7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A comedy about parenthood, and dealing with the lives of a family, from several points of view.
Starring: Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest, Jason Robards, Rick MoranisDrama | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 2.0
Spanish: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (as download)
DVD copy
BD-Live
Mobile features
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
According to a famous line from Tolstoy (in Anna Karenina), happy families are all alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. In his 1989 film Parenthood, Ron Howard effectively reformulated Tolstoy as follows: Every family is unhappy, because every parent (especially dads) feels like they're always falling short, and their kids are always judging them—if not directly by what they say, then indirectly by what they do (or fail at). Much of the film is drawn from Howard's own life as a parent with young children and that of his producing partner, Brian Grazer, as well as those of writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel. It's a gentle film and primarily a comedy whose dysfunctional crew manages to muddle through together (with the exception of a father-son relationship that ends badly). Howard and his collaborators left the heavy stuff to the likes of P.T. Anderson and Francis Ford Coppola ("I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart"), not to mention Eugene O'Neill and Tennessee Williams.
Since Parenthood is a Universal catalogue title, someone is already unhappy with this review. Displeasure begins with the video score, and many readers never proceed further, even though the write-up in this section is essential to interpreting the score. Whenever a reviewer rates a Universal catalogue title too highly, someone cries foul, because it's an a priori certainty that Universal always "butchers" its catalogue. But the very same rating may draw criticism from the other direction, e.g., "It looks good on my set, and it's light years ahead of the DVD. Maybe the reviewer's screen is too big!" Cinematographer Donald McAlpine can do lush, rich cinematography as well as anyone, as demonstrated by his work on Baz Luhrman's Moulin Rouge! and Romeo + Juliet. But McAlpine's photography for Parenthood is as low-key and everyday as it comes, and that's what you get on Universal's 1080p, VC-1-encoded Blu-ray. The colors are distinct and varied, but they're rarely rich or heavily saturated. The detail is good enough to let one appreciate, as never before since the film was in theaters, such minutia as the goofily makeshift cowboy outfit that Gil has to throw together for Kevin's party, when "Cowboy Bob" doesn't show. Black levels are generally strong, although scenes calling for deep black are rare, and contrast isn't overstated. The film grain appears to be undisturbed by high-frequency filtering or other digital manipulation, and the use of a BD-50 has eliminated any risk of compression errors. The sole negative in the video presentation is a hint, a tinge, a soupçon of oversharpening that makes the texture of the presentation lean slightly more toward a video than a film-like appearance. It's a minor quibble and not enough to make a meaningful difference in the video rating.
Parenthood was released in Dolby stereo, and the 5.1 remix presented here in DTS-HD MA takes a conservative approach but still makes good use of the surround field at a few key moments. Chief among them is the climactic scene at a school play that doesn't go according to plan, where Gil Buckman has one of the fantasy visions that punctuate the film, revealing major truths to both Gil and the audience. This one is accompanied by the sound of a roller coaster, which can be heard coursing through the rear speakers. (The significance of the roller coaster is explained in a prior scene.) Kevin Buckman's Little League games and birthday party also provide occasions for use of the rear channels, but the sound design was never intended to have you looking over your shoulder, and the remix doesn't go overboard. The dialogue—frustrated, rueful, bitter, angry or, in the case of Tom Hulce's Larry, just plain false—is always clear, and Randy Newman's fine score floats above the proceedings like a distant and wise relation, the unseen Buckman who loves everyone and forgives them all.
Supplements marked with an asterisk have been ported over from the 2007 "Special Edition" DVD.
Parenthood has a devoted fan base, and with good reason. Its director, producer, writers and ensemble cast collectively poured into the film lifetimes of experience about the mysteries of family life, and the resulting product has a ring of authenticity that viewers recognize even when the events on screen are exaggerations for comic effect. The fears and uncertainties to which Gil Buckman gives such eloquent expression have afflicted every responsible parent in many dark and doubting moments, and Parenthood offers a kind of qualified reassurance that, yes, despite all those moments, it is possible, for the most part to muddle through. Sometimes, as Frank does with Larry, you'll have no choice but to sigh, give up and move on. Generally, though, it's worth it. Recommended.
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