UHF 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 91
from 6 reviewers
Review Date:
UHF’s 4K UHD Blu-ray release boasts a phenomenal restoration with outstanding clarity and immersive audio, making it a must-own for fans of zany, cult comedy.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
DTS-HD MA
Video: 93
UHF's new 4K UHD release from Shout! Studios, featuring a 2160p HEVC encode, boasts significant improvements with Dolby Vision and HDR10 color grading, providing sharper detail, better color stability, and a more film-like presentation. The Dolby Vision enhances color reproduction and contrast, overcoming previous Blu-ray limitations.
Audio: 90
UHF's 4K UHD Blu-ray presents an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, delivering crisp dialogue and lively music reproduction, though lacking the spatial dynamics of a 5.1 or Dolby Atmos mix. The upgrade from LPCM to DTS-HD is nominal, but retains clarity and dynamic range, enhancing the viewing experience.
Extra: 87
The 4K UHD Blu-ray combo pack of 'UHF' impressively consolidates all previous extras, including the standout audio commentary with Al Yankovic and director Jay Levey, vintage behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes with Al’s humorous insights, a 51-minute Comic-Con panel, and comprehensive galleries, all while enhancing the film with a new 4K scan.
Movie: 90
UHF combines Weird Al's zany humor, parodies, and charming performances to create a cult classic comedy, enhanced by Michael Richards' rowdy role and Kevin McCarthy's villainy. Technically, the 4K UHD restoration shines with excellent editing, cinematography, and an entertaining audio commentary.
Video: 93
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "UHF," released by Shout! Studios, features a remarkable new 4K remaster from the original 35mm camera negative. This meticulous restoration is presented in native 2160p HEVC/H.265 in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and benefits from high dynamic range (HDR10) and Dolby Vision. The updated image offers incredible detail and clarity, surpassing previous Blu-ray versions, with the enhanced color palette and refined textural details being most notable. The film's primary colors are now more controlled, avoiding the overly bright and saturated look of earlier Blu-rays, particularly in reds, greens, and blues.
This restoration shines in its subtle improvements, with a sharp, detailed presentation that preserves a fine sheen of film grain without becoming obtrusive. The HDR grades elevate the color contrast and depth of the image significantly, making the overall viewing experience immersive. Key scenes, like the opening Indiana Jones parody and various vibrant set pieces, reveal a rich spectrum of hues that were less discernible in lower-resolution formats. Deep black levels contribute to an impressive visual fidelity, though some minor speckles and grain are retained, adding to the nostalgic character without detracting from the viewing experience.
Ultimately, this 4K UHD release revitalizes "UHF" with a crisp, clean presentation that breathes new life into this classic comedy. The Dolby Vision and HDR10 implementations enhance colors and contrast beautifully, while the high bit-rate ensures depth and detail are consistently maintained throughout the film's runtime. This edition represents the best visual rendition of "UHF" to date, capturing minute details from Weird Al's iconic hair to the various eccentric props and set designs. Fans of the film will undoubtedly appreciate this superior visual upgrade.
Audio: 90
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "UHF" retains the film's original audio design, presented in English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (24-bit high-resolution). This lossless, high-resolution audio track offers clear, detailed dialogue reproduction and well-rounded musical scores, enhancing the overall viewing experience. While there hasn't been an upgrade to a 5.1 or Dolby Atmos mix, the 2.0 stereo track masterfully preserves the intended matrixed Dolby Stereo theatrical mix. Audiophiles will appreciate that the lossless encoding provides a superior audio experience compared to compressed formats used by streaming services.
Despite the lack of a multi-channel audio option, the DTS-HD stereo presentation demonstrates remarkable dynamic range and impressive fidelity. The dialogue remains crisp and clarified throughout, with no detectable pops, thumps, or distortions. Music cues animate the sound field effectively, particularly notable during Al's "Money for Nothing"/"Beverly Hillbillies" parody. Sound effects are lively and well-placed—shots like the faux Spatula City commercials and Stanley’s boisterous kids’ show notably benefit from a broader stereophonic exploitation. Although fidelity remains limited by the film’s low-budget origins, this 2.0 track competently balances audio elements, never letting dialogue get overshadowed by sound effects or music.
