The Other Guys Blu-ray Review
The Unrated Other Edition | Combo Pack
Score: 73
from 3 reviewers
Review Date:
The Other Guys delivers well-rounded humor, superior cast performances, and near-flawless video quality, making the Blu-ray a recommended addition.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 77
The Other Guys Blu-ray delivers a reference-quality 1080p presentation with sharp, detailed imagery, natural colors, rich blacks, and excellent shadow detail. Enhanced by a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encoded transfer at 2.40:1 aspect ratio, the transfer remains free of digital artifacts and retains natural film grain.
Audio: 74
The Other Guys' DTS-HD MA 5.1 track delivers a robust audio experience with clear dialogue, impactful LFE, and engaging surround effects, particularly in action scenes with gunfire and explosions. While not quite reference-grade, it offers a satisfying and immersive sonic adventure that complements the film's energetic sequences.
Extra: 59
The Blu-ray extras of 'The Other Guys' offer a varied selection, from the unique 'Mom-Mentary' audio commentary featuring the filmmakers' mothers, to an extensive collection of additional scenes and fluffy fillers. Highlights include behind-the-scenes stunts in 'Crash and Burn', and a comedic featurette on Michael Keaton in 'Bed Bath and Way Beyond'.
Movie: 64
"The Other Guys" Blu-ray offers an entertaining blend of comedy and action, thanks to the excellent chemistry between Ferrell and Wahlberg, and balanced direction by McKay; however, the film's momentum flags in repetitive jokes and slower plot segments. Exceptional supporting performances, particularly from Johnson, Jackson, and Keaton, further elevate the experience.
Video: 77
The video presentation of "The Other Guys" on Blu-ray is an exceptional showcase of Sony Home Entertainment's commitment to delivering high-quality transfers. The 1080p transfer, using an AVC MPEG-4 encoding at a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, presents a sharp and crisp image that excels in capturing fine details. Attributes like the intricate textures on actors' faces and the meticulously rendered New York City streets are vividly displayed. Black levels are rich and inky, maintaining excellent shadow detail without sacrificing important elements in the darkest scenes. The colors are well-balanced, never appearing overly warm or saturated, thereby contributing to a natural cinematic experience that enhances the movie’s visual appeal.
Sony's skilled approach ensures that the image maintains a consistent and handsomely cinematic texture, free from excessive digital manipulation. The natural film grain adds an authentic texture to the picture, and no digital artifacts like banding or blocking are noticeable. This high-definition display offers an impressive depth, highlighted by a seamless clarity that stands out in both foreground and background elements. Noteworthy scenes, such as Danson and Highsmith’s rooftop jump, demonstrate the depth perception and solid contrast that this transfer supports. Overall, "The Other Guys" benefits from a brilliant 1080p transfer by Sony, which solidifies its status as a top-tier Blu-ray release.
Audio: 74
The Blu-ray release of "The Other Guys" features a proficient DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless audio track that delivers a solid auditory experience, though it stops just short of reference-grade. The soundtrack offers some truly immersive moments, particularly during action scenes where explosive low-frequency effects (LFE) and dynamic sound direction are prevalent. Gunfire, explosions, and mechanical impacts, such as a sweeping wrecking ball, utilize the LFE channel powerfully, creating an impactful auditory environment. Surround channels are primarily activated during high-intensity sequences, filling the space with the rattling of machine-gun fire, helicopter fly-bys, and various metallic impacts. Dialogue is consistently clear and centrally placed, maintaining perfect balance against the background score and effects.
While the audio track excels during action-packed moments, ambient sound design is somewhat limited. Scene-specific elements such as cityscape noise, idling engines, and walkie-talkie chatter are captured well, yet these moments do not dominate the soundstage. This concentrated use of surround channels may leave some listeners feeling less immersed during quieter sections of the film. Nevertheless, the audio remains robust overall, ensuring dialogue clarity and satisfying bass performance. Audiophiles may find it a solid yet unremarkable entry compared to elite soundtracks, but action enthusiasts will appreciate the punchy and captivating auditory experience it provides.
