Holmes & Watson Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Holmes & Watson" showcases a commendable video encode, proving to be one of the strongest elements of this release. Shot with Arri Alexa digital cameras and rendered in an unverified digital intermediate, the 1080p AVC encoded transfer maintains crisp, stable sharpness throughout its 2.39:1 framed presentation. Period details are lavishly revealed, from the intricacies of Victorian costumes to the textured set pieces that adorn Holmes' world. The film's night scenes feature particularly deep and inky blacks, while whites remain clean and pure.

Color tones provide a burnished, mahogany look evocative of the 1800s, meshing well with the visual setting. There's a notable depiction of fine detail in facial features and clothing textures, such as the fibers on Holmes’ jacket or the lines in John C. Reilly’s face. Additionally, Sony’s transfer ensures that colors are richly saturated and contrast is perfectly balanced, with no signs of video-related artifacts. Highlights include impeccably clear and sharp images of Holmes’ flat's deep red walls and the vibrant uniforms of the Queen's royal guards.

While the overall picture quality is robust, occasional scenes reveal minor softness, a negligible issue that doesn’t significantly detract from the overall viewing experience. The encoded Blu-ray disc does an exceptional job at presenting Holmes & Watson with high resolution and resplendent textures, where each piece of Victorian attire and each architectural detail around London is brought to life with engaging clarity. This high-quality visual presentation aligns perfectly with the film's source material, making it a first-class release from Sony.

The audio presentation of "Holmes & Watson" on Blu-ray is competently delivered through a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, fitting well with the film's modest sound demands. The primary focus is on the front channels, particularly the center speaker, where dialogue is clear and well-balanced, despite Ferrell's occasional unintelligible accent. While the track doesn't frequently employ wide-ranging surround sound, it adeptly uses the rear channels during specific action sequences. For example, the courtroom gunfire scene features bullets whizzing directionally across the room, and environmental sounds like the clatter of horse hooves on cobblestones provide solid ambient detail.

The low-frequency elements (LFE) are primarily understated but become more pronounced during high-energy scenes such as the boxing matches and the significant explosion near the film's conclusion. Sound effects like churning, clanking gears in the finale are well-defined and give a satisfying sense of mechanical depth. The light score is nicely detailed with front-side stretch and occasional surround support, enhancing the overall listening experience without being overbearing. Supplemental tracks include a French lossless 5.1 mix and a lossy Spanish 5.1 track, along with English, English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles, making the audio presentation accessible for a wider audience.

Overall, while "Holmes & Watson" does not heavily leverage its sound design to create an overwhelmingly immersive experience, the DTS-HD Master Audio track does its job efficiently. The audio quality maintains clarity and coherence, ensuring dialogue remains front and center without being overshadowed by occasional bursts of action. This is a solid mix typical for comedy films, providing an engaging listening experience appropriate to the movie’s stylistic needs.

The Blu-Ray release of "Holmes & Watson" includes a range of supplemental features that provide additional context and entertainment beyond the film itself. Key among these is the "Line-O-Rama," which showcases the actors' improvisational skills by delivering alternate lines in various scenes. The "Will and John: Together Again" featurette highlights the comedic chemistry between Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly through set antics and reminiscences. "Seriously Absurd: The Cast" dives into the cast's commitment to their roles despite the inherent silliness, featuring Rebecca Hall, Lauren Lapkus, Ralph Fiennes, and Billy Zane. Finally, "Mrs. Hudson's Men" offers a brief but humorous look at Mrs. Hudson's influence over some famous historical figures. Additionally, over an hour of deleted and extended scenes provide further insights and laughs.