In summary, this DTS-HD MA 2.0 track presents a polished and enjoyable listening experience. While it may fall short of today's surround sound standards, it stays true to the film’s original audio intent, making for an immersive yet respectful auditory representation.
Extra: 87
The extras included in the 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "UHF" effectively blend humor and behind-the-scenes insights that resonate well with fans of the cult classic film. Essential highlights include audio commentary by “Weird” Al Yankovic and director Jay Levey, which delivers endless trivia and engaging banter. The inclusion of Retrospective Panel From San Diego Comic-Con 2014 offers deeper insights into Weird Al's career, while the vintage behind-the-scenes footage serves as a nostalgic piece complementing the film's unique charm. Deleted scenes and the music video for "UHF" add additional layers of enjoyment. Still galleries and promotional materials further enrich the overall experience, making this set a comprehensive package for both new and longtime fans.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary: Al Yankovic and Director Jay Levey provide fun insights.
- Retrospective Panel From SDCC 2014: In-depth discussion on Yankovic's career.
- Deleted Scenes: Includes commentary by Al.
- Behind-The-Scenes Footage: Vintage making-of featurette.
- Music Video: Full "UHF" music video.
- Production Stills: Extensive gallery with 182 photos.
- Poster Gallery: Contains 24 slides of promotional materials.
- Teaser Trailer: Original teaser trailer.
- Theatrical Trailer: Official movie trailer.
- Easter Eggs: Hidden content featuring rare promotional footage.
Movie: 90
"UHF," Weird Al Yankovic's debut feature film, presents a unique blend of absurd comedy and parodic genius. The plot centers on George Newman (Weird Al), an imaginative drifter, who along with his friend Bob (David Bowe), takes over a failing UHF TV station inherited from his uncle. The station's fortunes turn around when their janitor Stanley Spadowski (Michael Richards) unintentionally creates a hit children's show. Their rise attracts the ire of the villainous R.J. Fletcher (Kevin McCarthy), head of a competing network. The film is a patchwork of TV show and movie parodies, making it an enjoyable, albeit chaotic, satire of television culture.
Weird Al brings his characteristic comic style to the screen, providing light-hearted humor through numerous sketches and zany characters. His portrayal of George showcases his skill in physical comedy and parody, evident in standout sequences spoofing "Indiana Jones" and "Rambo." Equally memorable is Michael Richards whose portrayal of Stanley Spadowski adds an earnest eccentricity that bolsters the film's appeal. Kevin McCarthy shines as the melodramatic villain, amplifying the comedic stakes with his exaggerated performance.
From a technical perspective, the film benefits from its creative cinematography by David Lewis, which artfully captures the blend of the ordinary and the outlandish. The score by John Du Prez enhances the film’s comedic ambiance. Moreover, the editing under Dennis M. O'Connor ensures a steady comedy rhythm without laborious pacing. Overall, "UHF" transcends its slapstick roots, offering inventive parodies and endearing performances, thus securing its status as a cult classic comedy over the past 35 years.
Total: 91
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "UHF" beautifully brings Weird Al Yankovic's cult classic into the modern era with a visual and auditory upgrade that fans will greatly appreciate. The meticulous 4K scan from the original camera negative results in incredible clarity and detail, offering a significant improvement over previous releases. This new edition’s restoration efforts give the film a fresh look, enhancing its quirky and vibrant aesthetic. The DTS-HD MA 2.0 audio track remains immersive, ensuring that every joke and musical number resonates with the intended impact.
This release doesn’t just stop at picture and sound quality, but also offers a wealth of supplementary material that enriches the viewing experience. Vintage extras, alongside new bonus features, provide abundant entertainment value, including an invaluable audio commentary from Al and friends. The remastered Blu-ray, included in this combo pack, offers a more accessible upgrade path for fans wishing to step up from the previous 25th Anniversary edition.
"Weird Al" Yankovic’s "UHF" has stood the test of time as an offbeat comedy gem from the '80s, continuing to charm with its unique brand of irreverent humor. The film’s zany, sketch-comedy style remains as entertaining now as it was in its original release. This lovingly produced 4K UHD package by Shout! Studios is a must-have for dedicated fans of "Weird Al" and lovers of bizarre, memorable comedies.
Weird Al has always been this incredibly sweet and family-friendly character for as long as I can remember. Growing up on his music, it was clear that this wasn’t a guy you were going to see in the news getting drunk and smashing his guitar over a fan’s head or really hear any controversy about. He’s always been this enthusiastic nerd with a love for comedy, and it really shows here with the shoe-string budgeted film that he created all the way back in 1989. It’s cute, family-friendly (despite a VERY light PG-13 rating), and a lot of fun if you’re into the Dr. Demento/Weird Al style of comedy. The 4K UHD looks really nice and thankfully Shout! Studios has put the new remastered Blu-ray in the combo pack as well for those of us who want to upgrade the 25th Anniversary Blu-ray from a decade ago. All in all, a fun film and a good watch for those of us who look good old “Weird” Al.
Technical Specifications:
- Starring: Weird Al Yankovic, Victoria Jackson, Charles Holloway, Michael Richards, Fran Drescher
- Directed by: Jay Levy
- Written by: Weird Al Yankovic, Jay Levy, Charles Holloway
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 HEVC
- Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 2.0
- Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
- Studio: Shout! Studios
- Rated: PG-13
- Runtime: 94 Minutes
- Blu-ray Release Date: July 2nd, 2024
Recommendation: Fun Watch
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 80
There’s still some splotches and speckles here and there, but overall this 4K UHD is a good improvement over the new Blu-ray, let alone the decade old Blu-ray that came from an older scan....
Audio: 80
I sadly don’t have the 2014 disc in hand to compare against, but I would hazard a weeks pay that the only Shout!...
Extras: 60
Disc One - 4K UHD • Audio Commentary with "Weird Al" Yankovic and director Jay Levey Disc Two - Blu-ray • Retrospective Panel From San Diego Comic-Con 2014 •...
Movie: 80
That is until they find magic in the form of Stanley Spadowski (Michael Richards, just as he was starting on Seinfeld ), a slightly “touched” janitor who just so happens to turn George’s failing kid’s...
Total: 80
He’s always been this enthusiastic nerd with a love for comedy, and it really shows here with the shoe string budgeted film that he created all the way back in 1989....
Blu-ray.com review by Neil LumbardRead review here
Video: 100
The comedy classic has never looked better before and this 4K restoration is easily the best the film has ever looked (likely surpassing the original theatrical presentation, too)....
Audio: 90
The lossless, high-resolution audio presentation on the release adds a lot to the viewing experience....
Extras: 80
The 4K UHD and Blu-ray combo pack includes the same collectors edition bonus features as previously released....
Movie: 100
The comedy routine of Michael Richards is fantastic here and he is a great and integral supporting player in the cult classic status of UHF....
Total: 90
The lossless audio quality is also immersive and a huge part of the reason to own this fantastic release....
The Digital Bits review by Tim SalmonsRead review here
Video: 95
UHF has many lower resolution visuals built into it, including late-80s computer animation, but it’s nonetheless a sharp and organic picture with bitrates than rise above 80Mbps quite often, allowing for...
Audio: 95
Sonically, the difference is nil as the matrixed Dolby Stereo theatrical mix (which is likely the source for both tracks) holds up beautifully....
Extras: 90
Still missing in action from the 2003 MGM DVD release is an introduction by “Weird” Al, as well as the Easter Eggs (two additional deleted scenes, a snippet of Michael Richards from the UHF promo within...
