So I Married an Axe Murderer 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 2023 4K UHD Blu Ray release of "So I Married an Axe Murderer" brings a significant visual upgrade from Sony, particularly with its Dolby Vision treatment. The new transfer captures extraordinary levels of detail—particularly in the exteriors of San Francisco, which appear almost window-like with their depth and clarity. Interiors are equally impressive, revealing intricate details in living spaces and decorative elements. Colors have been revitalized with distinct primaries, including Harriet's captivating red dress in the film's finale, vibrant greenery, and rich purple dusky skies. Skin tones remain natural, and overall delineation is satisfactory with inky blacks enriching the evening scenes. Highlights are applied tastefully, and grain is well-resolved throughout the film.

The new 4K scan, sourced from the original camera negative and enhanced with Dolby Vision and HDR10, offers a fresh vibrancy to the image. The high dynamic range improves contrast significantly, although some darker scenes do suffer from occasional black detail loss. Nevertheless, the color intensities in various on-screen elements are now more vivid than ever. Sony has amplified vibrancy to maximum capacity, often pushing the limits of the film's original stock, creating intense fleshy tones and vibrant elements such as national flags and club lights. These updates contribute to a more dynamic viewing experience even though they occasionally introduce chroma noise.

Overall, while the remaster turns up vibrancy and sometimes veers into artificial territory, the improvement in resolution is undeniable. Sony's upgrade ensures that fine textures thrive and wide San Francisco shots reach reference quality. Although grain varies throughout the film, the compression generally manages these variances adeptly. With its heightened color palette, enhanced resolution, and improved contrast, this 4K release offers the best viewing experience yet for "So I Married an Axe Murderer."

The 7.1 Dolby TrueHD mix of "So I Married an Axe Murderer" provides a comprehensive understanding of the film's sound design, enhancing dialogue clarity and accentuations while skillfully blending orchestral and popular music. Surround channels are moderately engaged, contributing musical ambience and atmospheric sounds. The mix excels particularly in adding depth to performance scenes and echo-rich environments, though some ADR instances may sound artificial compared to the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix. Sound effects are accurately rendered, with precise channel movements adding to the immersive audio experience.

The newly introduced Dolby Atmos track, while not groundbreaking, adds a layer of balanced audio that meshes well with the film's '90s grunge rock soundtrack. Songs from artists like "Spin Doctors" and "Ned’s Atomic Dustbin" not only lend an era-specific feel but also sound superb in this format, despite the soundtrack predominantly maintaining a 5.1-like presence. While the extra surrounds and height channels in Atmos do not drastically transform the auditory landscape, certain moments—such as the axe slamming onto a roof in the finale—do utilize overhead channels effectively. Ambient noises in settings like the police station and newsroom contribute to an extended soundstage, and dialogue remains clear and age-defying in its purity.

Overall, the Dolby Atmos mix offers a wider front soundstage and more active surrounds compared to the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, though the latter may deliver slightly punchier bass. Both mixes ensure clear and intelligible dialogue, keeping the experience engaging whether you prefer Atmos' balanced sound or the DTS-HD Master Audio's emphasis on low-frequency effects.

The 30th Anniversary 4K UHD edition of "So I Married an Axe Murderer" notably enriches its supplementary materials, offering fans a deeper dive into the film's production and deleted content. The compilation features around 30 minutes of deleted scenes, revealing insights into alternate takes and providing character expansions that contribute to a more menacing tone than the final cut. Highlights include a more suspenseful alternate opening and an extended health shake scene that enhances comedic sequences. Although these snippets serve as intriguing additions, they largely reaffirm that the original film stands strong on its own without them. Additionally, two high-definition trailers—domestic and international—are part of this release.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Various alternate takes and extended scenes offering additional context and character depth.
• Theatrical Trailer: The original promotional footage used in the U.S.
• International Trailer: A differently cut trailer intended for audiences abroad.

