Sausage Party Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Sausage Party" on Blu Ray, captured in 1080p, provides a commendable viewing experience that paradoxically manages to be both richly detailed and simplistically stylized. The AVC MPEG-4 encode delivers notable visual clarity with a clean, demo-worthy quality. CG characters exhibit an almost three-dimensional roundness that adds to the realism of this animated adventure sans the need for 3D glasses. The transfer’s original 1.85:1 aspect ratio ensures spot-on contrast and crispness, with brilliant whites providing excellent visibility in both distant and nighttime sequences.

Colors present with invigorating pop, showcasing a wealth of vibrant hues from glowing reds and greens to more subtle earth tones. Interestingly, certain colors blend seamlessly without any banding, particularly bread products' brown transitioning to cream and Darren's face shifting from pasty white to pale smoky tones. The background visuals, while occasionally softer, retain an impressive depth, sustained by inky rich black levels. Notable finer details are well-preserved, such as freckles on hot dogs, text on packaging, and slight floor blemishes in the grocery store backdrop.

A few instances of minor compression artifacts are present but do not significantly detract from the viewing experience. The video maintains a consistent three-dimensional quality throughout, bolstered by subtle contrasts and shadow details that enhance the animation’s realism. From razor-sharp lettering on labels to the tiny scratches on tiled floors, the overall video presentation of "Sausage Party" stands out as remarkably detailed and visually gratifying.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Sausage Party" stands out with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. The track expertly handles a wide array of material, whether it be subtle effects or intense party music, with remarkable efficiency and clarity. Music is seamlessly spaced across the front channels and fully envelops the back, offering an immersive auditory experience. There is a notable low-end impact, especially prominent around the 23-minute mark, enhancing the jungle atmospherics and delivering impressive detail and clarity to the soundstage. Particular scenes, such as the stoned character perceiving food in their true form, showcase an intricate precision in sound placement, providing a dynamic and engaging auditory environment.

The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack captures the sheer chaos and revelry of the film with superb precision. The dynamic range is pristine, ensuring excellent detailing and separation between instruments in Alan Menken and Christopher Lennertz's score. Even during loud, chaotic moments, dialogue remains clear and well-prioritized over the vibrant soundscape. The low-end is robust and dramatic, enhancing both musical sequences and intense action scenes with commanding weight. Background activity within the supermarket is convincingly rendered, filling all three channels effectively to create a broad and expansive soundstage.

Additionally, the film benefits from an active use of rear channels, generating an immersive 360° soundfield. Action sequences are layered with ambient noises and precise panning of sounds across channels, creating a continuously engaging listening experience. Early in the movie, a chaotic spill mimics a warzone, inundating the room with screams, distant explosions, and confused voices. Even quieter moments are enriched by subtle background noise of grocery store activity and conversational chatter among food items. Overall, this mix offers a first-rate lossless audio experience that complements the film’s energetic and whimsical narrative.

The Blu-ray extras for "Sausage Party" provide a comprehensive, engaging supplement to the main feature, offering viewers a deeper dive into the film's unique production process and humor. The included gag reel, alternate lines, and featurettes deliver substantial behind-the-scenes content that fans will appreciate. The “Good Food Gag Reel” presents entertaining outtakes, while “The Booth” offers insightful behind-the-scenes footage of the voice recording sessions. The featurette “Shock and Awe: How Did This Get Made?” provides a compelling overview of the film's development, and “Line-O-Rama” showcases an array of alternate humorous lines. Additionally, “The Great Beyond” delves into Alan Menken’s musical contributions, and "The Pitch" and “Seth Rogen's Animation Imaginatorium” add a playful vintage touch.

Extras included in this disc:

• Good Food Gag Reel: Entertaining outtakes.
• Shock and Awe: How Did This Get Made?: Overview of the film's development.
• The Booth: Behind-the-scenes footage of voice recording.
• Line-O-Rama: Alternate lines from various scenes.
• The Great Beyond: Focused discussion on the film score by Alan Menken.
• The Pitch: Vintage-styled piece on selling the movie.
• Seth Rogen's Animation Imaginatorium: Vintage Disney-inspired preview.

"Sausage Party," directed by Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan, and conceived by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, subverts the expectations typically associated with animated films by unleashing an unabashedly crass and irreverent narrative. The film follows Frank, a supermarket hot dog voiced by Rogen, who dreams of consummating his love with Brenda, a bun voiced by Kristen Wiig. Their desires hinge on the belief in a heavenly "Great Beyond" outside the supermarket's walls. However, their worldview is shattered when a returned product, Honey Mustard, reveals the horrifying fate that awaits food outside. As chaos ensues, Frank and Brenda embark on a journey through the supermarket to uncover the truth.

The film seizes every opportunity to revel in sexual innuendo and crude humor. Yet, underpinning this vulgar exterior is a surprisingly rich commentary on faith and existentialism. Through its food characters, the movie addresses deeper questions about belief, the afterlife, and self-realization—a philosophical depth that might catch viewers off-guard considering the film’s obscene front. Notable voice performances from a diverse cast, including Salma Hayek as a taco with repressed urges and Nick Kroll as a vengeful douche, infuse the story with energetic humor that aligns well with its mature themes.

Indeed, "Sausage Party" is polarizing by design—either loved for its audaciousness or loathed for its lack of subtlety. Beyond its raunchy jokes lies a critique of societal norms and religious dogma, albeit delivered with blunt-force artistry. Though not as nuanced as a Pixar offering, its originality and relentless pace make for an engaging watch. It both offends and entertains, functioning as both an outrageous comedy and an unexpected philosophical discourse—proving that even the most juvenile setup can house profound insights.

"Sausage Party", a brainchild of Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Jonah Hill, is an audacious animated film that will either captivate you with its intelligence and daring satire or repel you with its unabashed obscenities and provocative themes. This movie isn’t for everyone, especially those uneasy with crude humor or challenging perspectives on deeply rooted beliefs in faith and fate. However, for viewers open to its unconventional narrative and lewd antics, the film delivers rich animation, sharp wit, and an ensemble of well-cast voices that bring its absurd world to life.

Sony’s Blu-ray release of "Sausage Party" does not disappoint in the technical department. The video quality is exceptional, delivering vibrant and crisp visuals that highlight the film's meticulous animation details. The lossless audio track further elevates the viewing experience with clear dialogue and an immersive soundstage that helps ground the film's chaotic sequences. These technical merits ensure that both newcomers and ardent fans will find the home viewing experience satisfying.

The primary letdown comes in the form of supplements. Enthusiasts hoping for a plethora of behind-the-scenes content or comprehensive bonus features may find the offerings a bit underwhelming. While what is included provides some added value, it falls short of expectations set by other high-caliber releases.

In conclusion, "Sausage Party" on Blu-ray is a robust package for those inclined toward its brand of humor and social commentary. It’s a top-notch presentation marred only by its modest supplementary content. It's a must-own for fans, while others may want to proceed with caution depending on their sensibility towards the film’s polarizing subject matter.