And So It Goes Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "And So It Goes" by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment comes with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. While the overall quality is competent, certain scenes appear surprisingly soft, even in close-ups, and the colors fall short of being vivid or impactful. There's notable fine detail visible in elements like the texture of Douglas' neck and the intricate pattern of his suit jacket. However, several scenes exhibit a soft yellow tint, seemingly ungraded, that reduces the clarity of fine detail. Despite this, the contrast remains strong and there are no evident digital interference or compression artifacts.

Shot digitally on Arri equipment, "And So It Goes" displays a marked difference between well-lit outdoor scenes and dimly lit environments. Bright locations, such as outdoor scenes and the realty office where Douglas’ character works, showcase vibrant colors and fine detail. Conversely, darker settings, including the clubs where Diane Keaton's character performs, tend to look softer. Black levels in these darker scenes are sufficiently robust to maintain object distinction, yet the clarity does drop slightly. Fortunately, the majority of the film unfolds in brighter settings, making it an overall visually appealing transfer. This Blu-ray release has been meticulously handled with no significant technical flaws like banding or aliasing, aside from occasional softness in specific scenes.

Overall, minor issues with color vibrancy and variable sharpness notwithstanding, "And So It Goes" offers a satisfactory viewing experience on Blu-ray.

The audio presentation of the Blu Ray for "And So It Goes" is delivered through a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that offers a solid and clear listening experience. The soundtrack plays a crucial role here, with both source cues and Diane Keaton's performances in her lounge act making full use of the surround capabilities. The track excels in delivering ambient environmental effects with a high degree of clarity and distinction, ensuring a pleasant audio experience. Dialogue is occasionally directional, providing a dynamic and engaging soundscape. Fidelity is exceptionally handled with no glitches, dropouts, or issues of any kind.

While this might not be the heavy-action audio track that audiophiles use to showcase their home theater capabilities, it performs its intended function admirably within this primarily talking comedy/drama genre. Rear speakers come into play subtly, most notably during the club scenes, enhancing the immersive experience without being overly prominent. All elements are well-layered; the separation of sounds is very noticeable, offering an enjoyably balanced audio environment. Additionally, subtitles are available in English SDH, Spanish, and French for accessibility.

The Blu-ray of "And So It Goes" features a modest selection of extras that enhance the viewing experience by providing additional context and promotional material for the film. The highlight is the theatrical trailer, presented in HD, which effectively emphasizes the comedic aspects of the movie more than the drama. Additionally, viewers can explore a Sneak Peaks section that includes an array of promotional trailers for other films, providing a broader scope of contemporary cinema offerings. Offered in high-definition, these bonus materials are professionally curated to complement the primary content without overwhelming the viewer.

Extras included in this disc:

Theatrical Trailer: The original theatrical trailer for 'And So It Goes', emphasizing the comedic aspects of the movie over the drama.

Sneak Peaks: Includes trailers for 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Jingle All The Way 2', and 'The Best of Me', along with a Digital HD ad.

"And So It Goes," directed by Rob Reiner, stars Michael Douglas as Oren Little, a grieving realtor living in a pricey Connecticut suburb, and Diane Keaton as his neighbor Leah. The movie largely banks on the leading duo's star power to carry an otherwise uninspired and predictable script penned by Mark Andrus. Oren, who is trying to sell his oversized mansion while nursing his grief over his late wife, ends up in a series of smaller apartments, where he is intensely disliked by his neighbors. Leah, a wannabe lounge singer dealing with her own grief, becomes an unwitting caretaker when Oren’s estranged son leaves his young daughter Sarah in Oren’s care before heading to jail.

The narrative follows a rather formulaic path, providing few surprises for seasoned moviegoers. The screenplay leans heavily on clichéd plot points and predictable arcs. Douglas and Keaton find themselves navigating through maudlin and often forced emotional beats, experiencing misadventures that ultimately lead them to predictable romantic resolutions. While the film includes attempts at raucous comedy, these moments often fall flat, with the dramatic elements providing occasional respite.

Despite these shortcomings, the performances of Douglas and Keaton offer glimmers of authenticity. Their ability to breathe life into even the most mundane scenes slightly elevates the material above mediocrity. A standout scene features a heated exchange about the impacts of Oren’s wife’s illness, lending a fleeting moment of genuine emotional depth. Unfortunately, these instances are sporadic and overshadowed by unnecessary subplots and an overall lack of nuance. While "And So It Goes" might serve as light entertainment for fans of the two lead actors, it ultimately fails to recapture the magic of Reiner or Andrus’ earlier work.

"And So It Goes" features Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton in a formulaic romantic comedy that struggles to rise above mediocrity. Despite the efforts of its leads, the film falters due to uninspired writing and lackluster direction from Rob Reiner. The narrative is predictable and rarely engages, failing to spark either laughter or emotional resonance. While Douglas and Keaton share a few moments of chemistry, they are largely confined by a script that does little to leverage their talents.

The technical merits of the Blu-ray release are commendable, with strong audio and video quality that provide a pleasant viewing experience. However, these attributes do not compensate for the film's overall lackluster execution. Reiner's direction, coupled with a pedestrian screenplay, results in a movie that feels more like a routine exercise than an exciting creative endeavor.

In conclusion, "And So It Goes" is a tepid romantic comedy saved only by the charm of its leading actors. While fans of Douglas and Keaton might find enough here to justify a rental, general audiences may be left disappointed by the uninspired story and average direction. Despite its technical proficiency, the film does not offer enough substance to warrant a strong recommendation.