6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
The Specials are superheroes who aren't... that super: finding themselves rated only the 7th best superhero team in the world, and crucially over-aware of their lacklustre performance in the all important world of merchandising. Eschewing any special effects or superhero sequences we see the lives behind the masks as The Weevil (Rob Lowe), Power Chick (Kelly Coffield), Deadly Girl (Judy Greer), The Strobe (Thomas Haden Church) and the rest of the team as they decide to launch a new line of action figures to resurrect their flagging fortunes.
Starring: Rob Lowe, Thomas Haden Church, Paget Brewster, James Gunn, Sean GunnComic book | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: LPCM 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
Craig Mazin both created and wrote the acclaimed HBO miniseries Chernobyl, and some with jaded senses of humor (ahem) might aver that Mazin got some of his own personal experience with epochal disasters with two somewhat similar films he directed (his only directing credits, according to the IMDb), this film and a somewhat later entry entitled Superhero Movie. Both The Specials and Superhero Movie attempt to send up the ever popular superhero franchise (as might be surmised by the title of the second film at least), but neither really ever hits the bullseye, despite winning casts and at least some passingly comical moments which nonetheless rarely if ever result in out and out hilarity. The Specials has a fitfully adhered to quasi-documentary approach, with occasional “first person” interviews and/or confessionals delivered directly to the camera, but it is otherwise a pretty standard low rent comedy that simply treats a group of hapless supposed superheroes as an incredibly dysfunctional family, with neither consistent comedy nor any real action elements which might break up the tedium.
The Specials is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of La La Land Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. The back cover of this release touts a new 2K scan of the IP, and the results are largely commendable. The palette pops appealingly throughout the presentation, and some of the more deeply saturated hues, as in Amok's Mystique-esque blue skin, really look beautifully vivid. Detail on fabrics on costumes is also typically very good, with things like a bit of pill on Strobe's fuzzy suit clearly visible. There are some very minor and sporadic blemishes that the most eagle eyed may catch, mostly in the form of white specks. While this looks generally organic, there isn't a ton of grain on display, and it looks like some of the supposed video elements (as seen on televisions in the film and the like) were done on video.
The Specials features DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 tracks. While this film has virtually no "whiz bang" action elements which might have kicked the surround track into overdrive, the 5.1 mix actually is quite spacious with regard to the really fun underscore and prevalence of source cues. Some of the more crowded scenes, as in the launch party for the toys, also have nice engagement of the side and rear channels. Dialogue is presented cleanly and clearly throughout this problem free track.
La-La Land has long been one of my "go to" labels for interesting soundtrack fare on CD, and I almost wish this had simply been a soundtrack release, since the music is undeniably fun. Unfortunately I just didn't respond to the actual film with the same degree of enthusiasm. The Specials offers a really interesting, eclectic cast, and at least a semblance of a funny setup, but the actual humor here is pretty sporadic. Technical merits are solid and the supplementary package nicely done, for those who are considering a purchase.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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Growing Pains
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