Lola Versus Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Lola Versus" benefits from a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, delivering an accurate and pristine portrayal of the film. Despite its low-budget roots, the transfer remains faithful to the original source, devoid of any compression issues, authoring flaws, or digital alterations. The film was shot on Super 35, resulting in a natural grain structure that, while sometimes patchy or chunky in darker scenes, avoids becoming a distraction. This integrity ensures viewers experience the film as intended, with no signs of DNR or edge enhancement to distort the authenticity.

Detail levels are commendable, especially in close-ups where facial features and clothing textures are rendered with appreciable clarity. However, the inherent characteristics of the spherical lensing soften the image slightly, compared to anamorphically-shot films. Additionally, the occasional thickness of the grain can diminish sharpness, yet this is a minor drawback. The color palette remains realistic but slightly exaggerated, maintaining rich hues and robust contrast throughout. Skin tones are consistently balanced, and black levels achieve adequate depth, though low-light scenes sometimes exhibit elevated black levels, resulting in murky shadow detail.

Overall, "Lola Versus" provides a visually solid presentation, with naturally colorful daytime exteriors and adequate performance in darker scenes set in bars or apartments. While minor inconsistencies in the grain structure and variances in brightness detract slightly, the transfer is mostly sharp and vibrant. This Blu-ray release is devoid of significant technical anomalies, ensuring a respectable visual experience for this charming rom-com.

The audio presentation of "Lola Versus" on Blu-ray is executed through a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. This mix predominantly focuses on dialogue, which is consistently clear and well-recorded, ensuring all verbal exchanges are easily comprehensible. Surround channels offer environmental ambience like New York street sounds and nightclub noise, though the soundfield remains predominantly front-heavy with limited background effects. While the score composed by Fall On Your Sword finds nice separation and fidelity, it can come across as annoyingly upbeat. Despite sporadic indie tunes, the overall bass activity is underwhelming, even in scenes set in ostensibly more dynamic environments like a nightclub.

Technically proficient but lacking in immersion, this audio mix offers reasonable clarity and balance amidst its modest sound design. The rear channels provide a slight presence with environmental sounds that enhance realism without fully expanding the atmosphere. While directionality and surround activity might feel somewhat anemic, the sound remains robust enough for the film’s genre requirements. The disc also provides additional Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 and French DTS 5.1 tracks, along with French and Spanish subtitles.

Overall, the audio serves the film's dialogue-driven intent adequately, delivering speeches cleanly against a backdrop punctuated by indie rock elements. Despite its small soundstage and minimal creativity in sound design, the track fulfills its role with technical proficiency appropriate for the content's scale and nature.

The Blu-ray extras for "Lola Versus" provide a moderate glimpse into the film's production process, highlighting commentary and several featurettes. Despite their brevity and somewhat superficial nature, these supplements collectively offer an understanding of the film's behind-the-scenes elements. The commentary by Director Daryl Wein and Co-writer Zoe Lister-Jones delivers a mix of technical insights and light-hearted banter, though it sometimes veers into pretentiousness. Other notable extras include deleted scenes and outtakes, showcasing alternate content and humorous moments. Supplemental featurettes primarily function as promotional material, featuring red carpet interviews and brief insights into the main characters and actors.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones: A mix of technical details and quirky humor; at times overly pretentious.
• Deleted Scenes: Eleven cut clips, including an alternate ending.
• Outtakes: Bloopers and gag reels.
• Nick the Dick Outtakes: Extended improvisations by actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
• Cheyenne Jackson Outtakes: Additional takes with Cheyenne Jackson.
• Greta Gerwig: Leading Lady: Producers discuss Gerwig's introduction to the audience.
• The Filmmakers: Behind-the-scenes promo with Wien and Lister-Jones.
• Fox Movie Channel Presents: World Premiere: Red carpet interviews from the Tribeca Film Festival.
• Fox Movie Channel Presents: In Character with Greta Gerwig: Gerwig discusses her role.
• Theatrical Trailer: The official trailer in high definition.

"Lola Versus" aims to redefine romantic comedy by presenting a raw, modern portrayal of post-breakup life. Unfortunately, it largely fails to deliver on this ambition, resulting in a film that feels disjointed, formulaic, and ultimately lackluster. Directed by Daryl Wein and co-written with Zoe Lister-Jones, who also stars as Lola's eccentric best friend Alice, the film showcases Greta Gerwig as the titular character—a newly 29-year-old Ph.D. candidate grappling with a sudden breakup. While Gerwig's unique charm and authentic acting style bring an element of sincerity, the poorly written script and overly contrived plot undermine her performance, making Lola appear more irritating than relatable.

The film opens with Lola's boyfriend Luke (Joel Kinnaman) proposing, only to soon call off the engagement, sending Lola spiraling into a year-long journey of emotional recovery marked by failed romantic encounters and dwindling friendships. Despite the filmmakers’ claims of subverting rom-com conventions, the narrative adheres closely to familiar tropes: the quirky best friend with crude humor, the long-adoring male friend Henry (Hamish Linklater), and the ambivalent ex-fiancé. Notably, Gerwig’s earnest portrayal struggles to save a character mired in unlikable behaviors and predictable scenarios, from awkwardly hooking up with Luke again to the cringe-inducing fling with a peculiar rollerblader played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

The film’s attempts at humor often fall flat, with recycled jokes and awkwardly placed comedic moments that clash with the more serious themes. Moreover, the direction feels inexperienced, characterized by uneven pacing and incoherent tonal shifts. The supporting cast, which includes Bill Pullman and Debra Winger as Lola's underutilized parents, does little to elevate the film. Overall, "Lola Versus" fails to offer the innovative take on the genre it promises, making it a missed opportunity despite Greta Gerwig's best efforts at delivering an engaging performance.

"Lola Versus" attempts to navigate the complexities of modern romance with an indie flair, but unfortunately, it does so with mixed results. Greta Gerwig’s portrayal of the title character brings occasional charm, yet the narrative flounders under the weight of cliched characters and recycled humor. The film’s attempt at subverting traditional rom-com tropes largely falls flat, coming across as self-obsessed and ironically detached. Despite these shortcomings, there are moments of genuine engagement that hint at what the film could have been.

The technical presentation on Blu-ray is commendable. The video transfer is solid, offering a crisp and clear viewing experience that highlights the film’s urban aesthetic. Audio quality is competent, providing a clear and balanced soundtrack that complements the narrative’s setting. While the special features included on the Blu-ray are somewhat minimal and predominantly promotional, they add marginal value for those interested in additional context about the film’s creation.

In conclusion, "Lola Versus" is not without its merits but ultimately it struggles to resonate on a deeper emotional level. The Blu-ray release does justice to the film's technical aspects and includes a selection of extras that might tempt some viewers. However, given the film's uneven story and unremarkable character development, it is best approached as a rental rather than a purchase. Proceed with tempered expectations, and you may find it a decent one-time watch.