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DECAL

MOVIE INFO

Director:
Jocelyn Moorhouse
Cast:
Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Megan Mullally, Sheryl Lynn Ralph
Writing Credits:
Ann Marie Allison, Jenna Milly

Synopsis:
Four old friends unite for a wedding.

MPAA:
Rated R.

DISC DETAILS
Presentation:
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio:
English DTS-HD MA 5.1
English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Subtitles:
English
Spanish
Closed-captioned
Supplements Subtitles:
None

Runtime: 99 min.
Price: $29.98
Release Date: 9/10/2024

Bonus:
• Previews


PURCHASE @ AMAZON.COM

EQUIPMENT
-LG OLED65C6P 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED TV
-Marantz SR7010 9.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD AV Surround Receiver
-Panasonic DMP-BDT220P Blu-Ray Player
-Chane A2.4 Speakers
-SVS SB12-NSD 12" 400-watt Sealed Box Subwoofer


RELATED REVIEWS


The Fabulous Four [Blu-Ray] (2024)

Reviewed by Colin Jacobson (September 23, 2024)

Because I don’t want this website’s array of reviews to seem totally monochromatic, I find myself willing to watch movies that don’t land in my usual wheelhouse. Today’s example: 2024’s The Fabulous Four.

Newly widowed septuagenarian Marilyn (Bette Midler) surprises her lifelong pals Kitty (Sheryl Lynn Ralph) and Alice (Megan Mullally) with news that she will soon remarry. This means the three will reunite in Key West for the nuptials.

Kitty and Alice bring along a fourth member of their old gang as well: Marilyn’s college BFF Lou (Susan Sarandon), who fell out with Marilyn after a fight over a boy. This adds tension to the party, as the four old friends interact during the lead-up to the ceremony.

Though this Blu-ray represents my initial screening of Four, I almost saw it theatrically over the summer. Out of town for a few days without much to do at night, I checked out multiplex schedules to determine what interested me that I’d not already seen.

A look at the advertising for Four implied it wouldn’t work for me. However, I remained open-minded – until I saw the reviews, which were pretty bad.

That said, I’m willing to view flicks at home that I won’t commit to in theaters. Thus the existence of this review.

Did I miss a fun time at AMC in July? Heavens no, as it brings a witless and flat experience.

Honestly, it shouldn’t have been hard for Four to live up to expectations. Given how little entertainment I anticipated here, it seemed next to impossible that the film wouldn’t leap the exceedingly low bar.

That seems especially true given the cast involved. Four comes with a collection of genuinely talented actors, so it feels like some entertainment should result.

None does. Essentially a random collection of theoretically comedic beats – with the occasional dramatic/sentimental beat tossed in as well – this turns into a disjointed and tedious project.

All the stabs at laughs follow the paths one expect from this “Grannies Gone Wild” genre. Movies with elderly women in theoretically wacky circumstances aren’t new, so a project like Four needs to find something fresh.

It doesn’t. Not a single original moment occurs in this stale and wearisome production.

One might hope the talented actors overcome the awful script, but to my surprise, they don’t – not at all. Three of the four overact relentlessly in their unsuccessful attempts to add mirth to this misbegotten affair.

Only Sarandon actually attempts to create a real person. She can’t elevate her one-note role, but at least she gives it a go.

It doesn’t help that we never remotely buy the titular crew as pals – and not just because their ages often don’t match. 77 and 78 during the production, we do accept Sarandon and Midler as college pals.

However, Mullally and Ralph were in their mid-60s at the time. The movie strongly implies all the characters should be about the same age, so it doesn’t fit that half our Four are a good decade younger than the other two.

I could ignore this discrepancy if the leads meshed. They don’t, though, as they all feel detached from each other.

At no point do the characters connect in a meaningful manner. They feel totally separate from each other and without any sense of chemistry.

All of this wastes quality actors. Nothing about this tedious and cliché flick succeeds.


The Disc Grades: Picture B+/ Audio B-/ Bonus F

The Fabulous Four appears in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. The movie offered a positive visual impression.

Overall definition seemed pleasing. Only a few slightly soft wide shots occurred, so the movie almost always appeared accurate and concise.

I noticed no signs of jaggies or edge enhancement, and shimmering was absent. The film lacked print flaws and seemed clean.

In terms of colors, Four went for a teal and amber/orange tint, though the tropical setting added a little range. These appeared fine within the film’s stylistic choices.

Blacks seemed dark and tight, and shadows demonstrated good clarity. This added up to a satisfying presentation.

A character-focused comedy/drama wouldn’t seem to be a candidate for a whiz-bang soundtrack. As such, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio of Four fell into expected realms.

Usually the track remained oriented toward ambience, so don’t expect lots of sizzle from the mix. Some scenes in various outdoor spots added mild involvement and the movie boasted nice involvement from songs/score across all five channels, but we find little real activity from this generally low-key mix.

Audio quality satisfied. Music was full and rich, while effects showed nice clarity and accuracy.

Speech – obviously an important factor in this chatty flick – appeared concise and crisp. Nothing here soared, but it all seemed perfectly adequate for the project.

No extras appear on this Blu-ray – not even previews.

If you hope to find anything fresh and creative from The Fabulous Four, you will encounter nothing but disappointment. The film wastes a talented cast and becomes a chemistry-free dud. The Blu-ray boasts excellent visuals and decent audio but it lacks bonus materials. Four can’t surpass even the lowest of expectations.

Viewer Film Ratings: 1 Stars Number of Votes: 1
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