Excess Baggage Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "Excess Baggage" exhibits significant processing flaws that detract from the overall viewing experience. The transfer appears heavily processed, with noticeable issues like frozen grain, jagged edges, and sporadic edge enhancement, particularly evident around the 1:09:40 mark. Additionally, the image suffers from persistent macroblocking throughout, which is detrimental to the visual clarity. While close-up shots occasionally reveal decent detail, such as facial pores and skin textures, these instances are few and far between. Interior and exterior city scenes achieve a moderate level of sharpness, with a diner scene around the one-hour mark presenting the best relative clarity and detail. However, the overall image quality remains subpar, with pasty skin tones and generally flat details.

Mill Creek's release, housed in a retro “I Love the ‘90s” faux-VHS packaging, feels appropriate given the transfer quality recalls outdated technology. The compression artifacts, macroblocking, and digital concerns prevalent in this Blu-ray suggest that either a DVD master was upscaled or improper compression techniques were employed. The resolution is sour, void of clarity or fine detail, as compression suffocates fidelity frame by frame. The mastering seems archaic, marred by ringing and noisy grain, reminiscent of basic cable rather than modern high-definition standards. Though the color quality is somewhat passable with a few standout primaries and decent black levels, these positive aspects are insufficient to compensate for the multitude of visual deficiencies.

The audio presentation of "Excess Baggage" on Blu-ray features a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, offering a solid but unspectacular auditory experience. While it delivers decent sound traversal, such as the effect of a chopper flying by or a semi-truck rolling past, the soundtrack lacks a deep, immersive quality. Ambient noises like chirping insects and the clatter of dishes in restaurants are rendered well, adding a touch of realism, but the overall sound clarity remains suboptimal. Dialogue is front-centered and reasonably well-defined, maintaining consistency throughout.

Low-end support is particularly lacking, with explosions and other action scenes failing to provide the rich, deep bass that could have elevated the listening experience. This deficiency is evident in various chapters, such as a modestly impactful explosion and subsequent dialogue reverb that feels average at best. While atmospheric elements like rain are well-mixed and effective for immersion, there's no significant range or power to engage the listener fully.

Overall, while Dolby Digital 5.1 suffices for the basic requirements of "Excess Baggage," it does not go beyond meeting rudimentary expectations. The soundtrack is functional with clear dialogue and some notable ambient details but lacks the depth and dynamism that an enhanced auditory experience would offer.

The Blu-ray release of "Excess Baggage" sadly underdelivers in the realm of supplemental content. The main menu offers only a Play button and a subtitle toggle, with a zoomed-in still photo that represents the best aesthetic quality on the disc. Notably, this release is part of Mill Creek's I Love the 90s series, featuring vibrant Retro VHS slipcovers that evoke nostalgia through colorful art and humorous detailing. This includes a bright yellow VHS tape, Blockbuster-themed stickers, and Siskel & Ebert quotes. While the slipcover artwork injects some charm, the lack of any real extras is disappointing.

Extras included in this disc:

• Main Menu: Only a Play button and subtitle toggle.

Alicia Silverstone's post-Clueless vehicle, "Excess Baggage," fails to fully capitalize on its promising premise and its notable star pairing. Released in 1997 and produced by Silverstone's own company, First Kiss, the film finds Silverstone as Emily Hope, an heiress who stages her own kidnapping only to have her scheme hilariously disrupted by a car thief played by Benicio del Toro. Despite this intriguing setup, the film struggles to maintain a coherent tone, falling short of being truly funny or exciting. Director Marco Brambilla, following his successful debut with "Demolition Man," seems unable to inject visual flair or dynamism into this project. The result is a movie that resides in cinematic purgatory: watchable but ultimately forgettable.

The silver lining for "Excess Baggage" is undoubtedly Benicio del Toro. His portrayal of Vincent Roche is masterful, turning what could have been a stereotypical car thief into a compelling antihero through distinct mannerisms and a nuanced performance. Unfortunately, the film does not provide an adequate backdrop to let del Toro's performance truly shine. While Alicia Silverstone delivers a decent performance as a rebellious teenager overwhelmed by wealth, her character's angst and the overarching plot simply lack the depth or engagement needed to sustain interest. The film attempts to delve into themes of escaping materialism and wrestling with personal freedom, but these ideas are never fully explored.

Midway through, "Excess Baggage" shifts from a potentially intriguing psychological study into an awkward, forced romance, detracting further from its initial promise. Del Toro and Silverstone's relationship dynamic—initially built on a bizarre blend of Stockholm Syndrome and mutual selfishness—loses credibility as it morphs into a predictable romantic subplot. This transition feels unnatural and undermines the character development established earlier in the film. Ultimately, "Excess Baggage" is a missed opportunity; its greatest assets are let down by an unfocused script and inconsistent tonality, making for an experience that's easy to watch but even easier to forget.

Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of "Excess Baggage" presents a wildly uneven experience that may disappoint avid cinephiles. While Benicio Del Toro delivers a memorable performance elevating an otherwise lackluster film, he is surrounded by a narrative submerged in mediocrity. The scriptwriting fails to inspire, and the settings do nothing to enhance the already uninspired story arcs.

Technically speaking, the Blu-ray's 1080p picture quality leaves much to be desired. The visuals fall short of the sharpness and clarity one expects from the format, resulting in a viewing experience that could be significantly improved. Meanwhile, the 5.1 lossy audio fares slightly better but is merely decent, lacking the immersive depth that could have provided some redeeming qualities amidst its visual shortcomings. The lack of supplemental materials only compounds these issues, rendering this release sadly sparse.

In conclusion, while "Excess Baggage" offers sporadic flashes of character-driven intrigue thanks to Del Toro's performance, the film overall is a middling entry in the teen movie genre. Unfortunately, Mill Creek’s Blu-ray release does little to enhance this film’s reputation, suffering from subpar audiovisual quality and a complete lack of supplementary content. For those seeking to revisit this film or discover it anew, this edition is difficult to recommend.