Arthur (2011/Warner Blu-ray w/DVD) + Bridget Jones’ Diary (aka Bridget Jones’s Diary/2001/Lionsgate) + Cedar Rapids (2011/Fox Blu-ray) + Ceremony (2010/Magnolia Blu-ray)

 

Picture: B- & C/B-/C+/B-     Sound: B- & C+/B-/C+/B-     Extras: C (Arthur: D)     Films: C (Arthur: D)

 

 

In our latest wave of comedies, we look at a bunch of disappointments and one really bad, really unnecessary remake.

 

 

Not that I was a fan of the original Arthur with Dudley Moore, but at least it had some moments, was original and had a cast that worked.  Yes, the Christopher Cross music really dates it, but did it really need a remake?  Certainly the choice of Russell Brand for the 2011 recycling at least makes casting sense as he is British and can be funny, but this is a disaster, unfunny beyond belief and also manages to trash Helen Mirren, Luis Guzman, Nick Nolte and yet again, Jennifer Garner shows up playing a smiling woman who will eventually punch a guy out by getting tough.  Yawn!

 

But the sleep-inducing idiocy does not stop there.  After an extremely funny opening that spoofs the equally idiotic Batman & Robin with George Clooney, it is apparent that Peter Baynman’s script sees true humor as impossible and Director Jason Winer should be banned from using motion picture cameras (film or HD) of any kind.  When all was said and done (it could not end fast enough), I honestly asked “how unfunny can you get” because this is one of the worst comedies in years.  Even the oft bashed Arthur 2: On The Rocks seems like an ambitious art film by comparison.

 

The 1080p 1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer has motion blur, limited color and somehow manages to make New York City look bad, which is only made worse on the anamorphically enhanced DVD that is very weak and watered down in addition to the other flaws.  The DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix on the Blu-ray is dialogue based, limited in soundfield and only seems to be alive (using that term loosely) when the usually bad music kicks in, which is weaker on the Dolby Digital 5.1 lossy DVD mix.  Extras include Digital Copy for PC and PC portable devices, Gag Reel, Additional Scenes and very lame featurette Arthur Unsupervised, which should be about the film committee at the studio that allowed this money-loser to get the green light.  Instead, it is a dud trying to promote and sell the unsellable.

 

Arthur available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, On Demand and for Download 7/15! http://bit.ly/piggJN

 

 

Sharon Maguire’s Bridget Jones’ Diary (aka Bridget Jones’s Diary/2001) was a big hit in its time, but even with three likable actors like Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant and a then less-known Colin Firth, I always felt it was weak and seeing it again, it is still boring, from its endless voiceover to somewhat lively performances as its oversimplified romantic comedy formula goes on and on.  Originally issued by Miramax, they knew how to sell it and it was a hit, but like the original Arthur, its sequel too was not because they got luckier than they realized.

 

At least the 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image looks better than expected, even with some definition limits and even some motion blur.  It has never looked better on home video and though it is not great, the look of the film was always limited.  The DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix is also dialogue based and limited in soundfield and range, but only shows its age so much, though it still does just the same.  Extras include a feature length audio commentary by Maguire, Deleted Scenes, four featurettes on the film, A Guide To Bridget Britishisms and Domestic & International TV Spots.

 

 

Ed Helms plays a small town businessman having an affair with his one-time school teacher (Sigourney Weaver) now having to leave for a business conference that will wreck his wrecked life in Miguel Arteta’s Cedar Rapids (2011), a new comedy that has a few chuckles and even includes good additional performances by John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Isiah Whitlock Jr. and Kurtwood Smith.  With that cast, there are going to be chuckles, but the Phil Johnston screenplay never exceeds its few ideas and Helms is barely able to carry this.

 

However, we have seen this idea of the small town guy being crushed in big business and suddenly competitive business situations, so this will only be funny to you if you have never seen this kind of thing before or really get impressed with any of the performances.  I was disappointed considering what this could have been.

 

The 1080p 1.85 X 1 AVC @ 30 MBPS digital High Definition image transfer has motion blur and somewhat limited color, while the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix is dialogue based and limited in soundfield and range.  Extras in this “Super Awesome Edition” include Digital Copy for PC and PC portable devices, Gag Reel, Deleted Scenes, four featurettes on the film and Fox Movie Channel Direct Effect installment promoting the release.

 

 

Finally we have Max Winkler’s Ceremony (2010), the most watchable of the four films with Michael Angarano as a young man who takes a road trip, only to run into an older love (Uma Thurman) who is about to get married, but he gives her second thoughts about whether she should tie the knot or not.  An independent production that falls into the mumblecore category somewhat, it has some giggles, a couple of laughs, but is also predictable and never holds together as much as it should.  However, Winkler tries and I would like to see what he does next.

 

The 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image has some motion blur and color can be good, but once again, it is not an exemplary HD image, while the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix is yet again also dialogue based and therefore limited in soundfield and range, with some location recording better than others.  Extras include an HDNet special promotion its release, Outtakes, Extended Scenes, Deleted Scenes, three featurettes and A Year In A Text – A Film by Whit Coutell.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo