Dirty Work Blu-ray Review

The AVC encoded image (1.86:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Dirty Work" offers a mixed experience. The primary colors are vibrant, delivering an almost exaggerated palette that mirrors the look of a children's television show, particularly evident in costumes and paint jobs. Skintones maintain a natural appearance, providing a sense of realism amidst the vivid color spectrum. Detail, while intact, is somewhat softened, which is noticeable in facial textures and the destructive pranks central to the film's humor. Although delineation exhibits occasional solidification issues, the film's largely brightly lit scenes avoid problems with shadow detail. The source material shows speckling and occasional debris, which can be distracting at times.

From a technical perspective, the MPEG-4 AVC encoding at 1080p resolution with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio presents a picture that can be described as inconsistent. While some scenes manage to impress with decent to good detail, the overall transfer appears somewhat compromised. The blown-out contrast results in overly vivid colors that sometimes detract from the finer details, particularly noticeable in red, orange, and yellow hues which bleed excessively. Black levels are deep but suffer from crushing, obscuring subtle details. Image softness and edge enhancement further affect the overall clarity, giving the picture a flat look for the most part. Grain, dirt, and slight aliasing are also present, but do not overwhelmingly hinder the viewing experience.

Overall, while "Dirty Work" benefits from vibrant color reproduction and natural skintones, the video presentation suffers from issues with contrast, detail softness, and occasional source material imperfections. This mixed performance ultimately delivers an experience that could have been significantly enhanced with better handling of the technical aspects.

The audio presentation of the Blu-Ray release for "Dirty Work" employs a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix that effectively addresses the film's straightforward dialogue-driven narrative. Dialogue exchanges carry appropriate weight and separation, ensuring the comedic timing is preserved, and delivering a comfortable range for listeners. While surround sound elements are used sparingly, the track still offers occasional bursts of excitement with panning effects and detailed atmospheric sounds, particularly during group scenes or hospital visits. The mix strikes a balance between subtle background effects and more prominent audio cues, although it's worth noting that the surround activity doesn't dominate the listening experience.

While the inclusion of some nicely rounded effects during the action moments does add a bit of zest, the overall audio track remains relatively unremarkable. The film's scoring supports the scenes but does not stand out significantly, featuring encouraging instrumentation that aligns well with various soundtrack selections. Low-end heft is present, adding some dimension to the overall auditory experience, but the track lacks the dynamism to truly impress audiophiles. Dialogue reproduction remains clean and clear throughout, though it may feel slightly subdued at times, which can affect audibility. Nonetheless, the mix maintains professional atmospheric quality during key sequences.

The Blu-ray disc of "Dirty Work" offers an array of extras that bring added value to fans and collectors. Presented with impeccable attention to clarity and detail, these supplementary materials provide a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the film's production and marketing. The inclusion of a trailer in high-definition enhances the viewing experience, making each segment both visually and contextually enriching.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer (HD): More of a commercial, offering a brief look into the movie's promotion.

1998's "Dirty Work," directed by Bob Saget, embodies a humor style heavily influenced by Adam Sandler's early hits, designed to spotlight Norm Macdonald's unique comedic voice. While initially met with commercial indifference, the film's value lies in its absurd and occasionally grotesque humor rather than any profound narrative depth. Macdonald, better known for his stand-up and Saturday Night Live performances, finds himself more at ease delivering punchlines than engaging in traditional acting. The movie, which leans on his notable "Note to Self" gag from SNL, features Macdonald and co-star Artie Lange as they run a revenge business, engaging in elaborate and often outrageous pranks. These pranks—ranging from car trunks filled with actors playing dead prostitutes to chaos unleashed at a live auto dealer commercial—highlight the film’s cartoonish, yet not mean-spirited nature.

The supporting cast enhances the comedic fabric, including memorable cameos from Chris Farley and Chevy Chase. Farley's character, whose nose was mangled by a Saigon prostitute, provides a tragicomic flair typical of his larger-than-life screen persona. Meanwhile, Chase’s performance as a gambling-obsessed doctor adds another layer of dry humor, reminiscent of his classic roles. Additionally, Don Rickles shines in a brief but hilarious role as a berating movie theater manager.

"Dirty Work" thrives on its slapstick and non-sequitur moments, following a straightforward revenge plot against a nefarious property developer played by Christopher McDonald. While the film’s visual and musical aesthetic is unmistakably 90s—complete with a soundtrack featuring "Tubthumping"—it never aims to break new comedic ground. Rather, it delights in the familiarity of its antics. Though critically panned upon release, the film maintains its appeal for audiences who appreciate Macdonald’s specific brand of humor, wrapped in a simple yet entertaining package that caters well to its comedic pedigree.

This Blu-ray release of "Dirty Work" offers a mixed bag in terms of technical presentation and extras. While the film's comedic value, grounded in Norm Macdonald's unique delivery and ludicrous humor, remains intact, the picture quality does not meet high-definition standards. The transfer appears to suffer from a lack of remastering, affecting overall clarity and sharpness. Olive Films likely opted not to invest in an extensive clean-up, which could be understandable given the niche appeal of the movie. However, this does slightly diminish the home viewing experience for fans expecting a polished visual upgrade.

Extras on this Blu-ray are virtually non-existent, with only the film’s trailer included. This could be seen as a missed opportunity to enrich the viewing experience with behind-the-scenes content or commentary which could have provided additional context and appreciation for this cult comedy. Fans familiar with Macdonald's comedic style will find the Blu-ray still enjoyable for its humor, but they should manage their expectations regarding supplementary materials and visual fidelity.

There's no way to recommend "Dirty Work" to just anyone. It's specialized entertainment for viewers with a relaxed sense of humor and an appreciation for Macdonald's delivery and love of the ludicrous. It's far from a perfect film, perhaps not even a good one (the production doesn't do itself any favors when crudely painting over the effort R-rated intentions with dismal PG-13 jokes), but as candy-colored farces go, "Dirty Work" is relatively harmless entertainment that doesn't overstay its welcome (running a scant 77 minutes before end credits) and insists on heaping helpings of physical and weirdo comedy, doing whatever it can to please. The laugh percentage may not be there for everyone, but the picture never tires when it comes to sharing goofiness.