Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Beer League Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman April 25, 2020

Artie Lange’s now well publicized battles with various addictive behaviors perhaps removes a bit of the already iffy comedy that Beer League offers in its depiction of a kind of hapless shlub (played by Lange, of course) whose two loves in life are beer and baseball. The (many?) failings of one Artie DeVanzo (Artie Lange), including but not limited to drunken escapades, provide quite a bit of the ostensible humor in Beer League, and those who like basically brain dead raucous comedies with a juvenile humor bent may get a passing laugh or two out of the shenanigans, even if the “meta” aspect of it all vis a vis Lange’s real life may put a bit of a chill on the proceedings.

Beer League received a probably now long forgotten release on Blu-ray years ago from Echo Bridge Entertainment at the veritable dawn of the format in 2008. I refer you to my colleague Dustin Somner's Beer League Blu-ray review of that version for a complete plot recap, as well as for a chance to compare screenshots and other technical merits between the two releases, as well as to compare supplemental features. In just the latest examples of "different reviewers, different opinions", those who keep track of such things will note that I'm considerably less favorably inclined toward the film than Dustin was.

Beer League Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Beer League is presented on Blu-ray by MVD Marquee Collection, an imprint of MVD Visual, and FilmRise with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1 (the back cover incorrectly lists a 1.85:1 aspect ratio). Dustin wasn't overly enthusiastic about the Echo Bridge Entertainment release, which was encoded via MPEG-2. Judging solely on the basis of screenshots (I've never seen the Echo Bridge Entertainment version), this looks pretty much identical in terms of a rather nicely vivid palette, but it seem to boast at least somewhat better clarity and resolution of the grain field. This still looks like an older master to my eyes, with things like minor wobble and a generally kind of gritty appearance, but my hunch is fans of the film will be generally well pleased with the appearance of this presentation. Detail levels are very good to excellent throughout, and fine detail perks up considerably in close-ups. There are recurrent if minor signs of age related wear and tear courtesy of dirt, scratches and other passing flecks and specks.

Beer League Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There's both good news and bad news with regard to this release's audio. Dustin complained about pretty anemic amplitude on the Dolby Digital 5.1 track included on the Echo Bridge Entertainment release, but he was considerably more pleased with the uncompressed LPCM 2.0 track that the Echo Bridge Entertainment version also offered. This release has none of the amplitude issues with the Dolby Digital 5.1 track, but unfortunately the 2.0 track on this disc is also in lossy Dolby Digital. Both tracks sport fine fidelity within a lossy context, and the surround track does considerably open up the outdoor game material, but this is another release where my score is based at least in part on my firm belief that Blu-ray discs should have at least one lossless audio option.

Beer League Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The way we list supplements has changed pretty dramatically since 2008 when Dustin wrote his review of the Echo Bridge Entertainment release, but it looks to me like all of the supplements from that release have made it to this one.

• Audio Commentary by Artie Lange and Frank Sebastiano


• Beer Goggles Short (1080p; 1:00)


• Beer League: Behind the Scenes (1080p; 18:39)


• Artie Behind the Scenes from Best Damn Sports Show (1080p; 2:50)


• Artie Behind the Scenes at The Jimmy Kimmel Show (1080p; 3:33)


• Live from Cine Vegas! (1080p; 4:10)


• In the Studio with Artie: Jokes and Ringtones (1080p; 3:03 and 1:23)


• Raw Interviews (1080p; 19:16) feature Artie Lange, Frank Sebastiano, Anthony Mastromauro, Ralph Macchio, Jimmy Palumbo, Seymour Cassel, Joe Lo Truglio, Michael Deeg, Anthony De Sando, Jerry Minor and Cara Buono.


• Photo Gallery (480i; 5:30)


• Unrated Trailer (1080i; 3:15)


• Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 1:28)

Beer League Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Echo Bridge Entertainment release of Beer League seems to be kind of exorbitantly priced now, so for any fans of the film that didn't pick up that version, this MVD and FilmRise outing at least is economical, and it provides arguably (slightly) better video and what look to me like the same supplements. Unfortunately this release only offers lossy audio, for those who are considering a purchase.