Reno 911: The Movie – Unrated (DVD)

 

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

 

 

The Reno 911 franchise is one you either get and enjoy, or you don’t.  Sure, there have been funny cops we could take seriously (Barney Miller), serious ones later sent up (Dragnet) or ones who were just an outright hoot (Car 54, Where Are You?, The Naked Gun/Police Squad) or not as funny as the producers think they are (Police Academy).  No doubt Reno 911 is a big hit TV show, but this did not translate into a box office hit, but it was not for lack of ambition on the part of producers.

 

Starting with its wacky opening sequence including a funny cameo by Danny DeVito, the film has a wider scope and the police here are simply insane, which is the point of telling their story.  In the process, they spoof police going back to the police procedural films of the 1940s, though most audiences would not know that.  In this case, the film was just a one-joke piece and for fans only.  At least there is some money on the screen and that should please fans and those curious about the show who have never seen it.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image Is not bad, but softer than a new film ought to be and as compared to the 35mm print I saw.  Not to say this looks like TV either as this looked nicer on the big screen than you would expect from a TV spin-off.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is lively enough and adds to the amusements when they work.  Extras include three (!) feature length audio commentary tracks (who do they think they are, Spinal Tap?), extended scenes, trailers for this and two other politically incorrect Fox releases (Grandma’s Boy, Family Guy), “public service announcements” and the world premiere on the Fox Movie Channel.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo