Good Boys Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Good Boys" offers an impressive visual experience, utilizing the 2.39:1 aspect ratio and AVC-encoded 1080p resolution. Despite being sourced from 2.6K and 3.4K resolutions on Arri Alexa cameras and completed as a 2K digital intermediate, the home release maintains high clarity and detail. Colors are natural and vibrant, with fine textures evident in close-ups, such as facial details and environmental elements like grass blades and clothing textures. The Blu-ray excels in black levels, which are deep and inky, while shadow detail is consistently abundant, contributing to a balanced image even in low-light scenes. Overall, the digital transfer is clean, exhibiting minimal noise or artifacts, making it a pleasure for high-definition viewing.

The Blu-ray's vivid color palette captures the film's bright, sunny settings and varied environments, enhancing the visual storytelling. Interiors and exteriors are rendered with precision, showcasing everything from densely decorated bedrooms to suburban landscapes with lush greens. The transfer manages to maintain sharpness throughout, with no significant dips in quality, enhancing the visual depth of field in various scenes, such as streets, woods, and school interiors.

In terms of technical performance, Universal's disc presents vibrant colors that avoid oversaturation, maintaining well-balanced contrast and high-quality flesh tones. Despite minor noise that occasionally appears, it does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the film. Whether it's the subtle glow of neon lights during indoor scenes or the rich contrast under bright sunlight, the Blu-ray delivers a striking visual performance that aligns with the bright, engaging tone of the film.

"Good Boys" Blu-ray delivers a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that stands out in the comedy genre, injecting more activity and engagement than typically expected. The soundtrack features an array of rock and pop songs that seamlessly integrate with the on-screen action, enhancing the overall viewing experience. Notable technical details include rich sonic detail, effortless dynamics, and exceptional tonal balance resulting in smooth pans across left, center, and right channels. Environmental noises, such as the roar of the drone and the rumble of freeway traffic, provide a robust low-end impact. Surround channels effectively reproduce background noises—like paintball shootouts and school hallway chatter—that contribute to an immersive audio experience.

Despite being primarily dialogue-driven, the audio presentation remains lively and dynamic. The subwoofer lends taut bass support, although it doesn't dominate the mix unnecessarily. Noteworthy is the soundtrack's impressive use of rap and hip-hop music, with tracks like "Nobody Speak" by Run the Jewels delivering powerful bass and pitch-perfect crescendos. Dialogue clarity is consistently maintained, ensuring that the humor and gags hit their mark effectively. The integration between front and rear soundstages is meticulously balanced, making for a cohesive and enveloping auditory environment that aligns well with the film's energetic spirit.

In addition to English DTS-HD MA 5.1, other languages and subtitle options are available, including Spanish and French tracks. While some scenes may not make extensive use of surround channels or LFE, the overall soundstage provides satisfactory immersion with well-executed atmospheric elements. In summary, "Good Boys" audio presentation is robust, clear, and appropriately weighty where it matters, making it a compelling choice for both casual viewers and audio enthusiasts alike.

The Blu-ray extras for "Good Boys" offer a substantial suite of content that enhances the viewing experience, showcasing additional scenes, humorous moments, and behind-the-scenes insights. The Unrated Alternate Ending and 11 Deleted and Extended Scenes provide further context and humor, while the Gag Reel offers a brief but entertaining glimpse into on-set antics. Commentary from Director Gene Stupnitsky and Producer Lee Eisenberg stands out as the most substantial feature, filled with anecdotes and production humor. Several featurettes, though short, explore the casting process, the unique challenges of working with child actors on an R-rated film, and behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast and crew.

Extras included in this disc:

• UNRATED ALTERNATE ENDING: An alternative conclusion to the film.
• UNRATED DELETED AND EXTENDED SCENES: Eleven additional scenes.
• GAG REEL: Humorous on-set bloopers.
• BOYS FOR REAL: Insights into the casting process.
• WELCOME TO VANCOUVER: Jacob Tremblay showcases his hometown.
• A FINE LINE: Discussion about the film's risqué dialogue.
• ASK YOUR PARENTS: Handling adult themes with child actors.
• BAD GIRLS: Featuring the film’s female antagonists.
• GUEST STARS: Highlights of notable guest appearances.
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR & CO-WRITER GENE STUPNITSKY AND PRODUCER & CO-WRITER LEE EISENBERG: In-depth production discussion.

"Good Boys" is a raunchy comedy that navigates the precarious balance between innocence and vulgarity. Directed by Gene Stupnitsky, it stars Jacob Tremblay, Brady Noon, and Keith L. Williams as a trio of 12-year-olds who find themselves in a whirlwind of epically bad decisions following the destruction of a prized drone. These boys, self-dubbed "The Beanbag Boys," embark on a chaotic journey to replace the drone before Max's father returns home, encountering stolen drugs, high-school girls with a vendetta, and a house full of angry frat brothers. The film highlights their naive attempts to understand the adult world they're inadvertently thrust into, creating a relatable narrative that humorously portrays the awkwardness of adolescence.

The film's humor derives heavily from the juxtaposition of pre-teen innocence against a backdrop of R-rated content. The boys' crude language and misunderstandings about sex and relationships are sources of constant laughter. Despite this, "Good Boys" often plays it safe, failing to fully exploit the raunchiness that makes such comedies successful. The narrative peaks during the boys' hilarious war with two high-school girls over missing drugs, but becomes overly sentimental in its third act, shifting focus to the bittersweet realization that their friendship is evolving as they grow up.

Ultimately, "Good Boys" succeeds in capturing the essence of childhood innocence amid a rapidly changing world. While it might not break much new ground in terms of raunchy humor or contribute deeply to character development, the relatable journey of its young protagonists provides ample comedic moments. The performances by Tremblay, Noon, and Williams effectively convey the clumsy transition from child to teen, despite the film's tendency to rely on overused tropes and failing to deliver truly memorable comedic highlights.

"Good Boys" is a film that attempts to merge childhood innocence with adult themes, creating a unique but inconsistent comedy experience. The movie features talented actors like Jacob Tremblay, Keith L. Williams, and Brady Noon, who inject the film with charm and energetic performances. Directed by Gene Stupnitsky and written by Stupnitsky alongside Lee Eisenberg, the storyline revolves around the misadventures of three young boys navigating a world that’s far more complex than their naïveté can handle. The film struggles with a sluggish middle and a somewhat underwhelming pace, despite moments of genuine humor and heartwarming undertones.

Technically, Universal's Blu-ray release is top-tier, offering a visually impressive 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio and robust audio options like DTS-HD MA 5.1 in English, French, and Spanish. Subtitles are available in English SDH, French, and Spanish. The Blu-ray is complemented by extras including a commentary track, deleted scenes, and several featurettes which provide modest behind-the-scenes insights and extend the film's entertainment value. The video and audio presentations are excellently executed, ensuring an immersive viewing experience that showcases the high production quality.

In conclusion, "Good Boys" is an amalgamation of crass humor and heartfelt storytelling that doesn't always hit its mark but provides enough laughs to be worth a watch. Those comfortable with explicit language and mature jokes might find it particularly enjoyable, though others might struggle to connect with its young protagonists. Universal's Blu-ray package is well-executed and adds value for fans through high-quality presentation and worthwhile extras. Therefore, it's recommended as a rental for first-time viewers while fans may find it a worthy addition to their collection.