6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Two mismatched New York City detectives seize an opportunity to step up like the city's top cops whom they idolize -- only things don't quite go as planned.
Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve CooganComedy | 100% |
Action | 75% |
Crime | 54% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Did that go the way you thought it was going to go? Nope.
The Other Guys sells its entire bill of goods on a unique and interesting premise, but the movie only partway fulfills its potential. Taking aim
at
the hero Buddy Cop pictures of yore, this latest collaboration from the team of Actor Will Ferrell and Director Adam McKay (Anchorman, Step Brothers, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby) posits a fascinating
question:
just who the heck are those other guys who are always standing around in the background when the Hero Cops get all the glory? Are they, too,
modern-day superheroes with guns and badges and police sirens who simply didn't get the call to save the day on that particular afternoon? Is the
heroism and the glory and the incredible skill and dedication reserved for but a select few, or does the NYPD provide training in the art of the
cinematic
car chase and perfect shootout to every new recruit? Is everyone on the force issued that magical pistol that never needs to be reloaded, or are
they
too cost prohibitive and given to only the guys who are assigned the unenviable task of saving the city on a daily basis? Or are they just average
Joes,
busy handing out traffic tickets, slaving away on the computer, and hoping that they can say, "hey look! there I am in the background!" while Sam
Jackson and The Rock flex their biceps, twirl their guns, kiss the girl, and receive the medal? Some of these questions and more are explored in the
sometimes uproariously funny but occasionally dragging The Other Guys, a hit-and-sometimes-miss Action/Comedy hybrid that, despite
some flaws, is a
wonderful little diversion of a movie that's not to be missed.
Now just another guy in "4K."
Sony's commitment to releasing the finest Blu-ray products is evident with every spin of a Sony-branded disc. The consistency of product -- from the
latest blockbusters to the most cherished classic titles from years gone by -- is arguably tops in the entire industry, and why shouldn't it be; Sony
was a lead Blu-ray design and advocacy outfit, its PlayStation 3 console offered disc playback and instant wide format adoption, and the first wave of
titles released back in 2006 bore the
Sony label on the spine. Since then, and through a few growing pains and spurts -- a bloody format war, a misstep or two, the transition from Dolby TrueHD to DTS-HD Master Audio -- the
studio has emerged as the most trustworthy in the industry when it comes to its Blu-ray product. When it says Sony, chances are extremely
high that the movie is going to look
(and sound) about as good as the format allows. Now, Sony is recalling the days of its "Superbit" DVD releases with the emergence of "Mastered in
4K"
(*)
Blu-ray discs. The
new
transfers are sourced from 4K masters but here's where the giant asterisk comes in: they're then downscaled to standard Blu-ray 1080p resolution.
That
means buyers can enjoy them on their regular old Blu-ray players and their regular old HDTVs -- no fancy new hardware required. The downside is
that
viewers aren't really seeing the material in 4K; even those who shell out the large sum of cash for a new 4K TV will be treated only to an upscaled
presentation, much the same way today's regular old TV/playback 1080p device combos upscale standard definition DVDs.
Watching the "Mastered in 4K" transfer in 1080p does yield some benefits over the standard 1080p Blu-ray releases, even if it's not a true 4K
experience. The discs
take advantage of a significantly higher bitrate than regular old Blu-ray discs, meaning more muscle to produce the finest picture quality, revealing
superior details and showcasing that perfect cinematic, pleasing grain texturing for pictures photographed on film and more accuracy for those
photographed in the wholly digital realm. "Mastered in 4K" discs also promise superior color balance and accuracy, reproducing a more
faithful-to-the-source palette that will reveal the sort of natural shading and subtle nuance even the best of 1080p Blu-ray cannot match. More, Sony
promises
enhanced viewing on its own line of 4K TVs thanks to a proprietary upscaling algorithm that's designed to squeeze the most out of
the "Mastered in 4K" line of Sony discs, above and beyond what any competitor's display can offer. Makes sense considering some branch of Sony is at
work
along every step of the process. Unfortunately, one of Sony's shiny new 4K televisions was not available for review purposes, but suffice it to say that
either of the launch displays -- the 55" and 65" XBR-labeled sets -- will undoubtedly offer the best consumer viewing picture to date, whether joined
with a Sony "Mastered in 4K" disc or a regular old Blu-ray from any studio.
