Half Baked (HD-DVD/DVD Combo Format)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B-     Extras: C-     Film: C-

 

 

There was a time when drug comedies were all the rage, led by Cheech & Chong, but times have changed, the cycled played itself out and now such productions are few and far between.  Tamra Davis’ Half Baked (1998) is one of the reasons why.  The silly story has to do with childhood friends who grow up and find they are addicted to pot.

 

They love it and as they work their menial jobs, still think of it all the time.  When the film was originally released, Jim Brewer of Saturday Night Live was the best known name in the cast, but with his career elsewhere, co-star Dave Chappelle (whose character is the narrator of the story) is now by far the established star and Universal has made this an early HD-DVD release to capitalize on that.  Too bad the superior Dave Chappelle’s Block Party (reviewed elsewhere on this site) was not issued at the same time.

 

The plot, thinner than rolling paper, is about how they band together when one of their crew lands up in jail for guess what?  This is for diehard fans of the cast (Harland Williams also stars and there are several star cameos) or the subject only.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image has some poor moments, shows its age and is not new, but is not bad.  The 1080p digital HD version is a little better, but the improved definition also shows new flaws.  Color can be consistent, but Steven Bernstein’s cinematography can be as one-note as the film to match the visual comedy.  The standard DVD offers regular Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1, with the DTS being better, while the HD’s Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 is about on par with the DTS.  Surrounds are not that strong and being laced with jokes, sound is to the front.

 

Extras include director’s audio commentary, alternate ending, three featurettes and 10 deleted scenes.  That should be more than enough to keep anyone who likes this film happy.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo