6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The fast-paced and often seamy world of rock 'n' roll is his beat, but even detective Ford Fairlane is stunned when the king of shock-jocks, Johnny Crunch, is electrocuted on the air. After all, Crunch was his only paying client! Crunch had hired Ford to track down a mysterious teenage groupie name Zuzu Petals - a search which quickly finds Ford tangled up, and trading insults, with a ruthless record executive and merciless hit-man.
Starring: Andrew Dice Clay, Wayne Newton, Priscilla Presley, Morris Day, Lauren HollyComedy | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
1990 was a very big year for Andrew Dice Clay. As a comedian, he was the hottest ticket around, building an empire on dirty jokes that took him from a club act to Madison Square Garden, creating a frenzy wherever he played. The records were selling and his popularity (rooted in controversy) was unstoppable. However, his acting career needed a little work, with supporting parts in “Casual Sex?” and “Pretty in Pink” failing to make him a marquee name during the 1980s. 20th Century Fox, sensing a ripe opportunity, elected to bring Clay to the big time, creating a starring vehicle in “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane,” an action comedy based on characters from author Rex Weiner. Handed the spotlight and the services of director Renny Harlin (fresh off his success with “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master”), Clay made the most out of a rare opportunity, infusing the script with his own quirks and callbacks, creating a character not unlike his stage persona, set loose in a wildly entertaining detective yarn. “Ford Fairlane” isn’t for every taste, but those tuned into Clay’s goofy personality are rewarded with a hilarious performance that finds the comedian at his most confidant and playfully mischievous.
The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation comes across perfectly serviceable but never remarkable, handling the challenge of the feature's smoky, softer cinematography with adequate sharpness. Detail is available, allowing viewers to pick out design particulars and admire costuming, while close-ups bring out some facial textures. Colors show their age, but primaries remain satisfying, finding Holly's red hair retaining some pop, while intricate lighting carries additional impact. Skintones are comfortable. Grain fluctuates, periodically reaching a few mildly noisy bursts. Contrast isn't completely secure at times. Delineation isn't lost, with defined evening adventures and fabrics. At the very least, the BD is a filmic improvement over the DVD release, even if it lacks a fresh scan to truly fit the movie for an HD crown.
The 5.1 TrueHD mix delivers some punch, with soundtrack selections carrying a nice low-end beat and defined instrumentation, and the score remains chipper and intentional, supporting the action comfortably. Dialogue exchanges are decent, hitting a few crispy highs along the way. The track really brings out the additions and deletions made to the picture in post-production, with ADR work clear as can be. Violent exchanges and chase chaos are nicely arranged, though a few of the explosions and gun shots feature unnaturally crackly extremes. Surrounds are utilized well, offering evocative atmospherics, finding beach scenes aggressive with the sounds of rolling waves. Some directional movement is welcome, and a general circular hold for the music brings energy to the listening experience.
There are no supplementary features on this disc.
"The Adventures of Ford Fairlane" is dated (Milli Vanilli references and a supporting turn from Tone Loc lock the film up as a 1990 time capsule), but it doesn't drag in the least, remaining ridiculous and inappropriate from start to finish. Of course, the picture's effectiveness is dependent on a certain level of tolerance for the work of Andrew Dice Clay, but Harlin maintains a jovial spirit as he messes around with detective movie formula and visits a few L.A. hot spots. It's wildly entertaining work.
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