Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Beauty Day Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 17, 2022

“Jackass” is the success story. The MTV show was an immense hit, bringing the world of skate video shenanigans and backyard stunts to the masses, helping to inspire the early imagination of the YouTube generation. However, before Johnny Knoxville, there was Ralph Zavadil, an Ontario native who spent time between 1990 and 1995 working to entertain cable customers with his special brand of insanity. He became Cap’n Video, a figure of stunts and cartoonish behavior attempting to bring lunacy to the small screen, using a wild blend of humor and recklessness. Zavadil loved playing the part, and for five years, he was the king of his castle, offering a one-man-band production push to sell himself as an entertainer with an unusual appetite for destruction. “Beauty Day” is director Jay Cheel’s effort to catch up with the star of “Cap’n Video,” exploring a bizarre career and a weird man as he gears up to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his cable debut.

“Beauty Day” is quick to showcase how it all originally ended for Zavadil, examining footage from a stunt that involved Cap’n Video climbing an unsecured ladder to jump into a covered pool. Mistakes were made, and Zavadil ended up in the hospital, effectively ending his run as the cable madman, but Cheel offers a potentially crippling blunder as a way to understand the inner drive of Zavadil, who was always up for crazy physical challenges, ignoring safety to keep up with weekly demands for show content. “Beauty Day” soon catches up with Zavadil in 2010, who’s now older but not necessarily wiser, keeping busy with pal Robert in his glass studio. While “Cap’n Video” went off the air in 1995, a desire to make a mess for T.V. audiences hasn’t left Zavadil, who begins to make plans for a birthday special, hoping to resurrect his character and feel the love from cult fandom once again.

Filming the birthday special takes up the final act of “Beauty Day,” with the rest of the documentary offering a traditional overview of life choices and directions for Zavadil, who emerged from a bout with childhood cancer with a drive to live life to the fullest. Time with General Motors wasn’t fulfilling, inspiring him to pick up a camera and tape stunts around his home, creating the feral character of Cap’n Video to best sell such crude high jinks, which included the snorting of raw eggs, the consumption of dog hair, and jumping into his backyard shed. “Cap’n Video” was a hit for his local cable provider, but once he nearly killed himself with the “Pool Plunge,” Zavadil experienced a slight surge of fame, giving him a shot at national exposure.

Beauty Day Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.36:1 aspect ratio) presentation is split between the low-resolution world of the "Cap'n Video" show and HD interview and atmosphere footage. Detail remains acceptable but slightly soft (working with older HD equipment) throughout the documentary, exploring Ralph's aged appearance and his surroundings, including living spaces and a glass workshop. Exteriors offer passable dimension. Colors run hotter, including primaries on clothing choices and interior decoration. Delineation is satisfactory.

Beauty Day Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix presents clear interview audio, securing the loudness of Ralph and the less animated ways of his friends and family. Music offers crisp instrumentation and a circular presence. Low-end isn't challenged.

Beauty Day Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Jay Cheel and star Ralph Zavadil.

• Deleted Scenes (16:25, HD) primarily focus on planning and stunts for the birthday special.

• Highlights (58:35, SD) collect footage from the original "Cap'n Video" program.

• "The Cap'n Video 20th Birthday Special" (21:38, SD) is presented.

• A Trailer has not been included.

Beauty Day Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Cheel puts together an interesting study of a defiant man, and one who's seen his share of hits and misses. "Beauty Day" tracks Zavadil's love life and the unexpected arrival of parenthood, deals with his unusual personality (and apparent approval of pet overpopulation), and shares plenty of footage from the original "Cap'n Video" show, celebrating a pure showcase of misbehavior. It's a fascinating study of Zavadil's kooky ways and possibly misbegotten ambition, creating a portrait of a man who wanted to delight viewers through his own near-death experiences.