manner I've never heard before. A lot of jokes were crammed into the corners of this thing. Music sounds clean, with band performances at the big shindig sounding full, while scoring performs as expected.

Bachelor Party Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Behind the Scenes" (3:10, SD) takes viewers back to 1984 for this EPK addition, which mixes film clips with cast and crew interviews, attempting to sell "Bachelor Party" as the wild choice for the summer of 1984.

• "An American Tradition" (2:51, SD) returns to the EPK style to explore the reality of bachelor parties, with the picture inspired by producer Bob Israel's own celebration.

• "While the Men Play" (1:43, SD) attempts to explore the moral choice of the movie, with Rick caught between his desire for marriage and his opportunity to cheat on his fiancée at his bachelor party. It's interesting to watch how 20th Century Fox at least tried to sell the picture as something of dramatic substance.

• Interviews (2:44, SD) are a handful of on-set chats with Tom Hanks, who talks about his television background and shares his thoughts on the "Bachelor Party" question of fidelity.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:07, HD) is included.

Bachelor Party Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While "Bachelor Party" has its merits, it's truly Hanks who carries the film. Downshifting into zaniness, Hanks remains fluid throughout, maintaining some emotional clarity as Rick tries to keep Debbie in his thoughts, but also eagerly participating in the group dynamic. He's absurdly fun to watch, nailing punchlines and physical comedy better than anyone in the cast, proving himself a star in this, only his second leading role. Perhaps a golden Hollywood career littered with awards couldn't be gleamed from Hanks's turn as Rick, but there's a sparkle in his eye and a way with timing that's just gold, helping Israel find the inspiration "Bachelor Party" needs to come to life.