Big Stan (HBO DVD)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Feature: D

 

 

A long time ago, there was a time when Rob Schneider could be funny.  It now gives new meaning to the phrase “turn-of-the-century” new weight.  He has been one of the worst would-be comic actors around, often enabled by not-so-funny pseudo-comedy menace Adam Sandler.  Having played out his theatrical film releases, Schneider decided to star in and direct Big Stan, a very small production where he learns martial arts from a wasted David Carradine, also unfunny.  Scott Wilson is also wasted as the bad warden and so is anyone who watches this mess.

 

Schneider looks bored and like he is so in pain that he needs to check into rehab.  This is just awful and he is a hack behind the camera and in front.  We can only hope this is the end of the line.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is really soft for a new HD shoot, with motion blur, bad color and a phony look that is on the ugly side throughout.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is really spreading things out very, very, very thin.  Extras include two featurettes and a very inane audio commentary.  This has sadly also been issued on Blu-ray.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo