The Coca-Cola Kid Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "The Coca-Cola Kid" features a technically impressive 1080p transfer sourced from a 2K restoration of its 35mm interpositive. Fun City Editions has orchestrated an engaging visual experience, accentuating the film's vibrant aesthetic. The bright color palette especially highlights the iconic Coca-Cola red, enhancing elements such as soda signage and lush, scenic Australian landscapes with deep greens and striking blues. Skin tones generally appear natural, while primary colors on clothing maintain a vivid presence.

Detail preservation is commendable across both urban and rural settings, capturing facial nuances, clothing textures, and intricate elements of 1985's production design, thus enriching the viewer's appreciation of the period's style. The restoration efficiently handles film grain, which is abundant yet retains a filmic quality, contributing to the authentic viewing experience. Although the source material is in excellent condition with minimal age-related blemishes, there is a slight concern regarding the red hues; they occasionally lend an overly pinkish tint to skin tones. Additionally, while the shadow detail and black levels consistently deliver robust image depth, the thickness in scenes like the party dance sequence may slightly obscure character detail. Overall, this Blu-ray release effectively showcases the film's visual charm with clarity and depth, offering an immersive retrospective into its cinematic artistry.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "The Coca-Cola Kid" is commendably handled through a 2.0 LPCM mix that creates an immersive audio experience filled with rich atmospherics. This mix successfully manages to deliver clear dialogue, even amidst the often-challenging background noise associated with the film's industrial settings. The performances are captured well, allowing for an appreciation of the actors' deliveries. The scoring is impressively sharp, with a wide dynamic range that highlights distinct instrumentation, adding emotional depth to key scenes.

Notably, the soundtrack is crisp and integrates seamlessly with the narrative, enhancing the viewing experience. The Australian-themed Coca-Cola tune featured in the film particularly stands out, both in quality and its catchy nature, convincingly coming across as brand-appropriate. While the dialogue remains predominantly clean and clear, audiences may occasionally find the thick Australian accents challenging, though this authenticity could also be engaging depending on individual preferences. Overall, the sound design manages to maintain a balance between dialogue, score, and ambient noises, making for a lost-world film rich in sonic detail.

Overall, the LPCM 2.0 mix draws you into the world of "The Coca-Cola Kid," transitioning smoothly from intimate conversations to bustling environments like busy streets or factory parties. It provides an enriching aural backdrop that complements the film's visual narrative while enhancing both emotional and atmospheric dimensions. This immersive quality, coupled with technically proficient sound mixing, makes the audio presentation a standout feature on this Blu-ray release.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Coca-Cola Kid" present a well-curated set of features that prioritize quality over quantity, providing valuable insights into the film's production and legacy. The commentary by Lars Nilsen and Jonathan Hertzberg offers detailed discussions that enhance the viewing experience. In "Dark and Bubbly", actor Eric Roberts shares compelling anecdotes about his career trajectory and his enjoyable yet insightful experiences on the film set in Australia. Producer David Roe and actress Greta Scacchi provide candid reflections in "The Real Thing", revealing behind-the-scenes dynamics and Scacchi's perspective on her working relationship with Eric Roberts. The package is rounded out by an image gallery and a theatrical trailer, contributing to a thorough exploration of the film's background and context.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Featuring film programmer Lars Nilsen and Jonathan Hertzberg from Fun City Editions.
• Dark and Bubbly: Interview with actor Eric Roberts discussing his role in the film and career highlights.
• The Real Thing: 2009 interview with producer David Roe and actress Greta Scacchi, delving into their experiences during production.
• Image Gallery: A collection of film stills.
• Theatrical Trailer: A promotional trailer for the film.

Dusan Makavejev's "The Coca-Cola Kid," released in 1985, is a fish-out-of-water comedy that blends corporate satire with cultural exploration. Eric Roberts stars as Becker, a corporate troubleshooter from Coca-Cola, who travels from Atlanta to Australia only to find himself in the peculiar Anderson Valley—a place where Coca-Cola has yet to penetrate due to the efforts of an upstart local soda magnate, T. George McDowell, played by Bill Kerr. The narrative unfolds through a series of humorous escapades underscored by idiosyncratic Australian customs, adding a unique regional flavor that sustains the film’s momentum.

Frank Moorhouse’s screenplay offers a series of amusing interactions between the corporate-centric Becker and the eccentric locals. Greta Scacchi’s role as Terri, Becker's secretary, introduces romantic tension as well as eccentric diversions, contributing to moments of whimsical mischief that enrich the comedy. The dynamic between the characters is well-developed, yet some plot elements veer into bizarre territory, affecting narrative coherence. Scacchi and Roberts deliver notable performances that keep viewers engaged despite unconventional storytelling paths.

While Makavejev maintains a playful tone, "The Coca-Cola Kid" occasionally loses its way with extraneous plot deviations. These scenes seem to be included for their oddity rather than narrative necessity, such as Terri's convoluted revenge schemes and misunderstandings with locals. On the whole, though occasionally overstaying its welcome at 98 minutes, "The Coca-Cola Kid" captures the visual aesthetics and charm of Australia, combining solid performances with an amusing take on corporate antics and offers an entertaining journey reflecting on the global reach of Western capitalism in the '80s.

"The Coca-Cola Kid" delivers a charmingly eccentric examination of business and creativity in the filmmaking process. With Makavejev's distinctive energy driving the narrative, the film swiftly follows Becker through a series of whimsical adventures, maintaining a playful tone that holds viewer interest. While Eric Roberts anchors the film with his energetic performance, it’s Greta Scacchi’s delightful on-screen playfulness and the robust supporting cast that enrich the viewing experience. Despite its inconsistencies and an emotionally ambitious conclusion that doesn't quite land, the movie remains an intriguing study of its central themes.

The film is bolstered by its vibrant setting and dynamic cast, which inject freshness into a plotline that might otherwise feel familiar. The lively energy permeates throughout, offering a breezy and entertaining experience perfect for a relaxed afternoon screening. For those who have overlooked this title or are curious to revisit it, "The Coca-Cola Kid" promises an engaging watch that may surprise with its humor and charm.

Fun City Editions' collaboration with Vinegar Syndrome results in an exceptional Blu-ray release, boasting an impressive audio-visual presentation that enhances the overall viewing experience. The sharp visuals and clear audio elevate the film’s quirky atmosphere, while the extensive collection of bonus features provides insightful context and enriches the appreciation of this unique production. Whether you're discovering it for the first time or revisiting an old gem, "The Coca-Cola Kid" is undeniably worth exploring.