Cavemen Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Cavemen" by Well Go USA presents the film with a detailed 1080p AVC encoded transfer in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Shot digitally with the Arri Alexa system, the film showcases a wide spectrum of light and strong contrast. The result is an impressive visual clarity that suits both brightly lit outdoor sequences and darker scenes set in various bars and clubs. The transfer handles facial details and textures with precision, capturing wrinkles, blemishes, and fine details in objects like sheets and curtains. The urban setting of Los Angeles is brought to life with good depth of field and background detail, highlighting downtown elements effectively.

The image maintains high contrast with robust blacks and whites, ensuring clear shadow delineation and grayscale management without banding or crush. Edges remain well-defined, contributing to the overall sharpness. While colors are vibrant and bold, particularly in night scenes around DTLA and Little Tokyo, they do not appear oversaturated. Flesh tones are natural, even under challenging lighting conditions. However, there are occasional moments where the image feels flat and sterile, typical of films with less creative shot compositions. Despite minor issues like slight noise in isolated scenes or minimal crush, the visual presentation is consistently strong and free from significant artifacts or tampering.

Overall, "Cavemen" on Blu-ray demonstrates excellent clarity and depth with a reliable color palette and consistent black levels. The presentation is crisp and clean, although some may find the visual style somewhat uninspired. Nevertheless, the technical proficiency of the transfer makes it a commendable effort for this otherwise mediocre film.

The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix of "Cavemen" delivers an engaging audio experience, particularly through its use of alternative source cues and ambient environmental effects. While the film adheres to the conventional tropes of proto-indie bromance or rom-com genres, the audio mix stands out with excellent attention to detail. Dialogues are distinct and crisp, typically emanating from the center channel, while environmental noises and music fill the front and rear channels effectively. The recurring gag featuring Dean watching a Dating Game-type television show demonstrates superior audio separation and ambient differences. Fidelity is consistently excellent across the track, ensuring no issues that warrant concern.

Despite the lack of significant low-frequency effects (LFE), "Cavemen" compensates with a clear focus on dialogue delivery and atmospheric elements. The inclusion of trance music during party scenes leverages the bass effectively, adding a groove that enhances the overall experience without overwhelming other elements. The rear channels contribute significantly to the DTLA nightlife ambiance, ensuring a well-rounded surround sound presentation. Dialogue levels remain clean and intelligible throughout, fitting smoothly into this dialogue-driven film. Additionally, the mix balances various audio elements—dialogue, environmental sounds, and music—without any one component overpowering the others.

"Cavemen" also provides an English Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack, alongside optional English subtitles, broadening accessibility. Overall, whether during public outdoor settings or intimate indoor gatherings, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix upholds a high standard, reflecting a nuanced approach to layering atmospheric sounds and delivering a solid audio performance in line with its genre requirements.

The Blu-Ray release of "Cavemen" contains a limited selection of extras. Notably, the primary addition is the theatrical trailer, offered in high definition. While the inclusion of this trailer provides a glimpse into the film's promotional materials, the overall scarcity of additional content does not enhance the value of the Blu-Ray package. Prospective viewers interested in bonus features may find this offering lacking compared to other releases that typically include behind-the-scenes footage, commentary, or deleted scenes.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: Theatrical trailer for Cavemen presented in high definition.

"Cavemen," a film directed by Herschel Faber, explores the romantic trials and tribulations of a group of young men living in a converted warehouse in downtown Los Angeles, affectionately nicknamed "The Cave." Unfortunately, the movie struggles to transcend its derivative nature, presenting a collection of familiar and predictable plot points. Skylar Astin portrays Dean, an aspiring screenwriter seeking love for inspiration, not realizing his best platonic friend Tess (Camilla Belle) might be the answer. The film's attempt at meta-commentary through Dean's screenplay about his life feels superficial compared to well-regarded predecessors such as "Swingers."

Faber's ensemble cast suffers from underdeveloped characters and uninspired writing. Dean's friends include the womanizing Jay (Chad Michael Murray), charming but volatile Andre (Dayo Okeniyi), and Pete (Kenny Wormald), who navigates relationship conflicts. Despite their efforts, the characters struggle to leave a lasting impression. Notably, Murray's portrayal of Jay offers a glimpse of charisma amidst an otherwise lackluster narrative. The film's attempts at humor and originality falter, particularly in scenes where it resorts to predictable tropes like horrid first dates and generically offensive behavior.

Visually, "Cavemen" does manage to capture the vibrant backdrop of downtown Los Angeles effectively, utilizing locations like Little Tokyo and Olvera Street to create an authentic setting. However, these aesthetics cannot compensate for the lack of substance. The film's depiction of relationships and dating feels regressive, often reducing female characters to mere objects of desire for its male protagonists. The film's success lies more in its technical execution than its story, exemplified by its lean 90-minute runtime, which swiftly delivers a formulaic narrative, leaving little room for meaningful development or engagement.

"Cavemen" on Blu-ray presents itself as a technically capable release that suffers significantly due to its unimaginative and cliché-ridden narrative. The film's plot, predictably transparent from the opening, fails to deviate from well-worn tropes, offering little in terms of originality or engagement. While the cast is undeniably attractive and committed, their efforts are undermined by a lackluster screenplay and uninspired direction. Notably, the storyline feels like a hollow, vaguely autobiographical attempt by Faber, offering neither depth nor compelling character development.

Technically, the Blu-ray format does justice to the film’s visual and auditory elements. The video quality is commendable, presenting clear and vibrant images that enhance the viewing experience. Similarly, the audio performance is solid, providing crisp and well-balanced sound. However, the overall package is somewhat marred by an absence of substantial bonus features, which could have provided additional context or entertainment value to the viewers.

In conclusion, while there's nothing patently horrible about "Cavemen," the film struggles mightily due to its predictable and formulaic nature. The narrative's lack of originality makes it difficult to muster enthusiasm for the story being told. Faber's execution of the film leaves much to be desired, as it delivers little beyond surface-level enjoyment. For those interested in the cast, the Blu-ray's technical merits are generally excellent, but the film itself remains firmly in the realm of mediocrity.