6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
An assistant grocery store manager is approached by God to help spread His message. Though reluctant at first, the man agrees and winds up in court for slandering a popular evangelist.
Starring: George Burns, John Denver, Teri Garr, Donald Pleasence, Ralph BellamyComedy | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo verified
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
After taking a seven-year-long break from feature film direction after he unleashed the weirdness of “Where’s Poppa?” on audiences, Carl Reiner decides to go a little softer on ticket-buyers, pairing with writer Larry Gelbart for 1977’s “Oh, God!” An adaptation of a book by Avery Corman, the picture tries to create entertainment out of a potential nightmare, tracking the increasing panic of grocery store assistant manager Jerry (John Denver) as he’s contacted by God (George Burns), asked to “spread the word” and give faith a boost during increasingly dark times. Reiner is here to make sure such a chilling premise remains approachable, giving “Oh, God!” an aimable vibe as jokes and belief come together, making some magic with the on-screen team of Denver and Burns.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Oh, God!" delivers a film-like look at production particulars, with fine grain nicely resolved throughout the viewing experience. Detail is clear and inviting, exploring differences in actor ages and period costuming. Grocery store interiors are defined (offering a chance to time travel by searching for old brands), and exteriors retain dimensional. Colors are vivid, capturing bright primaries found on car paint jobs and store signage. Fashion choices also bring out light blues and deep reds. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in excellent condition.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix deals with a straightforward sound design for "Oh, God!" Dialogue exchanges are clear, balancing quieter conversations and mild argumentative behavior. Scoring supports comfortably, with decent instrumentation.
The first two acts of "Oh, God!" are breezy and amusing, following Jerry's mission to make the impossible happen, trying to bring attention to himself and God's light. It's a tale about faith, not religion, which makes it all much more interesting. However, the last act confronts the toxicity of Christian charlatans, emerging in the form of Reverend Willie (Paul Sorvino), who's looking for power and influence in the name of God, challenging Jerry to prove his authenticity. This leads to a courtroom showdown and a slight dramatic edge to the material, killing off the picture's initial lighthearted approach. "Oh, God!" doesn't have a satisfying conclusion, but perhaps it couldn't. Reiner and Gelbart don't try to tie up all the loose ends left at the end of the feature, they simply want viewers to enjoy this strange ride with an unusual partnership, keeping matters as buoyant as possible when dealing with God and his vaudeville jokes.
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