Happy Times appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.39:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. This became a pretty solid presentation.
Sharpness worked well most of the time. Though occasional shots felt a little tentative, the image usually came across with nice accuracy.
No signs of jagged edges or moiré effects appeared, and I saw no edge haloes. Source flaws also failed to materialize.
Colors leaned toward a fairly teal palette, with some light amber as well. While these failed to excel, they seemed appropriate for the project.
Blacks looked dark and deep, and shadows seemed largely smooth and concise. Though this never became a great image, it offered a good representation of the material.
As for the film’s DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, it offered a largely low-key affair. Despite a few violent sequences, the emphasis remained on dialogue and music.
The score used the five channels reasonably well, and those sporadic moments of “action” broadened the spectrum in a moderately involving manner. Nonetheless, most of the track stayed subdued, so don’t expect a lot of sonic engagement.
Audio quality worked fine, with speech that remained natural and concise. The score showed good range and heft as well.
As noted, effects didn’t do a lot to stand out, but they seemed more than adequate, as they felt accurate and clear. This was a serviceable soundtrack.
Note that the disc offers two separate subtitle options. We can get English text for only the Hebrew lines or for all the film’s dialogue.
Minor extras show up on the disc, and we find both an Alternate Cut of Scene 26 (1:24) and a Deleted Scene for Scene 32 (0:51).
The “Alternate” is so similar to the final scene that it seems like a pointless addition here. The “Deleted” snippet really extends an existing shot, and it also feels forgettable.
A Blooper Reel runs seven minutes, 35 seconds and brings the usual goofs and giggles. Don’t expect much from them, though we do get a handful of alternate lines.
Previews brings ads for Beasts Clawing At Straws, The Dead Ones, Red Christmas and An Exquisite Meal. No trailer for Happy Times appears here.
A darkly comedic take on a social event gone wrong, Happy Times deviates from reality much of the time, but it explores its topics to reasonable effect. Wild and unhinged, the movie becomes a good mix of cynical humor and violence. The Blu-ray brings generally positive picture and audio along with a few bonus features. Though not exactly family fare, this offers an interesting tale.