Friendsgiving Blu-ray Review

Lionsgate Films' presentation of "Friendsgiving" on Blu-ray demonstrates a commendable AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Despite no authoritative technical information on the shoot, it suggests a digital capture with a 2K DI finish. The overall visual experience is bright and cheery, showcasing excellent lighting conditions that effectively enhance fine detail levels. The color palette remains natural and well-suffused, adding to the visual appeal. Occasionally, scenes display slight haziness, such as an early scene in a grocery store, and there are unique lighting choices in confessional elements. However, these nuances do not substantially impact the overall clarity and detail.

The technical specifics highlight this Blu-ray's strong points: crisp clarity with detailed HD transfers preventing any softness. Both foreground and background elements pop with sharp detail. Depth is superb for an HD transfer, rendering dynamic scenes with fluid movement. The black levels hold deepness without crush issues, ensuring no loss of definition in shadows. Color reproduction particularly excels, with warm tones of browns, blacks, reds, golds, and yellows vividly rendered, giving the film its inviting aesthetic. Flesh tones are portrayed naturally across diverse skin tones, maintaining a consistent warm glow. There are no notable noise or artifacts, ensuring a clean and enjoyable viewing experience.

In conclusion, "Friendsgiving" on Blu-ray delivers a vibrant and meticulous visual presentation that balances color dynamics and clarity. The transfer's technical integrity holds up well, making this release an engaging visual experience for viewers.

The audio presentation of "Friendsgiving" on Blu-ray is delivered via a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that provides a robust and capable support for this comedy film. The sound design mirrors the conversational and intimate nature of a glorified sitcom rather than aiming for cinematic grandeur. However, it effectively leverages the immersive capabilities of the surround sound channels, especially during crowded party scenes, enhancing the ambient noise and providing a realistic sense of space within the room. This is complemented by the discrete engagement of channels during specific moments, such as a baby’s cry over a monitor, contributing to an engaging auditory experience. Dialogue remains clean and clear throughout, supported by optional English subtitles for clarity.

In terms of dynamics, the mix presents a well-balanced soundscape typical for a comedy, though it sometimes exhibits music and sound effects that surpass dialogue in volume. While this occasionally necessitates minor volume adjustments, it generally complements the film well without overshadowing dialogue. The low-frequency extension (LFE) makes minimal yet effective appearances, mainly during musical segments where it enhances the modern songs with rich bass drops. Interestingly, the surround sound presentation is marked by outdoor ambient noise and off-screen dialogue, along with an unusual but not unpleasant "6-channel stereo" effect for certain songs. Overall, despite a few minor inconsistencies, the audio track provides an engaging and problem-free listening experience.

The Blu-ray release of "Friendsgiving" comes with a modest selection of extras that, while not groundbreaking, provide a decent supplement to the main film. These include a commentary track by Writer/Director Nicole Paone and Producer/Actor Malin Akerman, which offers some insightful behind-the-scenes perspectives. The "Making Friendsgiving: Serving Up Insanity" feature provides a mix of film clips, behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews, adding depth to the production process albeit in a conventional EPK style. The Gag Reel offers light-hearted entertainment, showcasing the cast's chemistry and on-set antics. Overall, these extras add value, though they lack substantial depth.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Nicole Paone and Producer/Actor Malin Akerman: Behind-the-scenes insights.
• Making Friendsgiving: Serving Up Insanity: Enjoyable EPK with film scenes, behind-the-scenes antics, and interviews.
• Gag Reel: Light-hearted entertainment from the film set.

"Friendsgiving" is a brassy comedy centered around Molly (Malin Akerman) and Abby (Kat Dennings) as their modest Thanksgiving plans devolve into chaotic hilarity. The film mirrors "Bridesmaids" in its raunchy humor and depiction of female friendships, but lacks the tighter narrative and character development that made the former so successful. The plot runs on the chaotic energy of unexpected guests, including Molly's overbearing mother Helen (Jane Seymour) and her ex-boyfriend Gunnar (Ryan Hansen), making for a crowded and noisy atmosphere. Noteworthy are the hallucinatory "Fairy Gay Mothers" scenes, featuring Wanda Sykes, Margaret Cho, and Fortune Feimster, contributing to the film’s sporadic comedic bursts.

Despite the film's chaotic narrative structure and occasional overreliance on clichéd comedy tropes, the performances by Ackerman and Dennings are strong, their natural chemistry providing a heartfelt core that offsets the more haphazard elements of the plot. Supporting characters like Jeff (Jack Donnelly), who brings a layer of absurdity, and cameos by seasoned comedians add some flair, although the script’s inconsistency often dampens its comedic momentum. Director Nicole Paone’s debut effort shows glimpses of promise but also suffers from an evident lack of narrative cohesion and overly forced punchlines.

The film manages to balance its rowdy moments with some genuine emotional beats, making it an engaging albeit uneven watch. It provides a mix of raunchy humor softened by sweet moments of friendship and personal growth, epitomized by the protagonists’ ability to support each other amidst the holiday chaos. While "Friendsgiving" may not break new ground in the comedy genre, it offers amusing escapism with a likable cast and enough hearty laughs to leave viewers entertained.

"Friendsgiving" presents a decent, albeit somewhat derivative premise, underscored by an engaging and often amusing ensemble cast. While the narrative tends to meander due to the frequent introduction of new characters and subplot diversions, it manages to deliver a level of entertainment that may surpass the unpredictability of many family Thanksgiving gatherings. The film occasionally struggles to maintain its comedic and emotional balance, appearing increasingly desperate to elicit laughs and tug at heartstrings as it progresses towards its conclusion.

For enthusiasts of the cast, "Friendsgiving" holds considerable appeal, though with moderated expectations. The film's tone strikes a balance between classic holiday comedies like "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and "Home for the Holidays," infused with modern raunchiness that ensures some memorable moments of genuine laughter. Despite its shortcomings in narrativity, it remains a commendable addition to the Thanksgiving film repertoire.

The Blu-ray release's technical merits stand out with solid audio and visual quality. Though special features are sparse, the disc provides a reliable and enjoyable viewing experience for comedy aficionados. In conclusion, while "Friendsgiving" may not entirely fulfill its potential, it offers enough charm and humor to justify its place in any holiday movie collection.