For a Good Time, Call... Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "For a Good Time, Call..." is commendable for its clean, colorful, and mostly flawless 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer. James Laxton's cinematography employs a lively palette filled with vibrant pinks, golds, and blues, which translate beautifully on screen. The primaries shimmer, and the contrast is consistently managed to maintain rich skintones and deep blacks. Despite minor ringing in select scenes, edge definition is almost perfect, coupling with stable delineation and natural fine textures that enhance the visual experience without notable artifacting, banding, aliasing, or crush. Only a few negligible anomalies such as brief noise or blips are detectable.

The detailed imagery extends to both exterior shots of iconic New York locales and the intricately decorated interiors of the uptown apartment. Shadows are well-defined, contributing to depth without overshadowing facial features or other fine details like freckles and smile lines. The Blu-ray handles the brightly colored elements, including pink phones and vibrant sex toys, with ease, ensuring a visually engaging and consistent presentation throughout the movie. Compression issues are minimal, and the overall video quality is impressive, considering it reflects the recent nature of the film. This professional-grade transfer gets the job done effectively, making it a solid choice for videophiles.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track of "For a Good Time, Call…" pleasantly surprises with its notable sound design, distinct for its genre. Primarily front-heavy conversations dominate the experience, aligning with typical rom-com expectations, but the rear speakers enhance the soundstage significantly. They effectively capture the vibrancy of New York City, bustling streets, busy apartments, and intimate phone conversations, offering a more engaging auditory layer than most romantic comedies. While the low-frequency effects (LFE) channel doesn't have extensive use and the dynamics aren't extraordinary, the output remains adequate, providing the necessary depth when required. Dialogue clarity is excellent, grounded perfectly in the mix, contributing to a palpable sense of immersion.

Furthermore, the mix shines in street scenes where environmental sounds like cars whooshing by, distant honking, birds chirping, and people milling about are rendered with commendable fidelity. Katie's expressive phone sex moments echoing through the apartment showcase noteworthy surround sound integration, enhancing spatial realism. Despite the movie's inherent limitations in showcasing sonic prowess, these elements elevate the auditory experience. Directionality is impeccable; crucial off-screen shouts and punchlines are well-captured, ensuring they hit their comedic marks without falter. Overall, this mix offers an exceptional audio experience for its genre, making it a well-rounded and satisfying listen.

The Blu-ray release of "For a Good Time, Call..." offers an engaging selection of extras that enrich the viewing experience with both behind-the-scenes insights and deleted scenes providing additional context to the film's narrative. Notable among these features is the Filmmakers Audio Commentary, where director Jamie Travis, producer/co-writer/actress Lauren Anne Miller, executive producer/actress Ari Graynor, and producer/co-writer Katie Anne Naylon share their experiences and challenges of shooting the film over 16 days. The commentary provides an energetic and detailed look at the construction of the film, highlighting specific anecdotes and continuity quirks. Supplementary to this are deleted scenes that were excised primarily for pacing reasons but offer intriguing glimpses into character backgrounds. The promotional featurette "A Look Inside For a Good Time, Call..." rounds out the package with standard interviews and film clips.

Extras included in this disc:

• R-Rated and Unrated Cuts: Includes both 85-minute R-rated version and 87-minute Unrated Cut.
• Filmmakers Audio Commentary: Insightful commentary with director and key cast.
• Deleted Scenes: Several scenes cut for pacing reasons.
• A Look Inside For a Good Time, Call...: Standard promotional featurette with interviews and clips.
• My Scenes Bookmarking

"For a Good Time, Call..." offers a mix of raunchy humor and formulaic plot twists that, while attempting to cash in on the wave of R-rated women-led comedies, largely falls short of its potential. The film centers around free-spirited Katie Steele (Ari Graynor) and straight-laced Lauren Powell (Lauren Anne Miller), who find a surprising common ground in starting a phone sex line business. However, despite this promising premise, the movie struggles to maintain a consistent comedic rhythm. First-time director Jamie Travis navigates through the material ineffectively, swinging abruptly between conventional rom-com elements and forced laugh-out-loud moments, often underscored by poorly developed caricatures and predictable plot points.

The performances are a mixed bag. Graynor's performance stands out; her infectious spirit and spunky humor inject much-needed energy into the film. Scenes featuring Graynor often shine with a joyfulness absent when her character isn't on-screen. Conversely, Miller's portrayal of Lauren leaves much to be desired, as she leans heavily on the tropes of being an uptight introvert. Their chemistry never fully convinces, further undermined by a screenplay that insists on pushing raunchy antics that sometimes miss the comedic mark. The supporting cast, including Justin Long and Mark Webber, add occasional sparks, but even their presence can't salvage the underwhelming screenplay.

While "For a Good Time, Call..." packs sporadic laughs primarily driven by its supporting cast's cameos and Graynor's spirited performance, its predictable three-act structure and overreliance on forced humor make it less memorable. The film attempts to balance sentimental moments with crude comedy but rarely excels in either domain. It encapsulates unrealized potential, leaving you wishing it had taken more risks or spent more time developing its central premise instead of falling into tired rom-com clichés. For those drawn to girls-behaving-badly comedies, it may warrant a watch, but others might prefer to look elsewhere for more consistent laughs.

Review of "For a Good Time, Call..." Blu-ray

“For a Good Time, Call...” is an energetic attempt to inject fresh humor into the realm of raunchy R-rated comedies. Shot in just sixteen days on a budget of $1.3 million, the film's production constraints are evident but manageable. It notably struggles with fundamental aspects of comedy such as rhythm, timing, and delivering a satisfying payoff. Despite these drawbacks, the film provides light entertainment without overstaying its welcome, adhering to familiar romantic-comedy formulas while eliciting a few genuine laughs.

Universal's Blu-ray release is commendable for its technical prowess. The video transfer boasts excellent clarity and vibrant colors, enhancing the film's visual appeal. Coupled with a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, the auditory experience is immersive and well-balanced. Moreover, the supplemental package, while modest, adds some value to the overall offering.

In conclusion, while “For a Good Time, Call...” may fall short in key comedic elements, Universal’s Blu-ray presentation significantly elevates the experience. Recommended for fans of raunchy comedies seeking a brief yet entertaining escape, this film offers a decent viewing experience supported by high-quality audio and video. A rental is advised unless one has a particular affinity for femme-centric humor.