Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Blu-ray Review

"Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates" on Blu-ray, provided by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, showcases an impressive AVC encoded 1080p transfer in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Shot digitally with Arri Alexa and Red Dragon cameras, the film capitalizes on its vibrant, tropical Hawaiian setting to deliver visually engaging content. The bright exteriors are particularly striking, with an array of primaries and pastels that truly pop on screen, providing exceptional detail on various textures such as fabrics, hair, and skin pores. The ATV sequence stands out, offering breathtaking depth of field and sharp detailing on extensive foliage.

Night scenes and darker interiors in the film are commendably handled, maintaining strong black levels and consistent contrast without significant issues of crush or noise. While there are minor instances of murkiness and slight noise in a few darker scenes, these do not detract from the overall high-quality presentation. Additionally, no notable issues with image instability, banding, or aliasing were observed, ensuring a smooth and pleasant viewing experience.

The Blu-ray transfer is mostly sharp and detailed, though some frames exhibit a slight softness likely due to focus errors rather than transfer flaws. Colors are robust and vivid, enhancing the lush Hawaiian locales central to the film's visual appeal. Overall, this transfer may not achieve reference-quality status but remains a strong presentation with minimal technical shortcomings.

The Blu-ray release of "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates" features a robust DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track that significantly enhances the viewing experience. The immersive capabilities of the audio are particularly evident in crowded scenes, such as beachside or poolside sequences, with sound effects contributing to a lively soundtrack. While some overly noisy party scenes result in slightly buried lines, dialogue is generally clean, clear, and well-prioritized. The fidelity and dynamic range are surprisingly top-notch for a comedy.

In addition to its primary DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track, the Blu-ray includes various 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Russian, a 5.1 English Descriptive Audio track, and multiple subtitle options. The soundtrack excels in diverse acoustic environments, from the thumping bass and LFE during the wedding reception performance to quieter moments like the distinct sound of alcohol being poured into a glass. The Jonathan Schwartz music score and a series of hip-hop and rock tunes effectively utilize the surround environment despite occasionally lacking the sophisticated spread characteristic of advanced sound design.

Overall, this well-rendered track ensures an engaging audio experience, consistently delivering crisp and distinct sounds that make viewers feel part of the action. The attention to detail in both quiet and dynamic moments underscores the effectiveness of this DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track, making it an excellent choice for this mainstream comedy movie.

The supplementary features on the Blu-ray of "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates" provide a substantial amount of additional content that complements the film’s comedic tone. Deleted and extended scenes offer extensive unused footage, while the "Alternate Storyline Pig Sequence" dives into an entirely scrapped subplot. The humorous behind-the-scenes atmosphere is captured through features like "Bits on Bits on Bits" and "Line-O-Rama," showcasing the actors' ad libbed moments and alternate takes. The "Gag Reel" includes amusing bloopers, matching the spirit of the film. Additionally, "Funny or Die Shorts" comprise promotional shorts featuring the cast. Director Jake Szymanski’s commentary provides behind-the-scenes insights, albeit with mixed reception. Visual extras include a gallery of behind-the-scenes photos and trailers for the film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Fourteen omitted segments from the movie.
• Extended Scenes: Sixteen prolonged scenes.
• Alternate Storyline Pig Sequence: Footage from a deleted subplot.
• Bits on Bits on Bits: Compendium of alternate scene takes.
• Line-O-Rama: Collection of ad libbed lines.
• Gag Reel: Blooper collection.
• Funny or Die Shorts: Three promotional shorts.
• Gallery: Behind-the-scenes photos.
• Theatrical Trailers: Red band and green band trailers.
• Audio Commentary by Jake Szymanski: Commentary by the director.

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates spins a comedic tale anchored in a "High Concept" and star-studded performances. Based on a real-life episode where two brothers needed dates for a wedding, the film substitutes “The Today Show” for “The Wendy Williams Show” while retaining the brothers' real names, Mike and Dave Stangle. Played by Adam Devine and Zac Efron, respectively, the siblings' notorious history of ruining family events propels their quest for wedding dates. The narrative picks up speed when wild gals Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza) and Alice (Anna Kendrick) con their way into becoming the chosen dates, pretending to be well-behaved professionals. The film spares no raunchy or politically incorrect gag but struggles with an inconsistent tone.

The strength of the movie lies in its improvisational comedy and energetic cast, especially Aubrey Plaza's sharp portrayal of Tatiana. Performances from Devine and Kendrick deliver sporadic laughs; however, Kendrick’s talent feels underutilized, as she doesn’t quite fit the role of a reckless, heartbroken drunk. Once the group lands in Hawaii, the plot unfolds in a series of sketches ranging from humorously awkward to wildly exaggerated. Despite some hilarious moments—such as a standout massage scene with Sugar Lyn Beard’s character—predictable scenarios and character shallow development drag down the overall experience.

While the Hawaiian locales provide an eye-catching backdrop, Szymanski’s direction exposes the film’s dependency on vulgarity rather than wit. The disc's bonus features reveal much of the funniest material was left on the cutting room floor, hinting that a free-spirited approach could have benefited the movie. Pockets of unrestrained humor do punctuate the runtime, but ultimately, the film lurches between contrived setups and heartfelt revelations it doesn't quite earn. Despite commendable efforts by the cast, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates advocates for a more coherent script or greater trust in its actors' improvisational prowess.

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates is a generally enjoyable raunchy comedy that promises more than it delivers. The film is built on a potent premise with a likable cast featuring Zac Efron and Adam Devine, who play two hard-partying brothers. Despite their charm, the screenplay feels constrained, suggesting that either a more daring director or a more ambitious script was needed to let the characters fully shine. The comedy is inconsistent, capturing moments of genuine hilarity but often falling back on predictable and formulaic gags.

The Blu-ray release is technically impressive, boasting first-rate audiovisual quality that enhances the viewing experience. The picture clarity is excellent, with vibrant colors and sharp details that bring the Hawaii setting to life. The audio is equally commendable, delivering crisp dialogue and a punchy soundtrack. These technical merits do much to support the overall presentation, even if the movie itself doesn’t consistently hold up to the same standard.

It probably goes without saying that Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates is hardly comedy in the Noel Coward or Oscar Wilde mold, but if it's accepted on its own at times scabrous merits, there are numerous if inconsistent laughs to be had. The film has charisma to spare, but it could have used either a tighter screenplay or a director who simply threw caution to the wind and let his cast really go for the improvisational gusto. Technical merits are first rate, and with caveats noted, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates comes Recommended.