Troop Beverly Hills Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Troop Beverly Hills Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 2, 2015

Camaraderie. Adventure. Learning new skills. Making new friends. The Wilderness Girls organization offers it all to budding young minds and the helpful ladies who want to mold the leaders of tomorrow. They're not just about selling cookies and learning to sew but about building courage, shaping a moral compass, and even, yes, learning how to read an actual compass. These are skills valuable to all young girls, but they have to be receptive to the idea, understanding that sometimes a little bit of adventure and a night or two of "roughing it" are the costs for living a fuller, richer, healthier, happier, and more insightful life. And their leader must likewise embrace the ideals and the methods to make them work. But what happens when classic troop ideals clash with modern, aristocratic sensibilities? Director Jeff Kanew's (Revenge of the Nerds )Troop Beverly Hills follows one such outfit of prim and proper girls, led by a flighty, money-hungry, soon-to-be divorcee, who are pitted against a more seasoned, perfectly attuned troop led by a militaristic, win-at-all-costs leader. The results are expectedly humorous though a bit stale in places. Nevertheless, this carefree Comedy proves to be a fun little adventure with a feel-good vibe and a family-friendly innocence that makes it accessible to all viewers.

A different way to rough it.

Phyllis Nefler (Shelley Long) loves to shop. She's enjoying what remains of her lavish Beverly Hills lifestyle, buying up as much as she can before the money is cut off. Her divorce from muffler magnate Freddy (Craig T. Nelson) is all but signed, sealed, and delivered. Her daughter Hannah (Jenny Lewis) isn't too thrilled -- especially when her father seems to favor his new girlfriend more than her -- but her spirits rise when she learns her mother, who usually can't commit to anything, signs on to lead Troop Beverly Hills, a go-nowhere band of eight misfits that hasn't earned a badge or sold a cookie in quite some time. Phyllis is mockingly met by the dictatorial Velda (Betty Thomas), a rival troop leader who will stop at nothing to see her girls succeed. Phyllis' band of rich kids, whose parents include filmmakers, washed up stars, writers, and even a dictator, give it their best, but their leader is no fan of the true spirit of wilderness life. For her and her group, "roughing it" means riding in limos, packing overstuffed suitcases, and dismay that their campground had no electrical outlets, never mind that it rained on them. Campfire stories center on salon nightmares, and order-in food replaces hot dogs and marshmallows over an open flame. But the troop pulls together and, as they approach a jamboree Velda is determined to win, sets out to upset the party and prove that it's the accomplishment that matters, not how one achieves it.

Troop Beverly Hills never breaks new ground but it confidently and comfortably -- quite unlike the characters, at least until the predictable end -- traverses the well-worn "fish out of water" terrain. The simple film proves heartfelt and fun, a cheery, feel-good little exercise in simple storytelling and easily identifiable messaging wrapped up in a humorous little khaki-and-green outfit. The film does lose some steam midway through when it seems to only play on different variations of the same theme: the troop, and Nefler in particular, bumbles through Wilderness activities and morphs them into something more to their liking and more within the cozy confines of their coddled comfort zone. Nevertheless, the movie's healthy, vibrant spirit carries it through a few funny but lethargic stretches on its way to an ending that's not fully predictable in terms of the exact details of what's going to happen, how it's going to happen, and why, but certainly predictable in spirit and the message that reinforces the idea that one should not judge another by a single criteria, or related set of criteria, alone and that there is more than one way to succeed at any given task. Sometimes, a little out-of-the-box thinking, spirit, and determination are enough to overcome the steepest obstacle and upset the established status quo.

Shelley Long runs with the lead role, finding a charm and balance to her ditzy rhythm and repulsion of anything outdoors, never mind the required clothing. She's spunky and spirited and appears to have a blast with the part at both ends, whether rolling in the dough or rolling around in the mud. She additionally finds a quality tonal balance that allows the comedy to run wild while the heart of the character, which slowly evolves over the course of the film, remains true and, while not always front-and-center, a key behind-the-scenes cog that grows ever more important in four key areas: in her personal growth, in her camaraderie with the girls in her charge, in her dealings with her husband, and in her antagonistic relationship with Velda. Speaking of, Betty Thomas impresses as the central "villain" of the movie, playing a snarky, quick-to-anger sort who, the further she finds herself from the top, the harder she pushes herself and alienates herself from the kids. She's a mirror opposite of Long's character in many ways. Yet the film, in an almost subconscious way, only uses Velda as a vehicle to push the film's "true" villain, which isn't a person but instead the fatal flaw that is a lack of belief in others, in failing to see that it's not about following protocol -- in this case whatever general codes the Wilderness Girls follow -- but instead embodying what it means to be a Wilderness Girl deep down beyond the rulebook, something that can be accomplished in unconventional ways by unconventional girls following an unconventional leader.

