Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Something New Blu-ray Movie Review

Opposites really do attract in 'Something New.'

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 5, 2018

What makes a good romance story? Is it the chemistry between the lead characters? The setting in which they meet? The circumstances that conspire to keep them from living their happily ever after? Or is it the perfect combination of these things, harmoniously fine-tuned with believable characters who wear their problems and conflicts on their sleeves, allowing the audience a glimpse not into a fairy tale romance (such as Beauty and the Beast) but instead into a real life, real world, relatable story (such as No Reservations)? Something New captures that perfect blend and creates a realistic romance that leaves audiences with a tangible, believable, yet still heartfelt story of love without all of the fluffy fairy tale fantasies standing in for the human heart.

Kenya McQueen (Sanaa Lathan) is an uptight workaholic who dreams of falling in love but only if the guy in question meets all of the criteria on her thoughtful, manicured list. Brian Kelly (Simon Baker) is a much more relaxed, down to earth, fun loving sort. When mutual friends set them up on a blind date, Kenya immediately tries to back out but later, at the urging of her closest girlfriends, decides to relax and see where the relationship might take her. While things seem to be going well, Kenya can't get past one final hurdle to their relationship: she is black and Brian is white. Will she be able to follow her heart or will her inability to break away from the expected path led her away from a chance at happily ever after?

Because Something New is a film about an African-American woman and a white man falling in love, there's plenty of racial discussion in the film. While Something New doesn't turn race into a comedy bit, it doesn't go grossly overboard with a dissection of the couple's racial differences, either. But since the color of Brian's skin is one of Kenya's main hang-ups in dating him -- she even states that he's the perfect man, save for the color of his skin -- it's certainly central to the narrative. Much of the discussion about race is handled in much the same way that any romantically oriented movie explores a relationship an individual or family deems inappropriate: with some head-on character honesty but also the increasing notion that loves conquers any exterior "obstacle" along the way. Even when Kenya's friends and family appear more than a little leery of the new guy in her life, they seem more leery of his differences in upbringing than his skin color: they don't often understand the things he does or why he does them and he, in turn, struggles with understanding, appreciating, and accepting her family's dynamics, too. In some ways it's a very similar film to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, one focused on differences in the couple, this one being race rather than ethnicity. While chatter of racial injustice seeps into several scenes, the film ultimately tells a heartwarming, balanced, and agreeable story of true love overcoming whatever artificial odds upbringing, history, and the world stack against the heart.

From a technical perspective, the film's modern setting demands little of the production design team (beyond some regal costuming and intensely developed dance routines), so it's left to the cast to carry the movie. And does it ever. Sanaa Lathan is fantastic as the tortured lead who embraces the uptight, straight-laced perfectionist character while at the same time craving the forbidden adventures she could enjoy if she just let go of her inhibitions and lived a little. She also explores the character's growth from a black woman in a predominantly white male business who feels she must work twice as hard to be taken seriously to a confident woman who knows she can do her job and isn't afraid to stand up and tell a client the truth, even at the risk of her career. Simon Baker delivers the perfect foil, nailing his character's relaxed persona (much the opposite of his uptight fellow lead character) and matters of the heart. It's a different role for Baker, whom many may know as the quirky and rude lead in the his TV show The Mentalist.

Something New Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Unlike some other recent Universal RomCom types to debut on Blu-ray, Something New's 1080p transfer isn't really all that bad. The image is, almost always, very warm. Skin tones border on hot, and there's a pervasive amber tint to the movie. A few scenes offer a contrasting coolness in reprieve, but expect a substantially warm, bordering hot, contrast as the rule. Colors still pop with authority in bright daytime scenes. Saturation is fine within the movie's warm tonal push. Details are very impressive. Skin textures are pleasantly complex, clothes are firm and refined, and environments are very sharp. Light grain is retained throughout the entirety. Softness is rarely a distraction, and digital processing and print wear are largely absent. This is a very solid, very enjoyable presentation from Universal.

Something New Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Something New's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is fairly basic. The film is propelled by dialogue, which presents with good center-focused clarity and prioritization. Minor atmospheric effects blend nicely with the spoken word, helping to recreate various environments with clarity but not intrusiveness. Surrounds are used sporadically in these instances as the fronts carry the bulk. There are a few standout moments in the track. A dance number in chapter four offers some impressive low end intensity and wide, engaging musical cues across the front. The surrounds are generally used in a more complimentary fashion. The track certainly has the ability to power up as the moment demands and present its essentials with minimal interruptive flow. This is a good overall presentation from Universal.

Something New Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Universal's Blu-ray release of Something New contains two featurettes. No "top menu" is included. The supplements, and setup options, must be accessed in-film via a crude pop-up menu.

• The Do's and Don'ts of Dating (1080i upscaled, 4:52): The cast shares some of the qualities they are and are not seeking on a first date. The piece is presented in a comical manner.
• The Making of Something New (1080i upscaled, 10:50): Director Sanaa Hamri and various cast members discuss the film, what drew them into the production, how their character's related to one another, and their feelings about the film's message of going after the person one loves.

Something New Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Something New doesn't reinvent the romance wheel, but it's a capable Dramedy that explores the heart overcoming the odds, in this case the artificial boundaries of skin color. It's a movie that's at once both humorous and sincere. It's very well acted and one of the better films of its kind. Universal's Blu-ray isn't a mess, but neither is it first-class. Solid enough picture, decent multichannel lossless sound, and a pair of featurettes offer some value to any fan of the film, but this one is best purchased only at a good sale price point.