Chronically Metropolitan Blu-ray Review

Universal’s 2.40:1 AVC encoded Blu-ray release of "Chronically Metropolitan" presents a picture that is both competent and stylistically divergent. The film's color grading leans towards the bleak and drab, with a very mild saturation that contributes to a drawn-out look. Black levels can appear a bit gray and occasionally crushed, while contrast sometimes pushes too high, resulting in a slightly washed-out appearance. Despite this, detail varies from “meh” to good, with close-up shots ranging from soft and hazy, almost as if filmed through a thin layer of Vaseline, to moments of remarkable sharpness where every pore and detail are visibly striking.

The 1080p transfer manages to balance general clarity and core robustness, delivering satisfactory visual fidelity across faces, clothes, and city textures. Though the digitally photographed style of the movie doesn't provide many opportunities for the imagery to truly shine, colors remain stable and show enough vitality within the film’s constraints. Jesse's yellow jacket and Fenton's red scarf standout pleasantly, and storefronts in locations like Chinatown achieve a vibrant presence. Skin tones maintain their believability throughout, and the source noise is kept minimally distracting, ensuring a relatively clean viewing experience.

"Chronically Metropolitan" arrives on Blu-ray with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that offers a standard yet effective audio mix for its genre. Musically, the presentation delivers with spirited front-end spacing and excellent instrumental clarity, though it features minor surround support. Ambient sounds, such as city and barroom noise, provide an essential but basic layer of atmospherics, effectively enhancing many scenes with a touch of liveliness. A notably positive thumping bass invigorates the party sequence in chapter five, though other opportunities for dynamic sound elements are scarce.

Dialogue plays a crucial role in this soundtrack and is presented with clarity and seamless prioritization, ensuring every spoken word is easy to comprehend. While the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is more than adequate for the film's intimate storytelling, the ambiance of New York City remains underutilized in outdoor scenes. Angelo Milli’s musical score receives decent distribution through the front and rear channels but may not leave a lasting impression. The audio track overall excels in dialogue clarity but misses out on capturing the full essence of the city environment.

The Blu-ray extras for "Chronically Metropolitan" are well-curated, though limited in scope. The alternate ending and deleted scenes offer additional context but lack substantial impact compared to their theatrical counterparts. However, the "Chronically Interviewed" featurette stands out by providing insightful commentary from the primary cast members, including Josh Peck, Addison Timlin, Ashley Benson, and Shiloh Fernandez. This behind-the-scenes look effectively explores character development and the actors' experiences on set. The inclusion of a digital copy code adds value for those looking to expand their viewing options across devices.

Extras included in this disc:

• Alternate Ending: An alternative conclusion to the film.
• Deleted Scenes: Two cut scenes—“Never Have I Ever” and “The Morning After”.
• Chronically Interviewed: Behind the scenes with the stars of Chronically Metropolitan.
• Digital Copy: Code sheet included in the case.

"Chronically Metropolitan," directed by Xavier Manrique and written by Nicholas Schutt, presents a story entrenched in familial dysfunction, millennial clichés, and generational divides. The plot follows Fenton Dillane (Shiloh Fernandez), a young author who returns to his Upper East Side home in NYC after escaping to San Francisco in the wake of a controversial short story. This intricate setup sees Fenton navigating through complex dynamics involving his philandering father (Chris Noth), his emotionally detached mother (Mary-Louise Parker), his disillusioned sister (Addison Timlin), and his ex-girlfriend Jessie (Ashley Benson) who is about to marry someone else. While the narrative aims to delve into themes of self-discovery and reconciliation, it falls short by presenting largely unlikable characters entangled in artificial drama.

The film struggles significantly with character likability and genuine emotional depth. Shiloh Fernandez’s performance as Fenton often feels subdued and uninspired, mired in typical hipster millennial tropes. Despite this, Josh Peck's role as the family’s weed dealer provides a rare moment of relatability, and Chris Noth's performance as the debauched father injects sporadic humor and vigor. The screenplay itself is rife with stereotypes and banal scenes, such as drug use and entitlement issues, leaving most characters feeling one-dimensional. However, there's a glimpse of salvation in the film’s few earnest moments, particularly between Fenton and his father, offering a deeper emotional connection.

Though the film suffers from a lack of originality and an over-reliance on clichéd character tropes, it redeems itself somewhat with its exploration of certain human elements like forgiveness and understanding. Performances from the ensemble cast add occasional richness to an otherwise predictable narrative. The film’s depiction of life's messy realities, though realistic at times, ultimately may not be compelling enough to fully captivate audiences for its 90-minute runtime.

"Chronically Metropolitan" is a film with palpable potential, featuring competent direction by Xavier Manrique and a strong cast including Shiloh Fernandez and Chris Noth. The movie has moments of tenderness and attempts to explore the intricacies of millennials coping with personal and professional crises. However, the writing, penned by Nicholas Schutt, struggles to reach the intellectual heights it aspires to. Instead, it delivers a somewhat generic storyline that fails to fully engage the viewer.

Despite these narrative shortcomings, the film possesses a certain charm due to its well-cast characters who bring personality and relatability to their roles. The quick pace of the 86-minute runtime helps mitigate some of the script’s deficiencies, making for an overall watchable, if unremarkable, experience. On the technical front, Universal's Blu-ray release presents the film with a 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio, delivering decent video quality and excellent DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio. Unfortunately, the supplementary content included is minimal, which might not satisfy those looking for an in-depth viewing experience.

In conclusion, while "Chronically Metropolitan" showcases flashes of promise primarily via its cast and technical execution, it ultimately falls short of making a lasting impression due to its intellectually superficial writing. Nevertheless, it remains a passable viewing option for those interested in character-driven life dramas. Given the lack of substantial extras on the Blu-ray disc and the film's overall mediocre nature, it sits on the lower end of recommendations—suitable for a casual watch but not essential viewing.