6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The best buds of comedy are back and funnier than ever! In their triumphant return 25 years in the making, Cheech&Chong embark on an all-new trip that will leave you rolling with laughter. Director Christian Charles mixes lovable characters, outrageous jokes, hilarious songs, and live performance footage into a potent comedy blend. Kick back with a legendary duo that is, without a doubt, still smokin'!
Starring: Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Shelby Chong, Jimmy RootComedy | 100% |
Documentary | 8% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
One of the most amazing episodes of Jeopardy was during their annual “Tournament of Celebrities” a few years ago. I can’t remember who the other two stars were, but there was Cheech Marin, putative pothead who has made a career out of playing less than brilliantly intelligent individuals, simply dominating the show from first moment to last. In fact, it almost sounded as if Alex Trebeck were a broken record, so often did he call out, “Cheech!” as the comedian repeatedly buzzed in first to give an answer (or question, as the case may be), answers which were almost invariably correct. I was truly and completely stunned. So I guess I’m willing to cut a little—a little—slack to this reunion video consisting of a San Antonio comedy performance intercut with some frankly funnier asides by the great duo of Cheech and Chong in various guises.
Cheech and Chong. . .or is that Chong and Cheech?
Hey, Watch This arrives on Blu-ray looking pretty darned good for a filmed live in performance concert. We're offered an unusually sharp image delivered via an AVC encode in full 1080p and a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Stage lighting is rather garish at times throughout the hour and a half or so of the concert, and that lends a peculiar palette to some of the proceedings, but colors all pop nicely and detail is excellent throughout. Cheech and Chong perform in front of a gigantic screen that offers several projections, and the delineation between the performers and the backdrop is always strong. One of the interstitial cutaways features the pair in a balcony, and lighting is rather dim in these episodes, with resulting poor contrast. Otherwise, this looks really great and undeniably clear and sharp, perhaps not to these two aging stars' advantage, at least in close-ups.
There's no uncompressed audio option on this Blu-ray, but there really doesn't need to be. What we get instead is a fine, if somewhat underwhelming, standard Dolby Digital 5.1 mix that offers the stage action up front while filling in the surrounds with the rather raucous sounds of the audience. The levels here are the most troublesome aspect. I personally had to turn my receiver up to almost maximum to get decent levels on the main pair. Whether this is due to the cavernous hall they're performing in, or the nonstop hoots and hollers from the audience I can't definitively say, but I was rather surprised that the main act wasn't bumped up in the final mix. What is here, levels aside, is clear and is delivered with excellent fidelity, if without an overly immersive concert surround experience.
Well over 30 minutes of extended and deleted scenes are included here, including Shelby Chong's opening set, which has some good bits but which, like the main program, veers into the lewd and lascivious without ever hitting a comedic home run. By far the best extra is Chong's very funny routine about getting arrested. It's easily the best thing on this Blu-ray, main set or otherwise.
I really wanted to love this reunion special, but it just fell flat for me most of the time. There are occasional laugh lines scattered throughout the proceedings, but the whole enterprise often reeks of a desperate attempt to reclaim the limelight. Sometimes it's better to just mellow out.
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