Doctor Detroit Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Doctor Detroit" offers a punchy and commendable visual experience, showcasing a satisfactory blend of clarity and filmic quality. The transfer is encoded using MPEG-4 AVC at a resolution of 1080p with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, retaining the integrity of its original cinema format. Colors, while not excessively saturated, strike an impressive balance—especially in the garish costume of Doctor Detroit himself, highlighting bright hues like the yellow jacket and lime green pants. The detail levels are revealing, showing textures from wild costume designs to woodgrain on doors and desks. Despite some mild softness and minor speckles, the overall image remains clean and crisp.

Black levels are well-handled with minimal crush, enriching the nighttime scenes with depth and detail. The presentation maintains smooth and cinematic movements, enhancing the spacing between foregrounds and backgrounds. Skin tones are rendered naturally, maintaining consistency throughout the film. The transfer handles nighttime grain effectively without distracting halos or artifacts, ensuring a filmic experience true to its era. Overall, Shout Select delivers another pleasurable and impressive transfer that faithfully captures the essence and visual style of "Doctor Detroit."

Shout Select's Blu-ray release of "Doctor Detroit" offers an engaging audio presentation anchored in a 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix. The mix proficiently captures the film’s vibrant funk and new wave mood with commendable sharpness in the soundtrack selections. Instrumentation is notably crisp, maintaining an assertive volume that effectively drives the lively atmosphere. Dialogue clarity is well-maintained, with Clifford's unique vocal performances and comedic exchanges presented without distortion. Ambient crowd sounds are executed effectively, contributing a sense of community during celebratory scenes.

The English 2.0 mono DTS-HD track aligns closely with the film’s original audio experience from its home video releases. While it provides a relatively flat and straightforward soundstage devoid of modern spatial enhancement, it does so without compromising on clarity. Dialogue remains clean and intelligible, with minor muffling in specific scenes that appear inherent to the source material. Lalo Schifrin’s score, alongside contributions from Devo and James Brown, deliver moments of minor but enjoyable aural impact. Additionally, the track is devoid of any technical issues such as distortion, hiss, or crackle, ensuring a consistent listening experience through the film’s runtime.

In sum, though the track does not offer modern surround sound capabilities, the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix for "Doctor Detroit" capably supports the film's dynamic soundtrack and clear dialogue, preserving its original audio integrity with satisfactory quality.

The extras in the Blu-ray release of "Doctor Detroit" provide an in-depth look at the film's production and legacy. The audio commentary by director Michael Pressman and pop culture historian Russell Dyball offers insightful perspectives and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Pressman's interview, enriched with detailed narratives about the film's development from a novella to a comedy and his experiences on set, adds valuable context. The centerpiece, "Radio Free Detroit," includes rare interviews and promotional content, lending fans a nostalgic glimpse into the promotional strategies of the era. Additionally, the supplementary photo gallery comprises publicity stills, behind-the-scenes shots, and memorabilia, although its visual quality is somewhat lacking.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: With Director Michael Pressman and Pop Culture Historian Russell Dyball.
• Interview With Director Michael Pressman: Detailed exploration of the film’s origins.
• Radio Free Detroit – Inside the Doctor Detroit Audio Press Kit: Vintage interviews and promotional materials.
• Photo Gallery: Publicity stills, newspaper ads, and more.
• Theatrical Trailers: Both trailer cuts presented.
• TV Spots: Brief television commercials.
• Radio Spots: Original promotional audio clips.

"Doctor Detroit," a quirky comedy released in the summer of 1983, remains an interesting relic in Dan Aykroyd’s filmography. Directed by Michael Pressman, the movie offers a lighthearted yet peculiar take on prostitution and gang violence, placing Aykroyd in the limelight as he transitions into a lead role post-John Belushi's era. The plot centers around Clifford Skridlow (Aykroyd), an uptight professor who is unwittingly thrown into the criminal world by Smooth Walker (Howard Hesseman), a fast-talking pimp indebted to a tyrannical crime boss named Mom (Kate Murtagh). To save himself, Smooth invents the terrifying persona of "Doctor Detroit," a character Skridlow is manipulated into portraying.

The movie's charm lies in its wacky character performances and surreal comedic moments, highlighted by Aykroyd’s hysterical transformation into Doctor Detroit. However, it takes nearly half the runtime to introduce this eccentric persona, limiting the screen time of one of the film's most entertaining elements. Aykroyd’s performance is supported by a young Fran Drescher as one of the call girls and a brief but memorable cameo by James Brown. Despite these lively performances, "Doctor Detroit" often gets bogged down by its linear plot and misses numerous opportunities for humor, deviating into duller territory more focused on narrative progression than comedic timing.

Musically enriched by tracks from Devo and Rick James, Pressman attempts to construct a party atmosphere, but the movie's pacing issues and reliance on plot-driven scenes often derail its intended zaniness. While Aykroyd's multiple alter egos inject bursts of hilarity, the screenplay struggles to maintain consistent laughs. As such, "Doctor Detroit" stands as a fun yet flawed film that nostalgically captures 80s comedy dynamics but never fully realizes its potential. For cult film enthusiasts and Aykroyd fans, this quirky title still merits a viewing for its memorable moments and colorful characters.

"Doctor Detroit" on Blu-ray offers a nostalgic trip back to the 80s, leveraging Dan Aykroyd's comedic talents to moderate success. The film spends much of its 90-minute runtime focusing on Clifford's descent into the flamboyant world of pimping, ultimately blending college responsibilities with the absurdity of Doctor Detroit. When it hits the comedic notes, it’s genuinely funny, yet much of the runtime feels underwhelming, spent on less engaging subplots. Despite its R rating due to occasional foul language and brief nudity, the overall tone is surprisingly family-friendly and could have warranted a PG-13 rating.

The Blu-ray release by Shout Factory stands out with a strong video transfer in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio and competent DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono audio. The release date is listed as April 24th, 2018, with the package including English subtitles. The real highlight is the supplemental material; an extensive selection unseen on any prior home video release. This includes a new audio commentary from director Michael Pressman, a notable interview discussing his career, and a fascinating Radio Free Detroit press kit featuring vintage interviews with Dan Aykroyd and others.

In conclusion, "Doctor Detroit" is a whimsical escapade that may not achieve major comedic success but does provide genuine laughter and charm in parts. Shout Factory’s Blu-ray release enriches the experience with high-quality picture and sound, complemented by valuable extras that will delight fans of the film and Aykroyd alike. It’s an entry-level purchase for enthusiasts, while newcomers might consider renting it first. If your expectations are measured, this blast from the past might just surprise you.