Extra: 59
"The Other Guys" Blu-ray offers an impressive array of extra content that avid fans will find engaging and, at times, hilarious. Highlights include a unique "Mom-mentary," where the mothers of Adam McKay, Christopher Henchy, and Will Ferrell provide a whimsical yet insightful commentary. With more than a dozen additional features, ranging from deleted scenes to behind-the-scenes glimpses and humorous outtakes, viewers are given a comprehensive look at the film's production and its playful atmosphere. Both technically proficient and delightfully entertaining, each feature adds value to this robust collection.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary: The Mom-Mentary featuring the mothers of McKay, Henchy, and Ferrell.
- Line-O-Rama: Improvisations not included in the movie.
- Extended & Deleted Scenes: 30 minutes of amusing cuts.
- Crash and Burn!: Behind-the-scenes stunt work.
- Why Are There Brits In This Movie?: Humorous take on Steve Coogan's English roots.
- Rob Riggle Likes To Party: Riggle discussing various oddities.
- And more…
Movie: 64
"The Other Guys," directed by Adam McKay and featuring an ensemble cast led by Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, explores the seldom-questioned lives of the background NYPD detectives who support the typical action heroes. This comedy-action hybrid initially captivates with a hilariously over-the-top first act, where Det. Christopher Danson (Dwayne Johnson) and P.K. Highsmith (Samuel L. Jackson) showcase an absurd level of heroism that sets the stage for their less glamorous counterparts, Gamble (Ferrell) and Hoitz (Wahlberg). When the hyper-competent lead duo is unexpectedly sidelined, Gamble and Hoitz have a chance to prove their worth, leading to a laugh-out-loud dynamic filled with unlikely scenarios and comedic brilliance.
The film's screenplay, collaboratively penned by McKay and Chris Henchy, effectively utilizes a tongue-in-cheek approach to satirize traditional buddy cop tropes. While it starts strong with rapid-fire humor and exaggerated action sequences, the narrative does suffer from pacing issues as it moves towards its conclusion. Humor derived from recurring gags, such as Gamble's inexplicably successful romantic life and various oddball exchanges, can become repetitive, though they remain reasonably amusing throughout. Despite these minor shortcomings, the chemistry between Ferrell and Wahlberg carries the movie, augmented by notable performances from supporting actors like Michael Keaton and Steve Coogan.
"The Other Guys" strikes a commendable balance between comedy and action, featuring stunt work that pleasantly surpasses expectations. McKay's direction deftly allows room for improvisation, which enriches several memorable scenes. Although the film ventures into topical commentary on financial misdeeds, it maintains a humorous tone without becoming overly preachy. Supporting roles by Rob Riggle and Damon Wayans Jr. add to the film's comedic depth, making it a well-rounded venture that thrives on character-driven humor against a backdrop of exaggerated police action antics.
Total: 73
"The Other Guys" on Blu-ray represents an almost perfect meld of comedy and action, showcasing both Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg at the height of their performances. Ferrell's familiarity might induce some viewer fatigue, but Wahlberg's unexpectedly engaging performance, arguably his best to date, balances the dynamic superbly. The direction from Adam McKay ensures a well-paced narrative that maintains interest through smartly executed action sequences and humor. Notably, the character development offers nuances missing in similar genre entries, such as "Cop Out," providing a more memorable experience overall.
Technically, the Blu-ray excels with Sony's near-faultless 1080p video transfer and a high-quality lossless audio track that delivers significant aural enjoyment. The disc is packed with over 100 minutes of additional content, including unique extras like a mother-driven commentary track which adds an unusual twist to the typical behind-the-scenes sneak peek. These elements make the package well-rounded for fans who appreciate an abundance of supplementary features.
