5.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Upset that he has to share the room he loves with his grandfather, Peter decides to declare war in an attempt to get it back.
Starring: Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, Rob Riggle, Oakes Fegley, Laura MaranoComedy | 100% |
Family | 88% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The War with Grandpa was several years delayed coming to theaters in the fallout of the Weinstein Company closure, but it's not like the world was waiting with baited breath for this movie. Make no mistake, it's a capable entertainer and a perfectly fun escape, but it's best enjoyed in the moment rather than in the prism of some kind of imminent cinema legacy. It's a safe, family-friendly film with some fun gags and solid performances. It's hardly brilliant but it's also far from horrible, residing in a middle ground mediocrity where its serviceable humor and modest charm make it a fine one-and-done viewing experience.
Truce?
The War with Grandpa's 1080p transfer is excellent start to finish. From the first shot outside of school, the picture reveals its high-quality output, most obviously with the barrage of well saturated colors. The diverse palette leaps off the screen as a myriad of clothing tones play nicely against both green grass and blue sky. Colors remain stout and vibrant for the duration, with even the dank, dark, and less dynamic attic setting finding good balance and saturation, including some positive black level depth. Details are razor-sharp, too. The picture maintains firm definition corner to corner in most every frame. Facial close-ups are excellently rendered, but so too are small signs of wear around the house, again particularly in the attic but also on various furnishings through the rest of the home, too. Ditto the school cafeteria or classrooms, the Fry's electronics store, and other key locales scattered throughout the film. Viewers will spot only trace levels of noise. The heaviest output comes during a couple of outdoor establishing shots at the 24:24 mark, a bright daylight exterior. There are no other source or encode flubs to note. This is a very nice looking Blu-ray from Universal.
The War with Grandpa engages in the fight on Blu-ray with a well-rounded DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation delights in all facets, offering energetic music across a variety of score and popular songs, all of them playing with spirited volume, lengthy front-side stretch, balanced surround integration, and firm low end support. A few of the more "intensive" action scenes – when Peter's furniture collapses, for example – play with quality placement and detail. The track offers several examples of background atmosphere, notably in school hallways and cafeterias which represent most of the busy locations in the movie. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized around other sonic components, and plays with a firm front-center placement.
This Blu-ray release of The War with Grandpa contains no supplemental content. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.
The War with Grandpa doesn't scream "replay value" which makes a purchase at full price difficult to recommend. The movie is fun enough and well made in all the right ways, and it might be worth enjoying for a second or third time years down the line. For those watching via Blu-ray, the picture and sound qualities are just fine. The complete absence of supplemental content further renders a purchase less viable. Worth a rental for sure and a buy at Black Friday prices.
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