The Parole Officer (Umbrella Entertainment/Region 2/4 Import/PAL Format)

 

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

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: This DVD can only be operated on machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region 2/4 PAL format software and can be ordered from our friends at Umbrella Entertainment at the website address provided at the end of the review.

 

 

One of the more silly British comedies to arrive in awhile is 2001’s the Parole Officer, which in many respects is attempting to ride off the coat tales of the popularity that The Full Monty garnered.  Here we have Steve Coogan star as a failed parole officer who must enlist his former clients in order to clear his name as he has been accused of murder.  The film turns from clever to wacky before it’s all said and done and ends up being more miss than hit for the most part. 

 

Umbrellas Entertainment has issued the film for Region 2 and 4, which is in the PAL format and will need proper equipment to play, the film is presented in a 1.77 X 1 transfer that looks good and a bit sharper since it’s in PAL, making it seem more like HD in some respects, but still limited with softness, color fidelity, and depth overall.  The sound is a competent Dolby 5.1 mix that gets the job done for this run-of-the-mill comedy mixes. 

 

Extras include audio commentary by Coogan, a 22-minute making of feature, deleted scenes, trailer, and the Atomic Kitten music video for “Eternal Flame”, which is actually not a bad remake, much to my amazement!

 

 

As noted above, you can order this PAL DVD import exclusively from Umbrella at:

 

http://www.umbrellaent.com.au/

 

 

-   Nate Goss