6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.1 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.3 |
When a boxer turned restaurateur (Michael Clarke Duncan) announces a contest to his waitstaff, the good news is that the winner will get a $10,000 bonus. The bad news? The loser will be on the receiving end of a heavy- duty smack-down at the hands of the champ himself.
Starring: Michael Clarke Duncan, Kevin Heffernan, Jay Chandrasekhar, Steve Lemme, Paul SoterComedy | 100% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: LPCM 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
I'm trying to pass it...anally.
A new Comedy classic? No. A painful reminder of how the once-proud genre has, since the days
of
Bill Murray and John Candy, lost its way? Fortunately not. A middle-of-the-road laugher that
makes for a decent time-killer? Yes. Broken Lizard -- the same team responsible for the
fan-favorite Super Troopers and
the middling pictures Beerfest and Club
Dread -- has once again written and starred in their latest effort, The Slammin'
Salmon, the picture also directed by one of their own, Kevin Heffernan. A low-budget picture
and without a wide theatrical release, The Slammin' Salmon is the sort of movie that's
going to have to find a following on home video if it's to ultimately prove a success. The picture's
good enough to earn some rentals, if would-be viewers can take the title and seemingly idiotic
premise with a grain of salt. Broken Lizard fans will be all over it, but for those more casual
viewers that think of "Broken Lizard" as a reptilian with a bum leg and not as a five-man comedy
team, Michael Clarke Duncan and
word-of-mouth will
likely prove the only selling points for a movie that doesn't exactly have millions in marketing
schemes to push it into every home around the world.
The five-second rule takes on new meaning in 'The Slammin' Salmon.'
On the menu at The Slammin' Salmon is a tasty 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer that's sure to satisfy most any appetite. This image is stable and clear with no bothersome blemishes and a light layer of grain. The picture is abundantly colorful with blues the dominant hue. Bright blue shades make up both the wait staff uniforms and the restaurant's booths, though most every shade in the book makes an appearance, too, notably in the form of Mia's bright red burn marks, multi-colored fruits and vegetables seen in the restaurant's steely walk-in refrigerator, or Cleon's salmon-colored sports coat. Though fine detail and absolute clarity appear rather high in clothing or the stone-like textures of the restaurant's walls and booths, the image can look a bit flat overall, and faces sometimes lack much more than cursory definition, taking on a slightly smooth texture. Black levels are stable, but flesh tones often veer towards the red end of the spectrum. The Slammin' Salmon looks fairly good; it lacks a true film-like texture and won't be mistaken for The Lovely Bones, but this colorful transfer holds up well from beginning to end.
The Slammin' Salmon serves a PCM 5.1 uncompressed soundtrack that goes nicely with the well-done 1080p picture quality. This low-budget Comedy doesn't exactly sport the most immersive or convincing track on the market, but for a dialogue-driven movie, there's little room to complain. Fidelity is solid, and there's a noticeable difference in heft and absolute clarity between the PCM track and the included lossy Dolby Digital mix. Music is clearly delivered throughout with no discernible hiccups, and it enjoys a noticeable back-channel presence in conjunction with the more robust cues. Discrete sound effects aren't plentiful, but those of a more prominent pronouncement -- for instance a ringing bell -- play with an honest realism. The track isn't awash in realistic atmospherics; rarely is there a definitive sense of immersion, even when the restaurant is at its busiest. Only minor background effects such as chatty patrons or clanking dinnerware make their presences known, but there's just not much to them. Fortunately, the track's cornerstone element, its dialogue reproduction, never wavers. Overall, this PCM track delivers a good presentation that's on par with what one would reasonably expect of a movie such as this. It's perfectly suitable for the material but never does anything of note to make a lasting sonic impression.
The Slammin' Salmon cooks up a few extras for this Blu-ray release. First up are two commentary tracks, the first featuring Writer/Director Kevin Heffernan and Writer/Actor Steve Lemme. The track is free-flowing and informative, technical but not boring, the participants sharing a fine array of insights into the actors, the story, the look, and the construction of the picture. There's no lack of effort here; Heffernan and Lemme never stop to catch their breath and show just how enthusiastic they are for their craft in this track. The other three members of Broken Lizard -- Jay Chandrasekhar, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske -- man track two. This commentary is on par with the first; it's easy to get into, informative, not too technical, but of good overall value. It never wanders too far from pertinent information but it also features some lighter moments that keep things interesting and fun. Broken Lizard fans will want to spend time with both of these tracks. Hellish Kitchen: Art Imitates Restaurant Life (1080i, 6:51) features the Broken Lizard troupe sharing their thoughts and memories on the restaurant business. Also included is the film's trailer (1080p, 2:34) and an easter egg found under the listing for the trailer (1080i, 0:42).
The Slammin' Salmon isn't a modern classic, but it's a passable, even slightly-above-average, Comedy that manages to find some humor in a string of old jokes. The picture's low-budget nature, (almost) singular set, and bland costuming don't hurt the movie, either, thanks to Broken Lizard's ability to squeeze just enough LPM's (laughs per minute) from the material and keep things moving at a steady and honest pace. Michael Clarke Duncan steals the show as the restaurant's lame-brained owner, but the rest of the cast is good, too, particularly the members of the five-man Broken Lizard troupe. Fans of their previous work and style will get a kick out of this one. This Blu-ray release from Starz/Anchor Bay serves up a palatable presentation. While the video and audio qualities won't dazzle, they nevertheless serve the material well, and the included supplements, too, are suitable for the quality and style of movie they accompany. The Slammin' Salmon is best enjoyed as a rental.
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