Super Troopers 2 Blu-ray Review

"Super Troopers 2" arrives on Blu-ray with a commendable AVC encoded 1080p transfer in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, courtesy of 20th Century Fox. Captured using Arri Alexa cameras, the film showcases a sleek and smooth appearance typical of these digital captures. Despite the inherent flatness in some scenes, particularly in dimly lit interiors, the overall image quality remains impressive. The warm, natural color palette is well-represented, with excellent saturation and brightness. Noteworthy is the vibrant pop of colors exhibited by Mounties' uniforms and body paint. Detail levels are meticulously preserved, highlighting textures such as mustachioed whiskers and costume fabric. However, some minor shortcomings, like softness in certain indoor scenes and occasional color bleeding in strobe-heavy sequences, do not detract significantly from the viewing experience.

The film benefits substantially from its outdoor sequences, which are where the transfer truly excels. The natural settings captured in these scenes provide a depth of field that enhances spacing and overall visibility. Black levels are handled expertly, maintaining strong shadows without noticeable crush, thus benefiting the numerous outdoor scenes greatly. The high detail in facial textures and other close-ups adds to the immersive quality of the film, ensuring that every visual nuance is crisply displayed. While the use of diffusion filters and some less convincing special effects are evident, these elements do little to undermine the transfer’s general efficacy. The result is a clean disc that highlights Broken Lizard's continually improving cinematographic efforts, making it a worthwhile addition for fans despite its minor imperfections.

"Super Troopers 2" comes equipped with a well-executed DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The mix is predominantly front-heavy, focusing primarily on crisp dialogue placement and subtle environmental soundscapes. Vocal clarity is paramount and consistently clear, ensuring that all interactions are easily understood amidst the lively sound effects. While the majority of the surround activity derives from ambient environmental sounds, there are notable moments where the mix dynamically utilizes directional soundscapes, such as in the raucous club and tour bus scenes. Furthermore, the presence of environmental ambiance in most scenes provides a natural sound stage.

The low-frequency effects (LFE) channel is mildly used throughout the film but offers weight in key sequences, such as the police takedowns and an unexpected explosive moment during a critical scene. The balance between the low-end bass and other sound elements is well managed, contributing to an immersive auditory experience without overwhelming the listener. Dynamics are handled commendably well, placing significant emphasis on vocal fidelity and maintaining consistent volume levels across various scenes. Additionally, supplemental audio options include an English Descriptive Audio 5.1 track and French and Spanish Dolby Digital choices, along with subtitles in multiple languages, allowing for wide accessibility.

In summary, this 5.1 lossless track doesn't venture into overly dramatic soundscapes but provides an engaging and effective audio experience that supports the comedic nature of the film. The nuanced sound design ensures that dialogue remains front and center while sporadic action sequences are highlighted effectively. While it may not push the boundaries of home theater audio, it delivers exactly what is expected with professionalism and technical quality befitting a superior Blu-ray release.

The Blu-ray extras for "Super Troopers 2" present a lively and entertaining package that complements the comedic spirit of the film. The "Making Super Troopers 2" featurette offers an engaging and in-depth behind-the-scenes look at the production, filled with amusing moments and insightful documentation of the Indiegogo campaign that brought the sequel to life. This nearly 40-minute documentary is both informative and entertaining, highlighting the enthusiasm of the cast and crew. In addition, the "Kevin Heffernan: Method Actor" segment is a short but hilarious piece, capturing the actor’s humorous improvisations. The extended and deleted scenes provide fans with additional laughs while preserving authenticity with watermarked timestamps. Including theatrical trailers rounds off a well-curated set of extras, ideal for avid fans and collectors alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making Super Troopers 2: A hilarious and informative behind-the-scenes featurette documenting the film's production and crowdfunding campaign.
• Extended & Deleted Scenes: Additional scenes with watermarked timestamps.
• Kevin Heffernan: Method Actor: A brief, humorous featurette showcasing Heffernan's comedic talents.
• Theatrical Trailers: Promotional trailers for the movie.

"Super Troopers 2" marks the long-awaited return of the Vermont Highway Patrol, reprising their antics 17 years after the cult sensation of 2001. Broken Lizard, the comedy troupe behind the film, faced numerous obstacles, including resorting to crowdfunding, to bring this sequel to life. Despite such fervent efforts, the humor is a mixed bag. The vignette-style comedy closely mirrors that of the original, yet exhibits a more uneven distribution of successful jokes. Comedic luminaries like Rob Lowe, Damon Wayans Jr., and Fred Savage contribute amusing cameos, enhancing the film's buoyant atmosphere. However, many jokes land flatly, leading to a patchwork of effective and ineffective skits.

The plot's skeletal structure revolves around a quirky U.S.-Canada border dispute, allowing the team to regain their badges and wreak havoc. The film leverages broad stereotypes and cartoonish characterizations to fuel its humor, especially in the Canadian versus American gags. Rob Lowe stands out as Guy LeFranc, anchoring many scenes with his exaggerated portrayal. However, the laughs often hinge on one's receptiveness to juvenile and sophomoric humor. While the film provides several solid punchlines and set pieces, it struggles with pacing and consistency.

With an evident passion project for Broken Lizard, "Super Troopers 2" maintains a semblance of congeniality throughout its run. The camaraderie among the cast is palpable, translating into a natural, almost seamless reprise of their iconic roles. For fans willing to forgive its flaws and embrace its erratic humor, there are enough moments of genuine hilarity to validate a viewing. However, for others, its ephemeral humor might leave much to be desired. Overall, it serves as a testament to the enduring appeal of characters who haven't lost their knack for irreverent pranks and crude banter.

"Super Troopers 2" on Blu-ray offers a mixed bag of comedic entertainment and technical quality that is likely to appeal to fans of the original cult classic. Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, who also stars alongside Kevin Hefferman, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, and Rob Lowe, the film brings back the beloved characters with dynamic, albeit inconsistent, humor. The movie employs a 1.85:1 AVC aspect ratio and features an audio mix of English DTS-HD MA 5.1, plus Spanish and French DD 5.1, ensuring an engaging audio-visual experience supported by clear English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles.

Despite its scattered comedic punchlines and occasional reliance on over-the-top humor, "Super Troopers 2" does deliver entertaining moments and effective sight gags. The chemistry among the cast is palpable, making the film’s banter and improvised sequences enjoyable. However, the comedic pacing suffers from a non-uniform delivery, resulting in some missed opportunities for heightened hilarity. On the technical side, the Blu-ray presentation is solid with a respectable video transfer and good audio quality, even if the supplement package is somewhat lean.

The Blu-ray edition includes a commendable array of extras such as 40 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage detailing everything from production insights to the Indiegogo campaign that facilitated the film’s creation. Additionally, viewers are treated to extended and deleted scenes, a brief interview segment titled "Kevin Heffernan: Method Actor," theatrical trailers, and a DVD copy of the film.

In conclusion, "Super Troopers 2" succeeds in capturing enough of the original's charm and energy to satisfy its hardcore fans. Although it may not reach the comedic heights of its predecessor, it remains a decent comedy for a fun viewing experience. The Blu-ray’s strong technical merits and additional content further enhance its value, making it worth checking out despite its flaws.