What Men Want Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "What Men Want" by Paramount is an exemplary showcase of the film’s digitally shot source material. Utilizing Arri Alexa cameras and encoded in high-bitrate AVC on a BD-50, this 1080P resolution transfer delivers a near-perfect visual experience. The visual clarity and razor-sharp definition are consistently impressive throughout the film, with detailed textures evident in skin, hair, clothing, and multiple environments, from upscale sports agency offices to intricately-lit nightclub scenes. Colors are deep, saturated, and vibrant, providing an eye-pleasing visual depth that enhances the overall viewing experience.

Contrast is managed proficiently, offering dynamic imagery without overwhelming the viewer. Black levels are richly deep and maintain discernible detail even in low-light or shadow-heavy scenes. The presentation adheres to a slight warmth that remains pleasantly neutral overall. Though there is minor noise visibility in some darker scenes, particularly noticeable during the psychic meeting in chapter three, it doesn’t reach a level that distracts from the viewing experience. Importantly, the Blu-ray boasts minimal to no visible video artifacts, showcasing Paramount's expertise in producing high-quality AVC encodes.

The 2.39:1 aspect ratio adds a cinematic feel suitable for comedies, delivering videophile-grade presentation quality that almost teases the standards of a UHD format. While some scenes display better resolvement due to the photographic choices, the overall stability in sharpness, crisp detail, and subtle refinement across all scenes is commendable. Ultimately, "What Men Want" on Blu-ray stands out as a top-tier video presentation with superb dimensionality and color vitality, solidifying itself as a remarkable visual treat for viewers.

The Dolby TrueHD 7.1 surround sound track of "What Men Want" excels in delivering a highly dynamic and immersive audio experience. The sonic detail is crystal clear, with an especially rich reproduction of low-end frequencies that provide robust and powerful bass. This tonal balance ensures that pans across the left, center, and right channels appear seamless, creating an enveloping soundstage. The use of discrete and ambient sounds across the surround channels enhances the immersive quality of the soundtrack, whether it’s capturing nuanced background sounds or high-energy musical interludes.

The track particularly shines during sequences featuring a barrage of high-energy pop songs, which are presented with excellent clarity and superb low-end support. This is evident during key movie moments, such as club scenes where the music's weight and depth drive the atmospheric intensity. Additionally, notable sound effects – like the voices emanating during Ali's mind-reading scenes – further illustrate the meticulous attention to audio detail. While the inclusion of Dolby Atmos might have enhanced some reverb effects at specific points in the film, the existing Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mix manages admirably, creating an engaging aural environment.

Dialogue delivery throughout the film is clear and precise, playing a crucial role in driving the narrative forward without any noticeable flaws. While the spirited musical sequences benefit greatly from the soundtrack's dynamic range, the presentation of comedic dialogue ensures that every line lands effectively. For global audiences, the Blu-ray also includes German, French, and Spanish dubs in 5.1 Dolby Digital audio, along with a selection of 17 subtitle options ranging from English SDH to Korean. Overall, "What Men Want" offers a finely tuned audio experience clearly crafted for a wide international audience.

The Blu-ray extras for "What Men Want" offer substantial supplementary content, delivering a comprehensive behind-the-scenes experience. Director Adam Shankman provides insightful commentary, elaborating on the project’s origins, narrative choices, and character development. The inclusion of deleted and extended scenes, each with a contextual introduction, enhances understanding of the film's storyline. A humorous gag reel lets viewers in on the lighter side of production, while featurettes such as "The Dream Team" and "Flipping the Narrative" highlight the movie’s diverse cast and progressive storytelling. Other notable inclusions are the entertaining "Poker Night" and "Ali + Athletes," which spotlight guest star athletes and memorable cameos.

Extras included in this disc:

Commentary with director Adam Shankman: Director discusses project origins and themes. Deleted & Extended Scenes with introduction by director Adam Shankman: Additional scenes with contextual information. Gag Reel with introduction by director Adam Shankman: Humorous moments from the shoot. The Dream Team: Cast and crew discuss behind-the-scenes experiences. Flipping the Narrative: Exploration of female-centric storytelling. What DO Men Want?: Cast and crew answer the titular question. Poker Night: Behind-the-scenes look at the poker scene shoot. Ali + Athletes: Coverage of real-life athlete cameos. Sister Spills the Tea infomercial: Erykah Badu's character promo.

"What Men Want" is a gender-flipped remake of the 2000 Mel Gibson comedy "What Women Want," featuring Taraji P. Henson as Ali Davis, a high-powered sports agent who suddenly develops the ability to hear men's thoughts. Despite the intriguing premise and a strong lead performance by Henson, the film falls short in several areas. The narrative closely mirrors the original, following Ali as she navigates career challenges in a male-dominated field, uses her newfound psychic abilities to get ahead, and ultimately learns a lesson about personal integrity. Unfortunately, the script suffers from clichéd writing and an over-reliance on social commentary, which fails to resonate meaningfully.

Directed by Adam Shankman, "What Men Want" often feels soulless and calculated, aiming more to tick demographic checkboxes than to deliver a genuinely entertaining comedy experience. While there are sporadic moments of humor, the film's attempts at comedy often fall flat due to poor comedic timing and uninspired performances from the supporting cast. Tracy Morgan's portrayal of Joe "Dolla" Berry provides some comic relief but is not sufficient to carry the film. Cameos from NBA figures such as Commissioner Adam Silver, Shaquille O'Neal, and Grant Hill add an interesting touch but do little to elevate the overall quality of the film.

The movie's redeeming qualities lie primarily in its performances. Henson brings a certain depth and charm to her character despite the weak material. Aldis Hodge stands out as Ali's love interest, offering a more grounded counterpoint to her over-the-top antics. The ensemble cast, including Richard Roundtree and Josh Brener, shows genuine camaraderie, although this chemistry is largely undermined by the formulaic plot and predictable jokes.

Rated R for language and sexual content throughout, along with some drug material, "What Men Want" is a lightweight and formulaic comedy that struggles to stand out. It is watchable but far from memorable, relying heavily on its star power to compensate for its lack of originality and depth.

"What Men Want" fails to break new ground, presenting a lackluster reinterpretation of a nearly two-decade-old concept. The comedy is often contrived and falls short, despite a promising premise. Taraji P. Henson delivers a commendable performance, and a few minor characters add some brightness, but overall, the acting does little to salvage the film. The movie struggles with originality, adhering to a predictable formula that leaves it feeling stale and unremarkable.

Technically, the Blu-ray release is impressive. Paramount ensures high-quality video with a 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio, delivering crisp and clear visuals that enhance the viewing experience. The 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD soundtrack is a standout feature, offering exceptional audio quality with rich sonic detail, seamless channel transitions, and well-balanced bass. The sound design is immersive, effectively using the surround channels to create a dynamic audio environment. The disc also includes English, French, and Spanish audio and subtitles options, adding accessibility for a wider audience. Extr"as are abundant and thoughtfully curated for fans of the film.

While "What Men Want" may cater to avid supporters of current mainstream comedies or admirers of the original film's concept, it remains largely underwhelming in its execution. The impressive technical quality of the Blu-ray cannot compensate for the film's substantive flaws. Thus, for those outside its niche appeal, it is advisable to skip this viewing experience.