5.5 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Chloe and Papi return to Beverly Hills, where they are married and become the proud parents of five remarkably mischievous puppies, while Sam Cortez must fight to keep his parents from being evicted from their home.
Starring: George Lopez, Odette Annable, Miguel Ferrer, Ernie Hudson, Loretta DevineFamily | 100% |
Comedy | 64% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 confirms my suspicions: if dogs started talking, we'd quickly realize they didn't have much to say. It'd be fascinating at first, sure. A great parlor trick, no doubt. But after the 457th puppy pun, most pet owners would be looking for a way to put down their former best friends. No, Disney's direct-to-video Chihuahua sequel isn't nearly as insipid as its critically panned predecessor (which, by some soul-peddling trickery, grossed an unholy $150 million worldwide), nor is it as teeth-splittingly sweet or mind-numbingly dull as entries in the Buddies franchise. I'll even go so far as to say kids will have a blast watching its feisty canines dig their way out of trouble. Does that make Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 a good film? If only that were the case...
They may not look like it, but they're a handful...
Cute, cuddly and oh-so-colorful, Disney's striking 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer defies direct-to-video expectation. It isn't without its flaws -- some of the Los Angeles. stock footage Zamm utilizes suffers from banding, blocking and other split-second anomalies (the worst of which appears in the sky in an early shot of the city) and negligible noise creeps in from time to time (watch Papi's nose when he tucks his pups in for the night) -- but the bulk of the video presentation is quite remarkable. Primaries are vibrant and spicy, blacks are deep and inky, and contrast is strong and stable. And detail? Detail is as crisp and refined as direct-to-video presentations get. Fine textures are refined and revealing, definition is razor-sharp and surprisingly clean (with little to no ringing to report), and a tasteful veneer of grain lends the Chihuahua sequel a filmic quality similar productions often lack. Better still, the majority of the film's visual effects are fairly seamless and stand up well under scrutiny. It only helps that the encode is as proficient as it is. Aside from the minor issues noted above, there isn't a hint of significant artifacting, banding, smearing, crush or aliasing. Knee-high videophiles and discerning parents alike will be thoroughly pleased with the results.
Disney's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track boasts decent bark and bite, even if it nips far more often than it draws blood. Dialogue is bright and intelligible throughout -- whether uttered by man or mutt -- and both live and recorded voices are smartly prioritized in the mix. Likewise, every ripping couch cushion, jingling dog toy and shrill yap yap yap is crystal clear, LFE output is healthy and hearty, directional effects and cross-channel pans are fairly impressive (particularly for a direct-to-video release) and Chris Hajian's generic genre score is given free reign of the soundfield. That being said, the rear speakers rarely lunge for the jugular and the whole of the mix is a tad front-heavy. Still, the rear soundstage is active enough to create a mildly engaging atmosphere complete with quiet but playful ambience and subtle but serviceable acoustics. Fans of the Chihuahua films (at least those armed with reasonable expectations) won't be disappointed.
The Blu-ray edition of Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 coughs up three dull features -- an interactive game show dubbed "Beverly Hills Chihuahua Challenge" (HD), a series of less-than-amusing "Blooper Faux Paws" (HD, 3 minutes) and a Bridgit Mendler music video (HD, 3 minutes) -- none of which add any value to the experience.
If you didn't make it through Beverly Hills Chihuahua, its direct-to-video sequel isn't going to win you over either. Younger children will certainly enjoy its talking-animal hilarity, but older kids and their less-than-enamored parents will find themselves staring at the clock and fighting sleep. At least Disney's Blu-ray release makes up for some of the mediocrity that graces the screen. Its supplemental package isn't going to sell any discs, but its excellent video transfer and solid DTS-HD Master Audio track will satisfy fans of all ages. Rent Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 if you must, avoid it altogether if you can.
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