Movie: 85
Although it eventually made its budget back with a tiny bit to spare, “Weird” Al Yankovic’s zany spoof comedy UHF seemed destined to be a cult movie anyway, even if it hadn’t been released during that...
Total: 91
By default, it’s an imperfect movie, but it’s a terrifically insane and wonderful “Weird” Al movie, and that’s more than enough....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 80
Dolby Vision doesn’t add much, and if anything, it barely appears to enhance much in the way of brightness (an exception for the final fireworks display aside)....
Audio: 60
DTS-HD stereo shows off a touch, offering a pleasant spread of audio to the sides with frequency....
Extras: 60
A behind-the-scenes feature is vintage, yet like the film itself, has actually matured into a strong parody of self-congratulatory extras....
Movie: 80
“Through the glaze of weirdness, UHF becomes a cult hit in the sense that it applies to a definitive cult audience – too messy for mainstream, too soft for the hardcore, and utterly baffling to most everyone...
Total: 70
UHF is wildly irreverent, ridiculous, and absurd in the ways that define some of the greats like Airplane....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
Black levels are inky and the skin tones are more natural this time around, however, there is still a warm quality to the faces....
Audio: 80
The music video in the film and all of the silly sound effects could have been amplified with a modern audio design....
Extras: 80
There are no new bonus features for 2024 here, however, all of the previous extras have been imported over to the Blu-ray Disc in this set, including the BEST audio commentary track on a Disc from Weird...
Movie: 80
The only possibly offensive aspect may be the silly over-the-top quick shots of violence like Conan the Librarian using his massive broadsword to slice a guy in half for returning a book after its due...
Total: 80
The wonderful vintage extras are all worth watching, especially the audio commentary from Al and friends....
Home Theater Forum review by Todd ErwinRead review here
Video: 90
There is an improvement in the image overall, allowing for a slightly more film-like presentation....
Audio: 70
Dialogue is directed mostly to the center channel when played back in Dolby Surround or DTS: Neuro X modes, never getting lost in the sound effects or music....
Extras: 70
Easter Egg(s) (1080p; 0:32): The cover art lists Easter Eggs, but I was only able to find one – promotional footage of Al hard at work in the editing room cutting the movie together that was one of the...
Movie: 70
George and Bob arrive at the station to find it on the brink of bankruptcy, and begin to come up with their own original programming, such as Wheel of Fish, Secrets of the Universe, and hands over the...
Total: 80
There is a slight improvement in picture quality on both the UHD and Blu-ray discs over the older 25th Anniversary Blu-ray release from Shout ten years ago (which may have been sourced from the HD master...
Director: Jay Levey
Actors: 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy
PlotGeorge Newman, a daydreamer with a knack for losing jobs, is given the chance to manage a failing UHF television station, Channel 62, by his uncle. Initially, George and his friend Bob struggle to find an audience, and the station appears destined for bankruptcy. However, things take a turn when George stumbles upon the idea for an unconventional children's show called "Uncle Nutzy's Clubhouse," starring himself as the zany host. His eccentric and absurd style soon begins to attract a loyal following. Meanwhile, George's hyperactive janitor, Stanley Spadowski, also becomes a surprise hit with his own show, "Stanley Spadowski's Clubhouse," where his earnest and goofy antics endear him to viewers of all ages.
As Channel 62's popularity skyrockets, it quickly becomes a threat to the ratings of the more established and unscrupulous rival station run by R.J. Fletcher. Determined to crush the competition, Fletcher employs various underhanded tactics to sabotage Channel 62's success. In the face of these challenges, George and his ragtag team of misfits must band together to create original programming and save their station from financial ruin. The battle for survival against corporate greed and the odds sets the stage for a comedic adventure filled with eccentric characters and imaginative parodies.
Writers: 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Jay Levey, Charles Holloway
Release Date: 21 Jul 1989
Runtime: 97 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States
Language: English