Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		1.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.0

Like Father Like Son Blu-ray Movie Review

Talk about "Retro VHS."

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 7, 2021

1987's Like Father Like Son looks at what happens when father and son, who couldn't be more dissimilar, accidentally drink the mind-swapping secret sauce and suddenly find themselves inhabiting the other's body. Even more than three decades ago this was not a new idea; Freaky Friday, which released more than a full decade earlier, was then, and probably still is today, king of the genre's castle. Like Father Like Son was a modest success at the time and in the year to follow both Vice Versa, which copies the same idea, and Big, which alters the formula somewhat but still plays in the same ballpark, released to theaters. But there's something quintessential about this film. It's not as genre defining as Freaky or unforgettable as Big, yet its cadence, its characters, its craftsmanship, and its balance of humor, heart, and genuine family reflection make it a fine example of the genre near its best.

Chris Hammond (Kirk Cameron) is a high school senior who is tiring of his father Jack’s (Dudley Moore) overbearing ways and unrealistic demands on his time and education. Chris would rather live it up, get the girl, and make his life his own out from under his father’s shadow. Jack is a respected, and very serious, medical professional with an eye on the opened Chief of Staff position at his hospital. One day, Chris’ friend Trigger (Sean Astin) tells the story of his Uncle Earl (Bill Morrison) who claims to be in possession of “brain transference serum” which Chris believes to be a bunch of hooey, even after Trigger steals some and it seems to work on a cat and nearby dog. But when the serum, hidden in a Tabasco bottle, becomes part of family dinner, Chris and Jack suddenly find themselves inhabiting one another’s body. Instantly, Chris is in a position of authority over Jack – physically, anyway – not to mention in a position of power (and great responsibility) at the hospital, and most interestingly, in possession of daddy’s credit cards. Meanwhile, Jack rediscovers what it’s like to be a teenager, this time armed with decades of knowledge that wows his professors, puts bullies in their place, and lands the girl. But Even if there are some perks to the swap, the drawbacks far outweigh them and the two will have to embark on a curious, and dangerous, adventure if they’re going to find the answer to returning things to normal.

Movies like Like Father Like Son must always find a way to acknowledge the conceits and constraints inherent to the story, particularly while keeping the material more-or-less family friendly. That's true here, but the film twists the formula a bit by making the body swap the result of a literal formula rather than some fully magical experience. The results are the same, but the process is not. That allows for a third act adventure once the second's playful antics -- Dudley Moore having fun in younger shoes, Kirk Cameron struggling to fill his father's in more ways than one (outside of some choice shopping sprees) -- have run their course. Certainly the father-son tandem grow from the experience, growing towards one another and earning a greater appreciation for who they are and their perspectives on life, leaving the film, in that regard, right on par with the others of its kind.

The film works as well as it does because of its dual leads. Moore is terrific in both roles, playing the stern doctor and strict father with a rhythmic force that's key to the film's success, both when he must suddenly stop acting his age and as he builds the character from the back end as "himself." As Jack, he's in total control. As Chris, he struggles to maintain his father's façade, particularly at work. Moore is equally effective, if not more so, at hamming it up and having fun while playing Chris, turning off the dour cadence and finding a much more expressive and amiable character during the switch. Cameron, conversely, is a bit more generic as the (then) typical teenager but finds his stride when he's suddenly able to ace high school, both the book work and the extracurriculars alike.

Like Father Like Son Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Did Like Father Like Son swap onto Blu-ray from a VHS tape? The film arrives on the high definition format with a crummy 1080p transfer. As the film begins, the video quality presents with a level of poorness rarely seen on the format: heavily compressed, absent meaningful definition, ragged and jagged, flat, and sporting a color palette that is the opposite of "dynamic." One can barely glimpse the filmic roots even at the 1080p resolution. Things don't really improve from there. The picture holds tight not to a natural grain structure but instead a digital morass that sits on the image like a hideous noisy overlay. Jagged edges are more common than natural and smooth lines. Textures are shockingly poor: faces are flat, environments soft, and would-be high yield details around the school or hospital are rendered visually inept. Colors fare a mite better, offering at least a hint of essential tonal yield but certainly delivering no nuance or punch. The picture suffers from heavy compression throughout as well as plenty of splotches and speckles betraying the print's condition. Even at this price point, where one expects Mill Creek to cut a few corners, there's no excuse for this mess. It's a disaster and makes The Freshman almost look good and Crossroads great in comparison.

Like Father Like Son Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

At least the supplied DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack fares somewhat better, as nondescript as it may be, delivering a passable, baseline audio presentation that offers suitably clear dialogue, music, and front-side spread but certainly no aural dazzle and delight. At its best, the track demonstrates some nice separation and distinctive, flowing detail across the front, for example during the scene in which father and son transfer minds. Another highlight, as it were in this track, comes when Chris, in his father's body, arrives at the hospital in chapter five to a chorus of various screams and moans and sounds of hustle and bustle that help the listener understand the situation into which Chris has walked. The scene to follow offers more front-spread din, this time at the school cafeteria. There are several similar examples scattered throughout where the two-channel track opens up quite wide and delivers a steady diet of discrete and identifiable sounds across the front. Clarity is nothing to write home about, but there's enough essential definition to satisfy demands. There's not much more to the track. Dialogue is detailed and images to a front-center area.

Like Father Like Son Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Like Father Like Son contains no supplemental content. The main menu screen only offers options for "Play" and toggling subtitles on and off. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release ships with a "retro VHS" slipcover which features alternate (and superior) artwork compared to the BD case proper.

Like Father Like Son Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Like Father Like Son is a fun movie and one of the best of the "body swap" films that has become something of a subgenre all its own. Moore is terrific, Cameron isn't bad, and the film holds up for laughs and mild family drama all these decades later. As for the Blu-ray, what else is there to say except "talk about retro VHS?" The picture quality is horrid, barely a step above the worst of the worst the format has to offer. The audio fares better, which isn't saying much. As expected, no extras are included. This film deserves better.