Why So Blu?

The Wedding Ringer (Blu-ray Review)

Kevin Hart (Think Like a Man Too) takes wedding planning to a whole new level of hilarity as the “Best Man” money can buy in THE WEDDING RINGER, debuting on Digital HD and on Blu-ray^™ and DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.  The buddy comedy also stars Josh Gad (Frozen) as Doug, who finds himself without a main groomsman only two weeks before his wedding to Gretchen, played by Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting (“The Big Bang Theory”).  Given his time crunch before the big day, Doug hires Jimmy (Hart) to fill in, and an unexpected friendship develops.  Also starring in THE WEDDING RINGER is Jorge Garcia (“Lost”), Academy Award^® winner Cloris Leachman (Best Supporting Actress, The Last Picture Show, 1971), Jenifer Lewis (“Black-ish”) and Mimi Rogers (Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery).

Film 

Doug is a socially awkward groom-to-be with a problem: he has no best man. With less than two weeks to go until he marries the girl of his dreams, Doug is referred to Jimmy, who provides flattering best men for guys in need. What ensues is a hilarious wedding charade as they try to pull off the big con, and an unexpected budding friendship.

The Wedding Ringer is one of those movies that doesn’t feel like anything other than some sort of cheap counter-programming movie.  Thing is, this movie was the big opening weekend release when it came out a few months ago.  Another one of those Kevin Hart-starring vehicles that have been making crazy loads of money.

Though, with this film, Hart really isn’t necessary.  The role is a blank slate to insert any comedian or comedic actor and run with it.  Hart also doesn’t really bring enough of his own flair to it to make it his own.  I’m not saying he’s not giving it all or anything like that, its just that this doesn’t feel like this had to be Kevin Hart or that you’d think of this as the movie in which “Kevin Hart does this or that”.

He’s surrounded by a supporting cast that is a real mixed bag.  I’m not the biggest Josh Gad fan, and his character is kinda hard to get on board with here.  Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting is charming, but she’s given nothing but a thankless role here.  The rest of the guys are either good but underused or just plain forgettable (Yes, including Hurley from Lost).

The Wedding Ringer isn’t wholly unfunny, I did snicker a time or two, but if you’ve seen a few comedy in your lifetime, you know the beats and structure of this story by the end of the first act.  You find yourself just blankly staring at your TV set watching it just because.  Nothing really sticks and the film’s “memorable moments” are copycat situations or just bits where they are trying way too hard for the joke.  A comedy where the silence outweighs the laughs.  And the whole thing ends on a miserable, dated, forced and dumb joke.

Video 

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Clarity/Detail:  This is pretty much perfection.  The image is crisp, sharp and highly detailed.  Clothing fabrics, shards of glass and smudges on glass and the like are all quite visible.

Depth:  Background clarity is great and movement is smooth and natural.

Black Levels:  Blacks a rich and enhancing.  No crushing or detail lost.

Color Reproduction: Colors are bold and feature a nice lovely palette on display.  They are striking without ever being too vivid and never bleed.

Flesh Tones: Natural and consistent.  Facial detail on wrinkles, dimples, stubble and whatnot is all quite crisp and clear.

Noise/Artifacts:  Clean

Audio 

Audio Format(s): English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, French 5.1 DTS-HD MA, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Commentary

Dynamics: This is a pretty in your face track.  The music in the film is the obvious highlight.  Its really upfront, loud and takes over.  The vocals in the mix aren’t quite as loud, so if you’re turning it down during a musical led sequence, you’ll be turning it right back up when people speak.  Its not a balanced track but it is an aggressive one.

Low Frequency Extension:  Songs in the mix get some deep pumping bass.  Also, some beat down effects benefit from the sub as well.  The opening part where Gad shatters a glass desk is especially deep and booming.

Surround Sound Presentation:  The rear speakers have plenty of life to them.  Wedding sequences feature plenty of crowd variance in its ambiance.  The front speakers also accurately display movement and volume.

Dialogue Reproduction:  Low in the mix, but it is crisp and clear.

Extras 

The Wedding Ringer comes with an UltraViolet Digital Copy of the film.

Audio Commentary

• With Director Jeremy Garelick and Actor Josh Gad – Select scenes only.

Deleted Scenes (HD, 22:22)

Outtakes (HD, 14:27)

Line-O-Rama (HD, 14:19) – Additional outtakes/improv

Going To The Chapel Of Love (HD, 6:24) – Those involved with the film discuss their own wedding experiences.

Music Video: “Can You Do This” by Aloe Blacc (HD, 3:30)

Summary 

Yup, there’s no worse fate than having to sit through an unfunny comedy.  The Wedding Ringer sure fits the bill.  This disc features some very strong technical merits with an outstanding video transfer and good intense audio.  While I find the extras provided to be a snoozer, they do amount for a lot of extra time with the movie.  Kevin Hart fans may even want to consider just renting or waiting on Netflix for this one.