In conclusion, "The Other Guys" might not reach the pinnacle of action-comedy excellence due to some plot underdevelopment, particularly regarding the villains' scheme, but it still stands out as an outrageously fun and well-acted film worth watching. While not perfect, it remains a highly entertaining option for fans of the genre. The Blu-ray’s superior technical presentation and extensive extras make it a compelling addition to any collection, especially as a rental for a light-hearted movie night. Recommended.
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 90
The Other Guys isn't a typical 21st century Comedy in terms of its looks; the image isn't caked in overly warm colors as contrast is well balanced and every hue takes on a wonderfully natural shade, whether...
Audio: 80
Ambience is quite limited; the track captures a few niceties around city exteriors, helicopter fly-bys, and various scene-specific elements such as idling engines and walkie-talkie chatter, but there's...
Extras: 60
(1080p, 15:00): A quality feature that looks deeper into the characters and their place in the film....
Movie: 70
When things go terribly wrong and Danson and Highsmith leave a gap in the department for the title of "Super Cops," Gamble and Hoitz do their best to seize the moment and prove their worth as the department's...
Total: 80
Nevertheless, there's an outrageously fun and supremely well-acted hit here, and it's sure to appeal to a wide range of moviegoers, including Action junkies and Comedy connoisseurs....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
The image is sharp, illustrated well during a scene where the camera moves through a bar Gamble and Hoitz are partying at and seamlessly displays different frozen moments of their exploits....
Audio: 80
The dialogue is clear and balanced well with the music and the effects, never lost to the cacophony that bursts out the speakers from the action scenes....
Extras: 20
(HD, 10 min) - This featurette with Stunt Supervisor Brad Martin looks at the stunt work, mainly dealing with the car crash into Trump Tower....
Movie: 60
The Other Guys' isn’t a spoof of the genre; rather it's a comedy set within an action film, which is why both aspects are given equal attention by McKay and his team, to satisfying results....
Total: 80
Although it would be understandable if movie-watchers were experiencing a bit of Ferrell fatigue, I would recommend 'The Other Guys' as the action helps balance out the comedy and the load is shared by...
AVSForumRead review here
Video: 94
When all of these things line-up this well there is a depth to the image that really takes advantage of what a great High Definition display and Blu-ray can offer....
Audio: 86
When all of these things line-up this well there is a depth to the image that really takes advantage of what a great High Definition display and Blu-ray can offer....
Extras: 80
We Shouldn't Kiss Chicken (HD) Mark Wahlberg's Eating Contest Entourage (HD) "Pimps Don't Cry" music video/li> (HD) Alternate Action (HD) Bed Bath and Way Beyond BD Live enabled movie IQ...
Movie: 60
They hate each other and the monotony of their meaningless jobs, as they’re forced to live in the shadow of the two biggest and most badass cops on the force (Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson)....
Total: 80
If the script paid a bit more attention and fleshed out the the plot of the villains and their scheme as much as it did the comedy, this would have been great!...
Director: Adam McKay
Actors: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Derek Jeter
PlotAllen Gamble, a mild-mannered forensic accountant, and Terry Hoitz, a disgraced detective with anger management issues, are two mismatched NYPD desk jockeys relegated to paperwork in the shadow of the department's celebrity cops. Allen, content with his desk job, eagerly avoids all fieldwork, while Terry, desperate to reclaim his commendable status, resents being paired with Allen. When an opportunity arises to take on a seemingly low-profile case involving a multimillion-dollar investment scam, Terry seizes it against Allen's initial reluctance, hoping this would redeem his career.
As they delve into the case, they uncover a high-stakes financial conspiracy bigger than they initially thought. Their investigation leads them to face dangerous criminals and corrupt corporate players, forcing Allen to confront his fears and Terry to grapple with his partner's unconventional methods. Their contrasting personalities and growing camaraderie are tested as they push against the odds to unravel the intricacies of the scam and bring the culprits to justice. Through a series of comedic and action-packed encounters, the duo learns that they must rely on each other's strengths to succeed where the city's celebrated cops have failed.
Writers: Adam McKay, Chris Henchy
Release Date: 06 Aug 2010
Runtime: 107 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States
Language: English, Ukrainian