Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Black Sheep Blu-ray Movie Review

Though absent extras, this disc should please fans.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 7, 2009

I'm not a brother, I'm an embarrassment.

Chris Farley (Tommy Boy) may have portrayed a goodhearted yet embarrassing brother in the 1996 Comedy Black Sheep, but his all-too-short career as a leading man proved to be anything but. Passing away less than two years after the film's release, Farley represented one of the last of the great pure comedians to grace modern cinema. His career only beginning to blossom after actors such as Bill Murray (Groundhog Day), Dan Aykroyd (Ghostbusters), and John Candy (Uncle Buck) had seen their heyday, Farley's upstart career, which like so many of the greats of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, saw its beginnings on "Saturday Night Live," promised the charm of Candy, the comedic timing of Murray, and the infectious humor of Aykroyd all rolled into one. Indeed, his trio of major studio hit films -- Tommy Boy, Beverly Hills Ninja, and Black Sheep -- witnessed the potential for a Comedic legend and now remember a career cut far too short.

We all need somebody to lean on.

Mike Donnelly (Farley) wants nothing more than to see his brother, Al (Tim Matheson, National Lampoon's Van Wilder), elected Governor of Washington state. In a heated battle with the incumbent Governor Tracy (Christine Ebersole), Al needs all the help he can get -- unless it's Mike's. Despite his good intentions and kind heart, Mike cannot keep himself out of trouble, embarrassing his brother at every turn. Needing to tuck him safely away until election day, Al enlists the help of one of his top aides, Steve Dodds (David Spade, The Benchwarmers), to accompany Mike to a secluded cabin where he couldn't possibly get himself, or Al, into any more trouble. Of course, Mike keeps finding ways to accidentally humiliate his brother, Steve, and himself, though his bumbling antics just might lead him to discover a secret that could change the complexion of the race in his brother's favor.

Black Sheep represents vintage Farley, and the film captures much of the same magic and sense of humor as Farley's biggest hit, Tommy Boy. Once again pairing Farley and Spade, Black Sheep sees the pair working together despite personalities and brainpower that represent polar opposites. Farley plays the happy-go-lucky, disheveled, well-to-do relative who wears his heart on his sleeve and tries his hardest to do things right and, subsequently, atone for his errors. Spade, again, portrays a more stable, business-like, well-groomed, and more intelligent (in a classic sense of the term) individual whose mission is to keep the Farley character in check. The similarities between the films are astounding, yet each enjoys an individual charm and spirit that set them apart one from the other. Black Sheep is absent the more poignant and heartfelt drama that marked an important plot point in Tommy Boy. Black Sheep plays more as a pure Comedy that lacks the finishing touches, charm, and heart of Tommy Boy but the film is a winner in its own right and keeps the laughs coming in rapid-fire succession.

Indeed, Black Sheep features plenty of humor, and rarely does a joke or visual gag flop. It's consistently funny, even during expository and thematically dramatic segments. Though most of its gags are predictable with obvious set-ups that any astute viewer or even casual fan of slapstick and physical comedy will see coming frames or even minutes away, Black Sheep presents them with a freshness made possible thanks to the remarkable talent of Chris Farley. Farley's physical performance in Black Sheep matches that of Tommy Boy, the actor showcasing an ability to move, smile, swing, jump, and react with precision timing, and doing so to wonderful visual effect. His performance is representative of a comedian with a natural ability to not only grasp the material but mesh it to his strengths. Though Black Sheep is neither a definitive Comedy classic nor even Farley's best film, it's a prime example of the actor's gifts that, regrettably, saw only several more performances. David Spade, too, delivers a performance similar to that which he turned in for Tommy Boy, though his character in Black Sheep seems to play second fiddle to Farley instead of enjoying equal importance to the story and comedy. Nevertheless, the tandem delivers another memorable outing, this time supported by good performances from Tim Matheson and Gary Busey.

Black Sheep Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Paramount's Blu-ray release of Black Sheep delivers surprisingly good results. Presented in 1080p high definition and framed inside 1.78:1 window, the transfer never misses a beat, remaining lively and natural throughout. The transfer reveals above-average levels of detail in most every shot. Bright, outdoor scenes fare extraordinarily well, as the texture of the street pavement, tree trunks, the political banners and signs, clothing, and all sorts of objects are rendered nicely and appear natural and lifelike. The transfer also features a strong color palette that appears realistic and lively, never too dull and certainly never overly bright or blown out of proprtion. A thin veneer of grain over the image and adds to the film-like appearance of the transfer. The print is practically free of blemishes. Flesh tones appear solid, and blacks never falter too terribly. Paramount has delivered another impressive transfer with their release of Black Sheep.

Black Sheep Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Black Sheep campaigns on Blu-ray with a Dolby TrueHD 5.0 lossless soundtrack. Indeed, the soundtrack does not incorporate the ".1" LFE channel, but not necessarily to the detriment of the audio experience. It plays robustly and clearly throughout, with nice attention to detail and sound placement. Sound effects often fill the soundstage, be they zooming cars, crashing objects, a splash in a lake, or the rumbling of the earth. The score, too -- from subtle dramatic notes to rock and roll tunes -- emanates from the front soundstage with a good bit of punch and authority. Despite the lack of an LFE track, explosions, crashes, and the like offer a solid thumping that won't rattle the ribcage but add some heft to the experience. The track makes occasional use of the rear channels, mostly in support of the front, and the track also features strong dialogue reproduction. Overall, Black Sheep's lossless soundtrack supports the film far better than one may expect.

Black Sheep Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Black Sheep offers absolutely no extra content.

Black Sheep Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

One of the few feature films showcasing the late and great Chris Farley in a leading role, Black Sheep offers plenty of laughs, good performances by all involved, a solid story, and even a few dramatic moments to tie the comedy together into a cohesive and highly entertaining movie. Though not quite on par with Tommy Boy, Black Sheep features vintage Farley, again paired with David Spade for 86 minutes of laugh-out-loud fun. Paramount's Blu-ray release of Black Sheep features a strong video presentation, a surprisingly hefty lossless soundtrack, but falters where fans may be most disappointed, the disc offering absolutely no special features, not even a trailer. Nevertheless, considering the quality of the movie and the technical presentation, Farley fans should make a point of adding this one to the collection, particularly if and when the disc sees a drop in price.