The Other Guys was no slouch when it was first released back in late 2010, and it shines in its refined "Mastered in 4K" debut.
The old
transfer left little room for improvement, but this image manages to squeeze out a bit more vibrancy, superior detail, and an astonishing cinematic
flair that will dazzle viewers in nearly every scene. The picture clarity is nothing short of exceptional; there's not a dull shot, soft edge, or any detail or
color that isn't perfectly resolved. The "Mastered in 4K" transfer showcases incredible details across the board, not only amongst close-up images but
of wider shots of offices, stores, and city streets. Clothing and facial textures look fantastic, showing every last stitch, line and pore. Backgrounds and
supportive scene elements appear naturally sharp. Very light grain helps to define the entire image and shape it into a beautiful filmic presentation.
The
color palette is bold and varied. It's perhaps a touch warm here and there, but for pure brilliance, range, subtlety, and accuracy, this image is hard to
beat. Urban grays, green foliage, police dress blue uniforms accented with gold-outlined patches, and all variety of colors appear rich and natural in
every
shot and regardless of location or lighting. There's no evidence of unnecessary digital tinkering or print wear. In other words, this is a flawless high
definition image. Like most of the "Mastered in 4K" presentations, it looks straight out of the can, a reference quality Blu-ray in every way.
The Other Guys bursts onto Blu-ray with a strong but not quite reference-grade DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Sony's latest highly-proficient soundtrack delivers a quality listen that will leave audiences satisfied but not overjoyed with the presentation; it's generically strong, meaning it's on par with the average upper-tier Blu-ray soundtrack, but it never sets itself apart as an elite presentation. This soundtrack delivers some pulse-pounding LFE in several instances, whether during a blaring Hip Hop tune heard over film's open or in various explosions and powerful weapons fire. Machine guns pound out round after round in one scene with the surrounds sending the rattling and rolling and whizzing bullets all over the soundstage followed by their impacts on various metallic surfaces, but the rear channels aren't used much outside this and similar action scenes. Ambience is quite limited; the track captures a few niceties around city exteriors, helicopter fly-bys, and various scene-specific elements such as idling engines and walkie-talkie chatter, but there's rarely a time when the soundstage isn't being overrun by action effects that the listener feels sonically immersed into the fictionalized world of Gamble and Hoitz. Dialogue, of course, is precisely centered and every syllable perfectly delivered. The Other Guys' lossless presentation is sound, but not particularly memorable.
This Blu-ray release of The Other Guys contains no supplemental content. Additionally, Sony has included only the theatrical release, not the longer unrated cut found on the previously released Blu-ray. A UV digital copy voucher code is included in the case.
Superstar Director Kevin Smith also tackled the Buddy Cop genre in his own Action/Comedy hit Cop Out that also focused on two pairs of cops attempting to outdo one another while trying to solve a case. The Other Guys, despite Smith's superior pedigree, is the stronger of the two for not only its more well-rounded (if not somewhat tiresome in places) humor and superior cast but better pacing and more memorable and more finely-developed characters. The Other Guys has "potential greatness" written all over it, whereas Cop Out never seems to strive to be anything better than average. Unfortunately, this latest from Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg just misses the mark and can't quite take those last few extra steps required to achieve the level of Action/Comedy perfection the film comes so close to achieving. Nevertheless, there's an outrageously fun and supremely well-acted hit here, and it's sure to appeal to a wide range of moviegoers, including Action junkies and Comedy connoisseurs. Other than at a clean and calibrated multiplex, Sony's "Mastered in 4K" Blu-ray disc is the best way to watch The Other Guys. The video is astonishing and the audio very good. Recommended, even considering the absence of supplements.
The Unrated Other Edition | Rental Copy
2010
The Unrated Other Edition | Combo Pack
2010
The Unrated Other Edition
2010
2011
2011
2003
2012
Rock Out with Your Glock Out Edition
2010
2014
2013
2014
2013
2016
2009
2007
Unrated Special Edition
2008
35th Anniversary Edition
1987
2004
2004
2019
2008
2014
2013