Second Act Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Second Act Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 19, 2019

Second Act has a little bit of something for everybody. At its center is the story of a woman experiencing midlife crisis, regret, and anger under a glass ceiling that has nothing to do with her gender but rather her education, or lack thereof. It has some romance elements. It has deception. It has surprises. It has reunification. The film, from veteran genre Director Peter Segal (Tommy Boy, 50 First Dates), offers a simple foundational story that branches out to entirely rewrite the main character's life. It's a modern-day fairy tale where the end goal isn't love's true kiss but rather life's true purpose. It's a little hackneyed at times but it's also sincere, and the mid-film (second act, actually) reveal is tender and touching and unexpected and takes the movie to better places than would think before. On the other hand, it's not particularly re-watchable once the cat is out of the bag and the audience knows where the story is going, but on first watch it's genre comfort food that's spiritedly performed and competently assembled.

Welcome to Value Shop. We love you.

Maya Vargas (Jennifer Lopez) has dedicated her adult life to her work at a big-box store called Value Shop. And it's not like she's had much of a choice. She became pregnant as a teenager, gave the child up for adoption, never did attend college (but did earn her GED), but has overcome the odds to become the store's very successful assistant manager who has transformed the store from a building that sells items to an integral part of the community. Her ideas have increased revenue and she intimately knows both the store and the people who regularly shop there. When a store management positions opens, Maya thinks she's certain to land it, as do all of her friends and her boyfriend Trey (Milo Ventimiglia), an assistant baseball coach at Fordham. But when upper management hires a Duke graduate with a business degree instead, Maya falls into a slump. Her relationship with Trey comes to an end and, at 40 years old, Maya believes she's hit her peak and that it's all downhill from there.

One day, she randomly receives word that she's wanted for an interview at the corporate headquarters of a prestigious retailer called Franklin & Clarke. She goes on a whim and finds herself meeting with none other than the company's namesake, CEO Anderson Clarke (Treat Williams). During the interview process, Maya learns that a whole new life has been created for her. She's now, on paper (and in the computer), a Harvard graduate, speaks fluent Mandarin, and Clarke couldn't be more impressed, even if his daughter Zoe (Vanessa Hudgens) isn't convinced when Maya disses the company's "organic" beauty products but shares her thoughts on how to improve them. Maya is hired on false pretenses, but she decides to go with the flow. She's suddenly a well-to-do executive with a bright future, all because her godson Dilly (Dalton Harrod) falsified her credentials. Little does Maya know that there's an ulterior motive behind her hiring that just might really change her life for the better.

One of the more agreeable elements within Second Act is that the movie both embraces expectations and defies them. That Maya is hired through deception -- none of which is of her doing, except for playing the part of the fool and going with the flow -- is a means to an end, to prove that she's more than what a piece of paper, or lack thereof, says that she is. That she finds some level of success in upper management is no surprise, either. Where the film shines, however, is in its mid-film reveal that proves more fruitful to Maya's life than any career move ever could. It's her true "second act," her real opportunity to rewrite her life's story and claim her place and purpose in the world. Lopez, as expected, shines in a role seemingly tailored to an actress of her strengths, bringing a radiance to Maya at her high points, a sincere vulnerability at her low points, and a true emotional depth when she finds herself face to face with the life she always wanted, which isn't necessarily where she planned to find it.

Second Act Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Second Act was digitally photographed, which is of course the de facto norm for contemporary cinema, particularly for this sort of release. The image looks fine, with good detailing visible throughout the film. Whether considering skin textures, numerous examples of attire, home furnishings, office spaces, or the like, there's a good foundational clarity and solid, though not exacting or out of the ordinary, textural finesse. Colors are well balanced, enjoying natural contrast and commendable vibrancy to various examples of attire, office furnishings, and the like. Black levels are appropriately deep and skin tones appear accurate. Viewers will spot a few examples of aliasing, most notably within an establishing cityscape shot to start chapter three. Light noise permeates the image but rarely proves bothersome. The image is nothing special, but it is technically proficient.

Second Act Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Second Act's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack delivers a capable listen that, like the video, offers no compelling standout component but does handle general duties well enough. There's some very well defined and enjoyable bustle in the store in early scenes. Additionally, the track yields well defined city din that draws the listener into various locations throughout the film, though a rumbly train around the seven-minute mark challenges dialogue for supremacy. Musical delivery is wide and nicely detailed. Some modest surround support is folded in. Dialogue propels the film, and beyond a few isolated examples prioritization is fine while clarity is strong and center-focused placement is firm.

Second Act Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Second Act's Blu-ray release contains a trailer and a foursome of featurettes, the longest of which runs 57 seconds and the shortest a whopping 32 seconds. A DVD copy of the film and an iTunes digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.

• Connecting with Milo Ventimiglia (1080p, 0:55): J-Lo talks up casting Milo Ventimiglia as Trey, who in turn talks up J-Lo the person and the actress.
• The Empowering Women of Second Act (1080p, 0:55): A quick look at cast chemistry and the qualities the leading ladies brought to the film.
• Friendship On and Off Screen (1080p, 0:57): A look at the friendship between J-Lo and Leah Remini.
• Working with the Ones You Love (1080p, 0:32): A very brief extra that basically regurgitates scenes from the previous <3 minutes of supplements.
• Second Act Trailer (1080p, 2:35).

Second Act Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Second Act is an agreeable diversion with a few laughs, a heartfelt center, and a fine leading performance from Jennifer Lopez. Though the film lacks replay value (particularly once the big and sincerely developed twist is known), it proves its worth as genre comfort food on the first viewing. It's sure to win over more than a few hearts. Universal's Blu-ray offers a lame supplemental package but does offer solid enough video and audio presentations. Worth a look.