Life as We Know It Blu-ray Review

"Life As We Know It" benefits from an overall satisfying 1080p AVC-encoded transfer, embodying the quintessential visual traits of modern romantic comedies. Primary colors are slightly oversaturated, providing a warm and inviting palette that suits the film's tone. Complexions vary amongst the cast, with faces occasionally appearing orange due to the high color temperature. Textures and facial details, while generally decent, are often softened by a diffuse filter applied throughout the film, which creates a soft halo around bright whites and lights. This stylistic choice, though debatable in its necessity, aligns well with the genre's aesthetic trends.

The picture quality strikes a balance between sharpness and softness. Fine details are well-resolved in close-ups but can be somewhat obscured in mid-level and wide-angle shots due to the softer focus photography. Blacks are relatively deep, standing out nicely against mixed content without overpowering the scene. However, viewers may notice occasional grain and minor technical imperfections, including slight crushing, faint ringing, and rare instances of banding. Despite these issues, the transfer remains pristine and proficient overall, with minimal artifacting or noise to distract from the viewing experience.

Fans of romantic comedies will find "Life As We Know It" visually appealing, with its clean and vibrant presentation. The technical aspects—ranging from edge definition to color fidelity—are handled competently, ensuring that both light and dark scenes are rendered effectively. While the occasionally overindulgent color saturation and diffuse filter choices may seem extravagant, they ultimately enhance the film's engaging and heartfelt visual narrative. This Blu-ray release accurately captures the warm and polished look that genre enthusiasts expect, making it a noteworthy addition to any collection.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track for "Life as We Know It" offers a solid yet modest auditory experience that primarily excels in delivering clear and intelligible dialogue. Centrally focused and lucid, the dialogue ensures that every snarky quip and heartfelt conversation is perfectly prioritized. The mix achieves adequate spatial dimension through subtle ambient sounds, which broaden the sound field without overwhelming the listener. While it won't drop any jaws or rattle walls, this sound mix is thoughtfully restrained and competent, favoring precise directionality over unnecessary low-end punches.

Surround activity enriches various scenes, from crowded neighborhood cookouts to bustling sports arenas, adding to the overall liveliness of the film. Blake Neely's score moves seamlessly within the soundscape, complementing the narrative without overshadowing it. Low frequency effects (LFE) are intermittently present, mainly supporting musical sequences with weighty but non-intrusive bass. Notably, detailed audio cues such as the squishing of diapers and baby cries are rendered effectively through the rear speakers, heightening the sense of realism in busy scenes. Overall, while not demo material, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix delivers an unexpectedly engaging audio presentation that supports the film's dialogue-driven nature with aplomb.

In conclusion, Warner's lossless mix for "Life as We Know It" strikes a fine balance between clarity and restraint. Dialogue remains bright and clear throughout, ensuring that no words are lost amidst scenes filled with characteristic rom-com elements. Though dynamics are on the reserved side, they remain consistent and competent, making for a polished and coherent audio experience. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track delivers enough nuance and spatial detail to leave a lasting impression without resorting to exaggerated auditory effects.

The extras on the "Life as We Know It" Blu-ray are somewhat limited, providing around 30 minutes of content including featurettes and deleted scenes. While the supplemental material exists to delve deeper into the characters and lighten the mood with behind-the-scenes moments, it might not entirely satisfy fans looking for substantial content. Notably, Katherine Heigl's and Josh Duhamel's featurettes add a charming touch as they navigate their roles, though some deleted scenes appear inconsequential. Overall, the extras offer moderate, family-friendly insights into the film's production, though they leave viewers wanting more comprehensive material.

Extras included in this disc:

• A Survival Guide to Instant Parenting: The cast shares some amusing parenting advice.
• Katherine Heigl: Becoming the Best Mom Ever: Heigl works through challenges to make her character a believable overnight mom.
• Josh Duhamel: The Triplet Tamer: Duhamel charms his three little co-stars.
• Deleted Scenes: A series of hit-or-miss deleted and extended scenes.

"Life as We Know It," directed by Greg Berlanti, tells the story of Holly (Katherine Heigl) and Messer (Josh Duhamel), an unlikely duo thrust into unexpected parenthood. After a disastrous first date, the two find common ground only in their goddaughter Sophie. Tragedy strikes, and they're named as Sophie's legal guardians, despite their obvious incompatibility and lack of awareness about the arrangement. This unlikely setup is the film's central premise, but it struggles to maintain credibility as the narrative unfolds, straining audiences' suspension of disbelief.

While the plot's implausibility is a significant hurdle, the film manages some redeeming qualities. Holly and Messer must cohabit and juggle their newfound parental responsibilities with their pre-existing lives, which provides a framework for both comedic moments and heartfelt interactions. Unfortunately, the film adheres rigidly to romantic comedy tropes. From the predictable transformation of hatred to affection to the cliché airport chase scene, the plot progresses predictably. This lack of originality dilutes any genuine emotional impact and leaves the viewer anticipating each narrative beat.

Character performances are varied; Duhamel delivers a believable portrayal despite the script's limitations, while Heigl oscillates between extremes, leaving her character less likable. The screenplay, marred by clichés and redundant dialogue, fails to offer depth or fresh perspectives. Even endearing moments with Sophie often feel contrived. The screenplay by Ian Deitchman and Kristin Rusk Robinson does not allow much flexibility for the actors, resulting in fragmented scenes that fail to create a cohesive narrative. Despite occasional chuckles and sweet instances, "Life as We Know It" falters under its formulaic structure and far-fetched premise, making it an overly familiar and somewhat cumbersome addition to the rom-com genre.

"Life as We Know It" offers viewers a fairly formulaic romantic comedy that struggles with believability. Duhamel and Heigl's performances are well-intentioned but ultimately can't overcome the initial awkwardness and plot contrivances. The premise, which involves two incompatible individuals being tasked with raising a child as stated in a will, lacks realism and can be challenging to accept. That said, if one can overlook these flaws, the film does manage to deliver sporadic laughs and emotional beats typical of the genre.

The Blu-ray release significantly enhances the experience with an impressive AV presentation. The video quality is slightly above average, delivering visually satisfactory results without major flaws or distractions. On the audio side, there is a surprising richness that enhances the overall viewing experience. Unfortunately, the special features don't add much value, being primarily promo-like in nature, providing minimal additional insight or engagement for the viewer.

In conclusion, "Life as We Know It" may not break any new ground in the rom-com category and is best suited as a one-time rental for genre enthusiasts. It's best enjoyed when expectations are tempered, particularly regarding its somewhat implausible plot. Nevertheless, the Blu-ray edition ensures a technically strong presentation that may make this film worth a watch for those seeking light-hearted entertainment.