Troop Beverly Hills Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Troop Beverly Hills marches onto Blu-ray with a frequently stunning "Mastered in 4K" 1080p Blu-ray transfer. Even with a few reservations of note, the image far more often than not excels. Light grain hovers over the film's entirety, lending to the Blu-ray presentation a gorgeous, and consistently so, film-like appearance. Details are rich and striking with firm, natural sharpness and abundant clarity helping to reveal the finest facial lines and clothing textures, particularly evident on the troop uniforms. Brickwork, close-ups of little odds and ends (such as camping gear or books), and terrain, whether grasses or dirt, look absolutely marvelous, with clarity and sharpness to spare even at a distance. The image additionally shows a very good depth of field. Colors are bold and pleasing, for the most part. The sheer variety seen in clothing alone impresses, as does the fine attention to nuance. Troop greens in particular impress. A few of the loudest reds and pinks to appear a touch over-saturated, however. Flesh tones occasionally push the slightest bit warm but are generally true to life. Darker scenes, whether low-light interiors or nighttime exteriors, push towards a crushing effect that overwhelms all but the best-lit, generally center-frame, elements. There's only one or two blink-and-miss-them pops and speckles. Despite a couple of minor flaws and the troublesome blacks, this is a truly stellar catalogue presentation that's perfect for 99% of the film's runtime.

Troop Beverly Hills Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Troop Beverly Hills arrives on Blu-ray with a good quality DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The animated opening title montage enjoys good energy, healthy front spacing, and a quality surround envelopment. It's a little shy in terms of raw aggression, but clarity suffices and aids a nice general presence. Little bursts of music and song throughout the film fare similarly. Don't expect the subwoofer to put in a good day's work, however, in support. General sound effects ring true, though a torrential rainfall in one scene disappoints with a muffled, indistinct presence. Dialogue is center-focused and clear, with a nice, light echoing sensation in chapter four as Velda addresses the troop leaders. This track certainly doesn't have the muscle, nor the need, to compete with the big boys. It's good all around but could stand a little added weight and clarity in a couple of critical areas.

Troop Beverly Hills Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Troop Beverly Hills musters up a couple of interviews, deleted scenes, and a trailer. Inside the Blu-ray case, buyers will find a UV digital copy code for the film.

• Shelley Long Remembers Troop Beverly Hills (1080p, 14:25): The actress recalls her experiences in making the film, including her initial reading of the script, the original title, the Girl Scout's distance from the movie, core story details, working with the child actors, a favorite moment from the first full-cast read-through, real-life experiences that shaped her performance, costumes, shooting the outdoor scenes, shooting a "dangerous" scene, the film's humor, and more.
• The "Real" Phyllis Neffler: Ava Ostern Fries (1080p, 9:31): The person whose time as a troop leader inspired the movie discusses writing the story, her work as producer on the set, working around Beverly Hills, shooting locales, Shelley Long's performance, the girls in the film, and more.
• Deleted Scenes (480i): Gone Shopping (0:49), Introductions (1:02), Wilderness Dogs (0:25), Velda's Speech (1:01), I Loosened It (0:28), Marshmallows, Wieners and Champagne (0:55), Beverage Break (0:37), Velda's Neck Grab (0:46), Father and Daughter Bonding (0:59), and Freddy Helps Phyllis Decide (1:15).
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 1:49).

Troop Beverly Hills Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Troop Beverly Hills is a fun little movie with simple themes and a predictable arc. It's more in the journey rather than the destination where the film finds its best moments, and even as some of those moments are simply silly variations on the same theme, the film finds success with an easy cadence and a big, smiling heart on its sleeve. Performances are strong and the picture will leave most audiences happy with the experience, which is exactly what a movie like this should accomplish. Sony's Blu-ray release of Troop Beverly Hills offers excellent video, solid audio, and a couple of supplements. Recommended.