Extras included in this disc:

• Line-O-Rama: Watch improv come alive as the actors embrace the Sherlock Holmes canon.
• Deleted Scenes
  • I Seem to Have Forgotten My Hat
  • Did You Hear the Good News
  • Mrs. Hudson's Lovers
  • You Caught Me in A Micro Nap
  • Sherlock In Love
  • Carriage Song
  • Extend Autopsy
  • Carriage Ride
  • Feces Merchant
  • He's Got One Arm for God Sakes, Catch Him
  • That Room Is A Sanctuary
  • Reading My Diary?
  • We're Here to Seduce
  • Is It an Eyepatch?
  • The Killer's Next Move Is Elementary
  • That's Not the First A*** You've Seen Today
  • I'm Going to Kill the Queen
  • Calling the Hive to Battle
• Will and John: Together Again: Nearly Step Brothers, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly possess an incredible comedic chemistry. Watch their antics on the set.
• Seriously Absurd: The Cast: Serious about their craft, Rebecca Hall, Lauren Lapkus, Ralph Fiennes, and Billy Zane attempt to keep straight faces working on a set with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly.
• Mrs. Hudson’s Men: The world's foremost artists, scientists, and authors could not resist the allure of Mrs. Hudson.

"Holmes & Watson," the latest collaboration between Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, ventures into the territory of parody, yet finds itself alarmingly out of place. Set in 1800s England, the plot sees Sherlock Holmes (Ferrell) and his partner, Dr. Watson (Reilly), attempting to thwart a murder plot against Queen Victoria after a body drops out of a surprise cake. Despite the promising premise, the film fails to capitalize on any potential comedic value. From the X-Men-style origin segment involving a young Holmes to the convoluted narrative that sprawls aimlessly, the story lacks coherence and humor. The portrayal of Holmes as a bumbling detective suppresses any possibility of genuine engagement from the audience.

The humor in "Holmes & Watson" is notably disappointing. The gags fall flat, and the movie lacks any of the clever wit or sharpness needed to redeem it. Ferrell and Reilly, despite their seasoned comedic partnership, struggle to breathe life into weak and poorly timed jokes. Even brief moments that elicit chuckles, such as an absurd scene where Watson is fooled by Holmes' makeshift disguise, are few and far between. Attempts at contemporary humor, with misplaced anachronisms and crass parodies of modern references, further undermine the film's already threadbare narrative.

On a technical note, the film does achieve a semblance of success in its production design. The recreation of 221B Baker Street and other period sets are visually appealing, and costume design aligns well with the era—though occasionally marred by out-of-place modern touches. Digital backgrounds seamlessly integrate into scenes, providing a visually cohesive backdrop. However, these elements do little to rescue "Holmes & Watson" from being an uninventive and tedious viewing experience that ultimately fails to live up to the legacy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic characters.

“Holmes & Watson” is a notable misfire, relying excessively on its leads' comedic reputation without delivering a coherent plot or engaging humor. The film’s structure is disjointed, with gags that neither blend into the story nor contribute significantly to character development. Despite Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly's commendable attempts to elevate the script through their dynamic on-screen chemistry, their efforts fall short. The humor often feels forced and lacks the sharp wit that one would expect from a parody of this caliber.

For home theater enthusiasts, Sony's Blu-ray release salvages some aspects through technical excellence. The video quality is exemplary with a crisp 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio, capturing details with stunning clarity. Paired with an impressive DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track, the Blu-ray ensures that every line and sound effect is delivered with precision. The supplemental features, surprisingly, provide a layer of entertainment that eclipses the film, offering behind-the-scenes content that fans of Ferrell and Reilly might find amusing.

As you can tell, I wasn’t a wild fan of "Holmes & Watson". The film was a cinematic dud from the get-go, and the producers seemed to know it simply due to the fact that they didn’t invite the press to go see its opening like most films. Combine that with a nonexistent marketing budget and the tepid audience reactions, you can deduce without the need for Sherlock Holmes himself that this is a stinker of epic proportions. Sony’s Blu-ray is quite nice though, with stunning video and great audio (which Sony is known for), and a moderate display of extras that are actually funnier than the movie itself. Personally, unless you’re a glutton for punishment, this is an abomination that really should be skipped unless you LIKE being in pain. Run in terror from this one.