Keeping Up with the Joneses Blu-ray Review

"Keeping Up with the Joneses" arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment with a 1080p AVC encoded transfer in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, capturing the film's visually engaging essence. Shot with the XL2 as noted in Panavision’s database, the presentation features an appealing organic texture and substantial depth, particularly in close-ups where minute details such as knit sweater patterns appear remarkably tactile. While the picture maintains an overall sharpness, some scenes exhibit a deliberately hazy, quasi-soft focus to underscore specific narrative elements, resulting in slight inconsistencies in sharpness. CGI effects, especially during major explosions, don't achieve high realism which slightly detracts from the visual fidelity.

The encoding is largely impeccable, delivering clean and artifact-free visuals. Facial complexions are rendered exceptionally well, revealing fine details like wrinkles and pores, contributing to a realistic portrayal of characters. Despite some intentional soft focus shots that introduce a minor blur in certain sequences, the 2.40:1 image remains significantly well-defined. The contrast is expertly balanced, with white levels glowing beautifully through the occasional haze, and black levels offering inky richness without obscuring shadow details. Andrew Dunn’s cinematography shines with a vibrant and varied palette, highlighting both primary and secondary colors to enhance the suburbia's picturesque and utopian aesthetic.

No issues with image stability or compression problems are evident, and the film's 28 chapter divisions support smooth navigation. The sumptuous color grading and excellent detailing extend to every frame, making "Keeping Up with the Joneses" a visually pleasurable experience despite minor shortcomings in dynamic action sequences and selective soft focus scenes.

The Blu-ray release of "Keeping Up with the Joneses" features an engaging DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track that delivers an immersive auditory experience. The track is highlighted by substantial boisterous energy, particularly during action sequences such as the explosive opening and intense motorcycle chases with superb panning effects. The soundtrack maintains an excellent balance, placing much of the focus on the front soundstage, which offers precise separation, while off-screen activities are effectively rendered through the surround channels. Dialogue is clean and distinct, often demonstrating smart directionality, and maintains fidelity throughout.

While the midrange offers impressive dynamics and extensive clarity pertinent to the explosive action scenes, the low-end performance can feel somewhat modest. This is not to demean its quality; it provides a competent, palpable weight to musical scores and action segments but does not strive for extraordinary depth. The usage of surrounding channels is somewhat reserved, stepping into prominence when the plot culminates in more intense moments, thereby creating a satisfying soundstage. However, consistent utilization of all channels would have further enhanced the immersive experience.

The soundtrack's fidelity is remarkable and exhibits a wide dynamic range devoid of any significant issues. Specific elements such as Jake Monaco’s background score are spread across the front and rear soundstages, complementing atmospheric effects during high-octane sequences. Overall, while the mix may not entirely "rock the neighborhood," it still offers a robust auditory performance that aligns well with the film's visual exuberance, delivering a dependable and enjoyable sonic experience.

The extras for the Blu-ray of "Keeping Up with the Joneses" are a competent package that complements the main feature. The standout extra, “Spy Game”, provides an insightful look into the production process with comprehensive cast and crew interviews combined with engaging behind-the-scenes footage. The “Keeping Up with Georgia” mini-featurette narrows its focus on the filming locations in Atlanta, revealing their importance in the film’s backdrop. The Deleted Scenes offer a deeper glimpse into the narrative, while the Gallery and Theatrical Trailer round out the extras with visual and promotional content. Suitable for both casual viewers and enthusiasts seeking more depth in filmmaking details, these extras greatly enhance the Blu-ray package.

Extras included in this disc:

• Spy Game: Behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with cast and crew.
• Deleted Scenes: Additional scenes viewable individually or in sequence.
• Keeping Up with Georgia: Insights into filming locations in Atlanta.
• Gallery: Manual/Auto Advance stills and behind-the-scenes shots.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer.

"Keeping Up with the Joneses" showcases a promising premise, blending suburban normalcy with high-stakes espionage, but falters significantly in execution. The plot follows Jeff and Karen Gaffney (Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher), whose mundane lives receive a jolt when enigmatic and extravagant new neighbors Tim and Natalie Jones (Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot) move in. This spy comedy struggles with balance, often substituting genuine humor for noisy antics and over-the-top character portrayals. Despite its attempt to evoke humor through absurd scenarios, it rarely pulls off more than a couple of genuine laughs. Noteworthy moments, like Jeff's attempt to impress his suave neighbor and a hilariously mangled pronunciation of "jalapeño", are mere islands in a sea of missed comedic opportunities.

The narrative unfurls with escalating implausibility, highlighted by predictable plot points and uninspired visual gags. The script by Michael LeSieur lacks innovation, with espionage elements feeling particularly lackluster. While the film sprints through chaotic action sequences and implausible spy scenarios, it also meanders through Jeff's office hijinks and Karen's amateur espionage attempts. At its core, the movie suffers from a lack of subtlety and an over-reliance on stereotypical suburban humor, failing to capitalize on the potential chemistry among its talented leads. Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot exemplify their stereotypical roles but remain bogged down by a script that underutilizes their charisma.

The film’s few standout scenes, like an awkward yet heartfelt bonding moment between Jeff and Tim over exotic cuisine, succeed in melding slapstick with genuine charm. However, inconsistency remains the film's Achilles' heel. Director Greg Mottola’s effort to inject vibrancy and humor into suburban drudgery falls flat more often than not. Overall, "Keeping Up with the Joneses" ends up feeling like an improv session lacking discipline, blending sporadic laughter with prolonged stretches of comedic barrenness.

"Keeping Up with the Joneses" on Blu-ray blends the espionage genre with suburban life but fails to inject fresh humor or a compelling narrative, resulting in a lackluster viewing experience. Despite the best efforts of a talented cast, including seasoned comedic actors, the film's jokes are sporadic and it rarely achieves the level of consistent hilarity that viewers might expect. The narrative picks up briefly during an engaging chase scene about an hour in, but soon returns to its predominantly tepid pacing.

From a technical standpoint, however, the Blu-ray edition is impressive. The video quality is near-reference, displaying vibrant colors and sharp details that enhance the viewing experience. The audio presentation is equally strong, delivering clear dialogue and well-balanced sound effects, which contribute to the immersion during the more action-oriented scenes. Unfortunately, the collection of special features is limited and does little to elevate the overall appeal beyond a mere rental.

In conclusion, while "Keeping Up with the Joneses" boasts strong technical merits on Blu-ray with excellent video and audio quality, it ultimately falls short in the comedy and storytelling departments. Fans of the cast may find it more tolerable, but as an entertainment package, it offers little beyond its aesthetic presentation. Thus, this release might be best suited for those looking for a visually pleasing film without high expectations for genuine laughs or narrative depth.