Division III: Football's Finest Blu-ray Review

"Division III: Football's Finest" on Blu-ray delivers a varied video presentation that reflects its mixed production values. Shot digitally using the Red One camera and skillfully color-corrected by cinematographer Will Barratt, the transfer exhibits a range of visual qualities. The 1080p, AVC-encoded image boasts excellent detail typical of Red One productions and is virtually free of video noise. Barratt's straightforward and clean approach keeps the color palette simple, emphasizing blues in most scenes and yellows in natural sunlight, particularly noticeable during football practice sequences. The color-corrected finish contrasts starkly with the uncorrected footage found in the deleted scenes, highlighting the impact of post-production on the final look. Furthermore, the compression was handled deftly, with no artifacts despite fitting on a BD-25 disc.

On the downside, the video transfer does exhibit some weaknesses common to low-budget productions. The contrast appears flat, with crushing shadows that lack delineation, leading to characters and objects often being swallowed by darkness. This results in a somewhat un-cinematic digital appearance. Issues like banding and aliasing are present but not excessively distracting. However, colors could be described as bland and lifeless overall, detracting from the vibrant visual experience typical of higher-budget films. While acceptable, the video transfer ultimately lacks the excitement and visual flair that might make it stand out.

Audio Review - "Division III: Football's Finest" Blu Ray

"Division III: Football's Finest" arrives with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that leaves much to be desired. The audio presentation struggles with balance and immersion, making it a lackluster component of the Blu-ray's offering. Dialogue is notably clear, occupying the front channels effectively, but the mix fails to achieve cohesion. Basic sound effects, often brash and unsophisticated, don't blend well with the overall mix. Football hits and action sequences lack dynamism, resulting in an underwhelming experience that fails to leverage the multi-channel format effectively.

The track's music elements, comprising an underscoring by Conan Skyrme and a heavy-metal style theme song titled "Get Some" by The Guise, fill up the room without contributing to any significant surround activity. The audio efforts are functional at best but display a distinct lack of creativity and nuance. With limited production resources, it appears the audio design was sidelined, leading to a pragmatic but uninspiring output. The result is a track that checks the box for basic requirements but does little to elevate the viewing experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "Division III: Football's Finest" provide a mixed bag of content, offering a deep dive into the film's lighter moments and behind-the-scenes antics. The audio commentary with Andy Dick and Marshall Cook is an informal chat focusing on performances and crew members, albeit lacking in thematic exploration. The outtakes capture the frequent on-set hilarity, consistent with the film’s comedic tone. The deleted/extended scenes offer additional insights, maintained in a similar vein of humor, though often veering into the crude. Additionally, the trailer presents the film's essence succinctly.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Discussion on performances and crew details by Andy Dick and Marshall Cook.
• Outtakes: Behind-the-scenes laughter and bloopers.
• Deleted/Extended Scenes: Extra footage consistent with the film’s comedic style.
• Trailer: General audience summary of the film.

"Division III: Football's Finest" strives to mimic the irreverent humor of "Bad Teacher" or "Bad Santa," but with Andy Dick's riotous portrayal of the offensive, homophobic, and erratic coach Rick Vice, it often crosses the line into sheer obnoxiousness. The movie amalgamates juvenile humor with skits reminiscent of repetitive SNL characters, ultimately falling flat as the comedic shock effect diminishes. Director Marshall Cook, also a former college quarterback, infuses elements of his own experiences into a script that lacks consistent novelty or substance, failing to hold viewers' attention over its 98-minute run time. Bob Odenkirk's suggested voiceover brings some clarity to Division III's backdrop but not enough to elevate the film.

The setting at fictional Pulham University and its Blue Cocks team sets the stage for predictable and tired puns. Supporting characters only appear as shallow caricatures—essentially props for Dick’s relentless barrage of vulgar antics, underscored by cliché subplots that add little value to the narrative. The film ambitiously places Coach Vice as its focal comedic force akin to John Belushi's Bluto in Animal House but fails to replicate the same precision; Dick’s prolonged presence exudes more irritability than humor, culminating in a half-time pep talk that inadvertently reveals the protagonist's futility.

Despite minor distractions offered by Bryan Callen, Adam Carolla, and Will Sasso in sportscaster roles, the film can’t escape its grim reality: it's a lackluster comedy driven by grotesque and unfunny gags. The attempted parodies are stale, and the sole bright spot—a nuanced, albeit brief, performance by Sasso—fails to counterbalance the pervasive crudeness. Ultimately, "Division III: Football's Finest" squanders its potential on ill-conceived low-brow humor and empty character arcs, making it a struggle to find any redeeming value in this tasteless endeavor.

'Division III: Football's Finest' attempts to deliver an offbeat comedy set in the unconventional world of Division III college football. Starring Andy Dick, the film draws heavily on crude humor, making it a niche offering that's likely to polarize audiences. From a technical perspective, the Blu-ray transfer is commendable. The image quality is crisp with vibrant colors that bring the absurdist antics to life, and the audio tracks are well-balanced, ensuring dialogue and comedic sound effects are clear and impactful. However, while the technical merits are noteworthy, they do not offset the film’s flawed content.

The primary issue with 'Division III: Football's Finest' stems from its writing and overall execution. The screenplay relies excessively on vulgar jokes and shock value, which may quickly wear thin for viewers expecting witty or clever humor. Andy Dick’s performance is energetic but may come across as overbearing rather than entertaining. The film’s attempts at satire often miss the mark, leaving it stranded between trying to be a compelling sports parody and a raunchy comedy.

In conclusion, I'm still not sure who 'Division III: Football's Finest' intended audience is. Football fans? MADtv fans (given the various alumni of the show wandering through the cast)? Andy Dick fans? Dick joke fans? As the commentary advises us, Image Entertainment bought the film; so they must have thought there was a market for it, but I'll be damned if I know who it is. The Blu-ray's technical merits are solid, but I can't recommend the film. If you see it on the shelf at your local retailer, turn and run. Don't look back. Never look back.