In "So I Married an Axe Murderer," 1993 positioned Mike Myers as a versatile talent amid Hollywood's efforts to replicate the success of his previous film, "Wayne's World." The movie, initially intended as a chiller, belatedly morphed into a comedic vehicle tailored to Myers' strengths in neurotic humor and peculiar character work. Mike Myers stars as Charlie, a beat poet afraid of commitment who finally believes he’s found the perfect partner in Harriet (Nancy Travis), a quirky butcher with an enigmatic past. The film explores Charlie's growing paranoia that Harriet might be a serial killer, Mrs. X, making his endless suspicions both humorous and tense. Highlighting comic relief, Myers doubles as Charlie’s boisterously Scottish father, Stuart—an act that channels his future "Austin Powers" persona. The movie's slapstick approach, though not always cohesive in its narrative focus, still manages to deliver a charmingly offbeat tale.

"So I Married an Axe Murderer" stands out for its dynamic between Charlie and a litany of memorable supporting characters. The film is peppered with cameos from stars like Michael Richards, Charles Grodin, and Steven Wright, adding layers of idiosyncratic humor. Phil Hartman, in particular, offers a standout performance during his brief stint as an Alcatraz tour guide. While the plot meanders at times, drifting into side stories such as Tony's disillusionment with the police force (with a terrific cameo by Alan Arkin), it consistently pulls laughs through both script and situational comedy. The film’s highlights come from the interplay of Myers and Travis, whose timing and chemistry breathe life into the absurdity of their escalating situation.

Although the movie flirts with psychological suspense, it skews more towards exploiting Charlie's irrational fears for comedic effect. The climactic final act brings all narrative threads to an uproarious conclusion, encapsulating the stormy night cliché and heightening the inherent farce. "So I Married an Axe Murderer" may struggle with blending satire and romance consistently but manages to charm with its 90s vibes and absurdist humor. Through sheer force of Myers’ charismatic presence and the comedic synergy with his co-stars, the film achieves an engagingly quirky rhythm, suitable for fans of genre-bending rom-coms infused with dark humor.

So I Married An Axe Murderer, an offbeat comedy featuring Mike Myers, receives a commendable 4K UHD Blu-ray upgrade thanks to Sony’s efforts. The film, a cult favorite, shines with its bizarre blend of dark humor and romantic entanglement, with Myers carrying the narrative through his quirky charisma. Although the movie was not a commercial hit upon its 1993 release, it remains a treasured title among fans for its unique comedic approach and distinctive San Francisco setting.

The 4K transfer breathes new life into the film with vibrant visuals and meticulously restored details. The Dolby Atmos sound mix enhances the experience, delivering clear dialogue, sharp effects, and an immersive score, highlighted by various versions of The La's "There She Goes." The inclusion of half an hour of deleted scenes adds substantial value, providing fresh insights and additional laughs for the fans. This presentation is a great improvement over previous releases and worth noting for any collector.

While the final act attempts to shift into a comedic thriller, introducing physical challenges and action sequences, it slightly falters with over-the-top slapstick. Despite this, the enduring appeal of the movie lies in its spirited wackiness and the memorable performance from Mike Myers, firmly anchoring its status as a comedy that still garners laughs today.

In conclusion, So I Married an Axe Murderer transitions into comedic thriller mode in the final act, trying to take Harriet's strangeness seriously, providing a more physical challenge for Charlie. It doesn't quite work due to excessive slapstick, but it's interesting to see the film attempt some action, trying to leave viewers a little breathless after spending so much time on foolishness (repeatedly scored to a few versions of the buttery pop hit, There She Goes). One can sense director Thomas Schlamme trying to maintain control of the feature, playing with shots and tone (the San Francisco-ness of the movie is also impressive), but So I Married an Axe Murderer remains the Mike Myers Show, with the actor working to establish himself as a tender jester. The film absolutely tanked at the box office in 1993 (effectively killing Myers's big screen career for three years, but Austin Powers brought him back), but it remains an enjoyable sit, containing some sizable laughs and spirited wackiness, with big comedy helping to best its lack of cohesiveness.