5.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.6 |
A single father, Monty, is a garage mechanic who lives in a poor neighborhood and struggles to make ends meet as he raises his three young daughters on his own. But when the courts award custody of his daughters to his corrupt, drug-dealing ex-wife, Monty desperately tries to win them back, enlisting the help of Julia, a beautiful — and hard-nosed — attorney he meets during his short stint as a chauffeur. While Monty and the Ivy-League-educated Julia couldn't be less alike, an unexpected romance blossoms — and it soon begins to feel like true love. But in order for their relationship to survive, the couple must reconcile their two very different worlds — and overcome the forces that threaten to tear Monty's family apart.
Starring: Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba, Louis Gossett Jr., Tasha Smith (I), Tracee Ellis RossComedy | 100% |
Romance | 57% |
Drama | 11% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 7.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
I’ll say this for Tyler Perry—the man keeps busy. Since his first critically panned and audience approved success with Diary of a Mad Black Woman, the actor slash playwright slash director slash media mogul has churned out one comedic, inspirational film after another, produced 100 episodes of his House of Payne sitcom for TBS, written a book, and opened Tyler Perry Studios, the industry’s first African-American-owned movie studio. From an abusive family background to raking in somewhere to the tune of $75 million last year, Perry seems to be the very definition of a self-made man. Yet, for all the power he wields—how many directors can claim to have full ownership of all their films?—it’s clear that success hasn’t gone to his head. His films are life-affirming tales of community, faith, and family, filled with hope and positive African- American role models. As much as I’m down with his message, I just can’t get past his moralizing methods. Daddy’s Little Girls is a good example. The film has heart, there’s no doubt about that, but it trades genuine emotion for sentimental slush and goes all didactic on us in the process, spelling out its morals in oversized, too easy to read block letters.
Daddy's Little Girls looks all grown up on Blu-ray, dressed in a fine 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer. No, the film doesn't appear as sharp and dimensional as some productions, but for a relatively low-budgeted drama/comedy, I was impressed by the image on display. Close-ups show fine texture—see the stubble on Idris Elba's face or the fine threading of his polo shirt—and the overall sense of clarity is good, with detail apparent in both foreground and background objects. You will note a few softer shots, but this is definitely a focus problem and not a transfer issue. The film has a nice warm tone, and while there are few truly vivid hues—see the purple-robed preacher standing in front of a red curtain or the interior of the blues club for exceptions—colors are fairly deep and stable throughout. Contrast is slightly hot at times, but this suits the feel of the picture, and black levels are strong, while preserving details in the shadows. The presentation is topped off with a thin and pleasing grain structure that adds to the film's warmth.
Once again, Lionsgate comes through with a fantastic 7.1 PCM uncompressed audio track. As Daddy's Little Girls is a fairly quiet drama/romance/comedy, you may not see the need for the extras channels, and to an extent that's true. There's a good bit of subtle ambience in the surrounds—street sounds, wind rustling though the cemetery, courthouse chatter—but there are very few discrete effects. As far as dynamics are concerned, the track is rock solid, especially during the many R 'n B songs that pepper the film. Bass response is cinched and clear, snare hits snap with punchy clarity, and the overall sound is round and mellow. Dialogue seems a bit low in a few scenes —the opening sequences in Willy's garage, for instance—but after bumping my volume up and leaving it that way, I had no problems. This won't shake your windows or rattle your walls, but it sounds better than most similar films.
Commentary by Tyler Perry
You may not like his films, but it's hard to deny Tyler Perry's talent for tenacity. The man has
single-handedly built up a small media empire, and it seems like he's always got at least two or
three projects on his plate. In this commentary track, Perry discusses production details, the
story's genesis, casting, and the freeing aspect of not having to simultaneously juggle being
behind and in front of the camera. Perry fans might enjoy the look into the man's personality,
but general audiences won't really miss anything by skipping this track.
Extended Church Scene (1080p, 7:50)
You want the full sermon? You got the full sermon. I'm not sure why this isn't just lumped in
with the deleted scenes though.
Atlanta Aquarium: Working Underwater (1080p, 2:19)
Tyler Perry talks about talks about being the first film crew to ever shoot at the Georgia
Aquarium, the second largest aquarium in the world.
Tyler's Team: Cast and Characters (1080p, 14:05)
Perry breaks down the characters for us here, and discusses how he likes to bring legends in—
hence the presence of Academy Award winner Lou Gossett, Jr.—to work with young, up-and-
coming casts.
Introducing the McClain Sisters (1080p, 4:23)
The three precocious sisters give a short interview and various cast members chime in about how
adorable and amazing they are.
Touring the Sets (1080p, 6:03)
Production designer Ina Mayhew gives us a tour of the two wildly different apartment sets used in
the movie and explains some of the techniques used to make them look lived in and
worn.
Conducting Chaos: The Riot Scene (1080p, 6:50)
Perry bemoans the lack of community in modern America and raises the question of what would
happen if people started taking their back their neighborhoods. Producer Reuben Cannon and
First A.D. Roger M. Bob go on to explain the shooting of the climatic riot scene.
The Oakland Cemetery (1080p, 5:28)
Tyler Perry talks about his love affair with Atlanta, Georgia, and historian Sam Reed gives some
background info about The Oakland Cemetery.
Deleted Scenes (1080p, 21:09)
Gag Reels (1080p, 4:44)
Yes, reels, plural. I'm not sure why these were split in half, but there are a few funny
moments.
Uncut (1080p, 4:20 total)
Here you'll find The Office alum Craig Robinson doing his thing as 40-P/Lord Byron in
three extended cameo scenes.
More (1080i, 1:08)
A promo for Perry's House of Payne sitcom.
"I just want my kids back!" Anyone remember that Tom Jane episode of Arrested Development? Anyone? Anyway, Tyler Perry continues to rake in the box office cash while confounding critics. Maybe we should all just lighten up. In all honesty, I appreciate that Perry is so focused on improving communities and strengthening families. I just wish he made better films. If you're already a fan, Daddy's Little Girls is a no-brainer on Blu-ray, with excellent picture quality, a surprising (if underused) 7.1 uncompressed audio track, and a host of extra features. The uninitiated, however, should do some research or stick with a rental.
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