Waiting for Forever Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Waiting for Forever" boasts an impressive 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer, presenting a clear, clean, and colorful visual experience, which starkly contrasts with the film's overall quality. The picture maintains a remarkable degree of clarity, allowing viewers to discern fine details such as Richard Jenkins' stubble, Blythe Danner's sweater textures, and Tom Sturridge's bowler hat felt. Noise reduction, edge enhancement, and compression issues are virtually nonexistent. Both natural and artificially stylized scenes—like the glowing highlights in flashback sequences—exhibit balanced skin tones, dense-but-realistic hues, and deep black levels without overblown contrast.

Colors are vibrant and true to life. The lush greens and brick reds of downtown Salt Lake City are captured with vivid accuracy. Close-ups reveal intricate details like Will's spotty beard and Emma's freckles, ensuring that each frame pleases the eye. A few minor issues, notably occasional crushing and some instances of softness, are present but minimal compared to the overall performance of the video. Despite these slight flaws, this AVC-encoded transfer elevates the visual presentation well above the cinematic material it supports.

"Waiting for Forever's" DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track offers an adequate listening experience, particularly fitting for a dialogue-centric film with an emotive soundtrack. The mix is well-grounded, with clear and intelligible dialogue throughout, though some reviewers noted occasional muffling issues, especially concerning Tom Sturridge’s slurred lines. Environmental sounds such as pouring rain, birds chirping, and barroom chatter are appropriately positioned in the rear channels, adding subtle ambience without overwhelming the main audio.

While the rear channels generally remain understated, they do come alive during specific scenes, enhancing the overall auditory experience modestly. The musical score primarily resides in the front channels, providing a non-intrusive background that complements the film's delicate tone. The inclusion of optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles in easily readable white lettering is a commendable feature, making the film accessible to a broader audience. In conclusion, the audio mix is high-quality yet low-impact, fulfilling its role without unnecessary embellishments.

The Blu-ray release of "Waiting for Forever" disappointingly lacks any supplementary features, offering no behind-the-scenes content, commentary tracks, or even a theatrical trailer. The absence of extras is a notable omission that diminishes the overall value of this Blu-ray, particularly for enthusiasts who enjoy delving deeper into the film-making process and viewing additional insights.

Extras included in this disc:

• None

"Waiting for Forever" is an arduous exercise in the pitfalls of the romantic comedy genre, a film beset with damp sentiment and contrived storytelling from the very outset. The narrative, driven by Will Donner (Tom Sturridge), a quirky street performer eternally pining for his childhood friend Emma (Rachel Bilson), fails to elevate beyond the cloyingly mawkish. Sturridge's Will, clad in pajamas and a bowler hat, roams the country with an unrequited love that borders on obsession. His behavior, portrayed with an unnatural naiveté, feels deeply unsettling rather than endearing, as the film perplexingly attempts to elicit sympathy for his stalker-like tendencies.

Director James Keach and screenwriter Steve Adams offer a heavy-handed exploration of love and nostalgia, peppering the plot with cringe-worthy dialogues and hollow character arcs. Emma's subplot, revolving around her father's illness (played by Richard Jenkins), gratuitously employs cancer as a cheap emotional ploy, detracting from any potential depth this story might have had. The film’s supporting characters, including Blythe Danner as Emma’s mother and Scott Mechlowitz as Will’s pragmatic brother, lack dimension and serve merely as props to further Will's outlandish escapades.

Visually, the film exudes artifice, with faux-sincere scenes shot against overly stylized backdrops that fail to resonate emotionally. The sentimental score underscores scenes with an inauthentic sweetness that only magnifies the film's shortcomings. "Waiting for Forever" ultimately reads as a protracted montage of forced whimsy and misguided romantic ideals underpinned by a perilous storyline that conflates stalking with romance. It leaves viewers not charmed or moved, but rather cringing and eager for the seemingly interminable 90 minutes to conclude.

The Blu-ray release of "Waiting for Forever" is a significant letdown on all fronts, failing to deliver a convincing romantic narrative or any compelling performances. Despite a nominal budget of $5 million, the film grossed an embarrassingly low $25,517 domestically, signaling its lack of resonance with audiences. The story centers around a protagonist who persistently follows his childhood sweetheart across the country, characterizing behaviors more reflective of a stalker than a romantic hero. This problematic dynamic is not offset by any depth or development in the script, which falls flat and often resorts to emotionally manipulative tactics, including the overused and insensitive trope of cancer as a plot device.

Technically, the Blu-ray offers satisfactory audiovisual presentation, with clear picture quality and competent sound design. However, these technical merits cannot mask the film's fundamental flaws. The performances are wooden, failing to inject life into an already moribund script. The direction feels uninspired, leaving the narrative devoid of any engaging or redeeming qualities. It's a film that seems to miss the mark at every turn, from its misguided attempts at sincerity to its poorly executed romantic elements.

In conclusion, "Waiting for Forever" is marred by a problematic storyline and weak execution, making it a difficult watch. While there may be a niche audience that finds some merit in its intentions, most viewers will likely find it an unsettling portrayal of love that borders on disturbing. The use of emotionally manipulative plot devices further detracts from its credibility. This Blu-ray is best avoided unless one is particularly interested in exploring how not to approach romance storytelling in cinema.