Search Party (2016/Universal Blu-ray)

Picture: B Sound: B Extras: D Film: C

Scot Armstrong (the writer of Hangover 2 who made his directorial debut with Showtime's series Dice) brings us the 2016 comedy Search Party - a direct to video feature that boasts a lot of familiar up and coming comedic actors such as Adam Pally (Bad Grandpa), T.J. Miller (Deadpool), Thomas Middleditch (HBO's Silicon Valley), Alison Brie (How To Be Single), J.B. Smoove (Barbershop), Shannon Woodward (Raising Hope) and a cameo by Jessica Jones herself Krysten Ritter. With all of these names, I was at first wondering why this didn't get a wider release and at the conclusion of the film, immediately understood why.

Three inseparable friends (Middleitch, Pally, and Miller) are having a bachelor party the night before Middledich's character is to be married, when he admits in his high and drunken state that he is weighing the pros and cons of his Bride to be (Woodward). Taking what he said to heart, Miller ruins the wedding, sending Middleitch on a cross country journey to confront and win her back - a mission that goes terribly wrong. On his way to find her, Middleitch gets robbed and his clothes stolen in Mexico, leaving it up to his two friends to come and rescue him. From here, we get 'road trip' buddy comedy that is full of colorful characters that assist in complicating things for the trio along their way.

While the film is not without its moments, its many plot holes and extreme levels of realism that, much like the other recent comedy Keanu, feel too forced and unfunny. Things happen out of convenience to the plot to the point of eye rolling and the stakes get raised so abruptly and out of nowhere that we are left with characters that we don't really care about. Tired drug jokes and creepy sexual innuendos throughout raise more eyebrows than laughs here and it's almost a wonder due to all of the talent involved here that it ended up this bad.

Presented in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 2.40:1 and a crisp, lossless DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 mix, the film is up to Blu-ray standards and is a nice presentation of the film. There are multiple language tracks on the disc as well in 5.1 and an Ultraviolet copy.

No extras unless you count four trailers for other upcoming Universal releases or Scene Selection.

There have been worse comedies than Search Party, but ultimately this is a one timer.

- James Lockhart

https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/