Meet the Browns Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Meet the Browns Blu-ray Movie Review

Tyler Perry's latest feature film arrives on Blu-ray.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 23, 2008

I'd rather be scared and with you than not scared and not have you.

Knowing nothing of Tyler Perry's work coming into this review, other than that another of his films, Daddy's Little Girls, is currently available on Blu-ray from Lionsgate, I was eager to see what the fuss was all about. My expectations were low, however, upon discovering that Meet the Browns ranks with a paltry 2.5/10 score on IMDb, and the various trailers for Perry's many stage productions, sitcoms, and feature films that played before the beginning of this movie appeared rather uninspired and uninteresting, seeming to regurgitate the same jokes and themes that we've seen before. I will admit to the trailer for Daddy's Little Girls striking my fancy, and I hope to some day catch a screening of the film, especially after having screened and (mostly) enjoyed Meet the Browns. Indeed, the film offers nothing new, which is probably one of the culprits in the generally negative reviews already out there, but the more dramatic angles of the story provide enough substance, meaning, feel, and heart so as to suck you in and have you hoping for the best for all the characters.

Meet the Browns.

Brenda (Angela Bassett, Meet the Robinsons) is a single mother of three struggling to get by in urban Chicago. Her deadbeat husband won't help her, even when she unexpectedly loses her job, has her electricity turned off, and cannot afford to feed her children. When things cannot seem to get any worse, Brenda receives notice in the mail of the death of a father she never knew. With the bus tickets included for her and her family, she travels to Georgia and meets the Browns, an eccentric bunch that may be crude and unusual, but they're family. Meanwhile, another local, Harry (Rick Fox, TV's "Oz"), a college basketball scout and former professional baller, wants to recruit Brenda's son and high school hoop star, Michael (Lance Gross, TV's "House of Payne"). Harry may have his eye on more than her son's talent, and Brenda and her family just might find more than long-lost family in the Peach state.

Meet the Browns is a surprisingly pleasing and moving picture that, underneath a veneer of racial stereotypes, lowbrow humor, and cinematic convention and cliché, manages to tug at the heart strings and provide some touching moments that inspire and teach us the values of trust and respect while conveying the importance of a loving family. Unfortunately, the film can never quite decide if it is a comedy or human drama, and the convergence of the two slows the pace of the film and lessens the emotional impact. The dramatic aspects of the film work far better than the Nutty Professor-esque comedy routines. Every drama, especially one like this that is generally powerful and pleasing, if not predictable, needs a few intermittent laughs to keep things fresh. However, Meet the Browns goes overboard on the comedy end and, despite a few lovable characters present in the film primarily for their comic relief, the dramatic aspect of the film far outweighs the comedy that feels tacked-on and out-of-place.

Meet the Browns is a fairly typical "dramedy" but makes its mark thanks in large part to the presence of former NBA star Rick Fox and several other cast members. Oddly enough, Fox plays a former pro basketball player in this film, too. His character is not only the best written in the film, it's also the best acted, and he brings heart and honesty to an otherwise wholly mediocre project. He and Bassett share a wonderful chemistry together and while their character arcs don't present viewers with any revelation, the naturalistic way in which their arcs unfold is what makes the movie work. Lance Gross is also well-cast in his role. His character, too, that of a tough-nosed high school basketball phenom who means well but makes a few wrong decisions, is terribly trite, but he brings a freshness and sincerity to the role that elevates the character above the mundane.

Meet the Browns Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Meet the Browns arrives on Blu-ray with an adequate but uninspired 1080p, 1.85:1 framed transfer. This disc has a solid theatrical look about it, accompanied by a moderately heavy layer of film grain that adds a nice depth and a generally pleasing look to the film. Colors are natural and strong. Detail is only moderate, however. Look at the sequence in the kitchen at the daycare around the 17:20 mark. Nothing stands out as well-defined, but nothing looks bad, either. Various wide cityscape shots of Chicago early in the film look fine, but fail to elicit that "wow!" sense of realism that was evident in similar shots in 21, for example. Softness is an issue through much of the program. Even foreground detail appears soft now and again, a good example being the funeral in the church in chapter eight. Black levels are decent, with a hint of gray and blue visible. Flesh tones, too, appear accurate and pleasing. This transfer borders on being fantastic, but the lack of fine detail and clarity keeps this one from being a real winner.

Meet the Browns Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Accompanied by a full-fledged DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack, Meet the Browns sounds just fine but fails to take advantage of the entire soundstage for the majority of the film. As a dialogue-driven comedy and drama vehicle, this is to be expected, and when called upon, the soundstage becomes drenched in a pleasing sonic experience. Dialogue, the bread-and-butter of the track, is well-prioritized and audible. Discrete effects are well-placed, when called upon. The basketball sequence in chapter three offers great crowd ambience, and that wonderful squeak and squeal of sneakers on hardwood sounds very natural. The feel of being at an exciting, crowded high school basketball game is very much real and reproduced to great effect in the sequence. Generally, the track is front-heavy and the surround and LFE channels seem superfluous in their presence much of the time. You won't want to choose Meet the Browns as the inaugural disc to break in a brand-new sound system with (may I suggest another Lionsgate title, 3:10 to Yuma, for just that purpose) but the track is completely adequate for the material it accompanies.

Meet the Browns Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Meet the Browns allows viewers to reunite with the film via several supplements. Meet the Manns (1080p, 11:04) is a piece singing the praises of Tyler Perry regulars, Tamela and David Mann. Mr. Brown's Fashion Breakdown (1080p, 2:49) is a closer look at the whacky costumes worn by David Mann's character in the film. Angela and Rick: Meet the Lovebirds (1080p, 7:28) is a solid feature that examines the characters portrayed by Bassett and Fox, and the fine performances and professionalism each brought to the set. The Music of 'Meet the Browns' (1080p, 5:40) takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the work of composer Aaron Zigman (Step Up 2 The Streets).

Moving along, we find The Browns Are Born: The Story of 'Meet the Browns' (1080p, 7:35). This feature looks at the history of the story, going back to previous Tyler Perry shows, plays, and films, and follows the path the eventual release of Meet the Browns, and the differences and transition between stage and silver screen. Jenifer Lewis: Unleashed (1080p, 5:59) is a look at the "cantankerous" Jenifer Lewis who portrays Vera in the film. Bakin' It & Shakin' It With Mr. Brown (1080p, 6:47) is easily the best feature on the disc. David Mann is in full Mr. Brown character mode as he prepares a tasty desert in his kitchen. Rounding out the extras from disc one are trailers for Why Did I Get Married (480p, 2:38), What's Done in the Dark (480p, 2:14), Madea's Family Reunion (1080p, 1:02), Daddy's Little Girls (1080p, 2:24), and House of Payne (480p, 0:32). Disc two of this set contains a standard definition digital copy of Meet the Browns for transfer and playback on personal computers and portable video devices.

Meet the Browns Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Meet the Browns is a decent enough film that combines drama and comedy, the former to much greater effect than the latter. With inspiring characters that showcase the strength of the bond of family, love, and trust, the film is a solid watch that might tickle your funny bone and, more likely, leave you emotionally satisfied at its predictable yet touching conclusion. Lionsgate brings this film to Blu-ray in a fairly average package. Nothing is worth writing home about, but neither is any one aspect of the disc notably poor. Meet the Browns is worth a rental for most, and a purchase for Tyler Perry fans.