Get Hard Blu-ray Review

"Get Hard" features an outstanding 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation that offers viewers a near-flawless visual experience. Warner Bros. has done an impressive job with this HD transfer, which is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio despite the box's 1.85:1 labeling. The clarity and detail of the scenes, from daytime exteriors to dimly lit interiors, remain consistently sharp and vivid. The precision in capturing individual hairs, makeup blemishes, prosthetics, and beads of sweat is remarkable, contributing significantly to the realism of close-up shots. Wider shots benefit significantly from the excellent set designs and fine stitching in the wardrobe, enhancing the depth and dimensionality of the picture.

This Blu-ray transfer excels in color reproduction, offering a bright and clear palette that makes the colors pop off the screen. The saturation is well-balanced, giving life to both the vibrant and more subdued scenes. Black levels are consistently deep and inky, while skin tones maintain a natural and lifelike appearance throughout. Technical issues such as noise, artifacting, banding, aliasing, and ringing are notably absent, ensuring a clean and immersive viewing experience. Ultimately, the encode stands out by delivering detail-rich visuals that enhance the overall impact of this comedy film.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Get Hard" offers an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix, complemented by Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks for French and Spanish audiences. The track excels in preserving clear and intelligible dialogue, ensuring that the spoken words remain perfectly prioritized and free of any artifacts like pops, cracks, or hisses. The dynamic range is notably wide, balancing dialogue with the score to maintain an engaging auditory experience without forsaking clarity. The mix intelligently utilizes surround speakers, delivering a soundfield that benefits from rear speaker activity, playful directionality, and solid LFE support.

Despite being a primarily dialogue-driven comedy, the mix spices things up during action sequences and hip-hop music interludes. Scenes such as the fake prison riot, a party sequence, and those involving a flame thrower allow the surround channels to shine, offering robust and well-defined sound effects. Bass frequencies are applied judiciously, enhancing specific moments with rumbling low frequencies without overwhelming the listener. The gunshots and fight scenes are particularly well executed, providing impactful and immersive audio experiences. Overall, this audio presentation distinguishes itself with excellent directionality, well-balanced dynamics, and consistent clarity across all elements.

The Blu-ray release of "Get Hard" not only includes both the theatrical cut of 100 minutes and an Unrated version featuring an additional 7 minutes, but it also boasts a comprehensive set of extras that delve deep into the film's production and offbeat humor. Key highlights include varied improvisational segments dubbed Line-O-Ramas and an array of behind-the-scenes featurettes showcasing the elaborate stunts and comedic genius of Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart. The added content provides fans with a fuller appreciation of the film's creative process and a multitude of laughs through bloopers, deleted scenes, and more.

Extras included in this disc:

• Unrated Cut of the Film: Extended 107-minute version with additional raunchy scenes.
• Line-O-Ramas: Four different Alt-Take-O-Rama reels.
• Just Put Your Lips Together and Blow: Behind the scenes of Will Ferrell's bathroom encounter.
• The Kevin Hart Workout: Stunts and wirework with Kevin Hart.
• Face Off: Ferrell and Hart's humorous face-off.
• Ferrell Fighting: Capoeira and fight choreography with Ferrell.
• A Date with John Mayer: Ferrell and Mayer's guitar duet.
• Twerking 101: Craig T. Nelson learns twerking.
• Will Ferrell, Gangsta: Ferrell in gangsta character.
• Inmates: Out of Control: Making-of featurette.
• Bikers, Babes and Big Bangs: Behind the scenes of the film's action sequences.
• Deleted Scenes: Extended scenes and alternate takes.
• Gag Reel: Flubbed lines, missed cues, and more laughs.

"Get Hard" is a comedy that leverages the frenetic energy of its leads, Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart, yet ultimately struggles to find a joke more effective than its risqué title. The plot centers on James King (Ferrell), a wealthy hedge fund manager convicted of fraud who enlists the help of Darnell Lewis (Hart), mistakenly assuming the upstanding family man has prison experience because he is black. This premise quickly devolves into a series of vignettes built around overused racial, gender, and sexual stereotypes, delivering few genuine laughs and often crossing into discomfort. Etan Cohen's direction, while competent in other works like "Tropic Thunder," fails to maintain a cohesive narrative, leaving the film feeling disjointed.

Adding to the film's woes is an overreliance on predictable setups and uninspired character arcs. The supporting cast is largely underdeveloped and treated as mere props, with James’ fiancée Alissa (Alison Brie) and his boss Martin (Craig T. Nelson) receiving little screen time. The comedic delivery is also inconsistent; some scenes are stretched too long while others that show promise, such as James' dinner with Darnell’s family, are hurriedly bypassed. Much of the movie’s dialogue leans heavily on racial and homophobic tropes, which rarely land as intended. Despite the actors' best efforts, with Ferrell’s physical comedy and Hart’s rapid-fire delivery providing occasional chuckles, the screenplay lacks the wit and spontaneity that make for a memorable comedy.

The chemistry between Ferrell and Hart remains one of the few highlights in "Get Hard." Their dynamic brings intermittent life to an otherwise stale script that often relies on their improvisational talents to conjure humor. Nonetheless, repeated jokes about prison brutality and racial misconceptions quickly grow tiresome. For audiences who are long-standing fans of either actor, there are moments of amusement here and there. However, both Ferrell and Hart’s performances are overshadowed by an overarching formulaic approach that fails to resonate deeply or deliver sustained entertainment.

"Get Hard" attempts to leverage the comedic prowess of Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart, but falls short in its storytelling. While both actors bring their usual energetic performances, the film itself flounders in a predictable and shallow narrative, relying heavily on racial and gay stereotypes that quickly become tiresome. Despite these shortcomings, the Blu-Ray release is technically impressive. The video presentation is striking, characterized by sharp visuals and vibrant colors, and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track delivers a robust audio experience.

Revisiting "Get Hard" on Blu-Ray does offer a slightly improved viewing experience over an initial theater watch. The unrated version includes additional content that provides some extra laughs, though they are still few and far between. The special features are plentiful and cater well to fans of the two comedians, including behind-the-scenes footage and outtakes that might offer more entertainment value than the film itself.

In conclusion, "Get Hard" is not strong cinema, but its home release provides sufficient technical quality and extra content to justify a rental for die-hard fans of Ferrell and Hart. For those on the fence, renting before buying would be a prudent choice.