Hoodwinked! Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "Hoodwinked!" offers a unique visual experience, aligning with its modest animation resources. Utilizing an AVC MPEG-4 encode at 1080i resolution (1.85:1), the transfer provides viewers with a sharp and clear image. Despite being delivered in 1080i rather than the more common 1080p, the image is wonderfully sharp with no significant compression issues, although intermittent combing artifacts can be observed, especially during rapid motion sequences. The animation style, while not state-of-the-art, features ample clarity and detail. The color palette is richly saturated and vivid, enhancing the fairy-tale aesthetic. However, there are noticeable issues, such as banding and shimmer on fur textures.

Characters and objects have a certain plastic or rubbery appearance, often lacking in refined texture details. This, combined with stiff character movements and simplistic background designs, gives the film an almost video game-like quality which some might find charmingly unique, though others could see it as rudimentary. The film's lower budget is evident, especially in the absence of intricate detailing and sophisticated animation techniques present in higher-budget features from major studios. However, well-rendered contrast levels, true blacks, and excellent shadow details help to maintain an engaging visual presentation.

Overall, while the video quality has its limitations due to the initial animation's simplicity and 1080i format artifacts, "Hoodwinked!" still manages to capture a vibrant and richly colored picture. The look lends a distinctive touch to the film, albeit with a few technical imperfections that mildly detract from an otherwise commendable transfer.

"Hoodwinked!" on Blu-ray features an engaging and high-quality DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that significantly contributes to the overall viewing experience. Although the default selection on the disc is a lossy Dolby Digital option, switching manually to the DTS-HD Master Audio track is highly recommended. This lossless mix showcases intricate details with crisp and well-intonated dialogue, ensuring that every line is clearly heard. The soundtrack, featuring a delightful song score by Todd Edwards, enhances the film's mood and is recorded with excellent detail and balance. The sound presentation is characterized by its solid dynamics and appreciable low-frequency impact, particularly noticeable during sequences such as the avalanche scenes.

The audio design provides a robust and immersive experience, with inventive use of all channels. Key sequences like Kirk on the rolling log, Granny's extreme skiing adventure, and Red's encounter with the singing goat in the mining car demonstrate this effectively. These scenes fill the room with a well-coordinated blend of discrete and spatial sounds, enveloping the viewer in an auditory landscape that enhances the storytelling. The front soundstage benefits from good channel separation and spacious imaging, keeping vocals centered and cleanly delivered. Although the surround channels are mostly subdued, they offer adequate ambience to extend the soundfield and maintain a lively and engaging atmosphere throughout.

Overall, "Hoodwinked!" delivers a spry and energetic lossless audio mix. The DTS-HD Master Audio track accentuates the film's charm through well-balanced sound effects and robust LFE that add heft to key moments. While not reaching the surround activity levels of some Disney-Pixar or DreamWorks productions, it offers consistent and enjoyable usage of all channels, ensuring a pleasing auditory experience for viewers.

The Blu-ray extras for "Hoodwinked!" provide an engaging and insightful look into the production of this animated feature, combining humorous commentary with detailed technical insights. The highlight is the 30-minute "True Behind-the-Scenes Story," an extensive featurette that delves into the makings of the film, supplemented by another short featurette on the intricacies of producing animated content. The DVD disc counterpart holds the bulk of additional content, including a lively and informative feature commentary by the Edwards brothers and Tony Leech, deleted scenes with optional commentary, a music video, and the original theatrical trailer. Together, these extras offer a robust exploration of the film's creation, atmosphere, and narrative development.

Extras included in this disc:

• The True Behind-the-scenes Story: Detailed 30-minute making-of featurette.
• Feature Commentary: Humorous and insightful discussion by Cory and Todd Edwards and Tony Leech.
• Deleted/Extended Scenes: Five scenes with optional commentary by Cory Edwards.
• Critters Have Feelings Music Video: Faux music video performed by the critter band.
• How to Make an Animated Feature Film: Insightful 13-minute featurette on story origins, character development, and casting.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original theatrical preview.

"Hoodwinked!" offers a refreshingly inventive take on the classic Little Red Riding Hood tale by merging traditional fairy tale elements with the narrative style of Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon. The core premise is simple yet effective: after a domestic disturbance call at Granny's cottage, Detective Nicky Flippers (David Ogden Stiers) interrogates each character, revealing conflicting accounts of the events, much like in a crime thriller. Instead of focusing solely on the original story, the film deviates into a whimsical world where Granny, Red, and even the Big Bad Wolf (amusingly voiced by Patrick Warburton), possess hidden secrets and unexpected personalities. These recollections from multiple perspectives inject new layers into what initially seems to be a straightforward narrative.

Despite its compelling storyline and strong voice performances, "Hoodwinked!" falls short in the animation department. The film suffers from rudimentary and often uninspiring animation that fails to compete with the cinematic standards set by juggernauts like Disney-Pixar and DreamWorks. The simplistic backgrounds lack the depth and vibrancy necessary to fully immerse the audience in this fantastical world. However, what it lacks in visual flair, it compensates for with witty dialogue and clever film references that are sure to entertain both children and adults alike. Characters such as Granny (voiced by Glenn Close) bring additional layers of humor and heart, though some elements, like Jim Belushi’s character as the Woodsman, feel somewhat extraneous.

In conclusion, "Hoodwinked!" stands out with its innovative storytelling and endearing character portrayals. Its humorous approach to a well-known fairy tale, combined with a series of engaging plot twists, ensures that it is entertaining despite its visual shortcomings. While not a visual masterpiece, its anarchic spirit and smart script make it a fun watch for families looking for something refreshingly different.

"Hoodwinked!" offers a clever reimagining of classic tales, transforming the familiar story into an engaging crime-scene investigation. This animated film boasts a talented voice cast including Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close, Jim Belushi, and Andy Dick, delivering an amusing and enjoyable cinematic experience. Despite its humorous moments and witty screenplay, the film's impact is somewhat diminished by its subpar animation quality. A higher budget could have elevated the visual experience significantly, leaving audiences more captivated by the Edwards Brothers' creative storytelling.

The Blu-ray release of "Hoodwinked!" presents a solid audio and video performance, effectively complementing the voice talents and overall charm of the film. Noteworthy technical specifications include a high-definition 1080p presentation that ensures clear image quality, though it cannot entirely compensate for the animation's inherent weaknesses. The audio is clear and immersive, adding to the enjoyment of the film’s comedic elements. Additionally, the disc offers a decent selection of supplemental material, which provides further insight into the film’s production and enhances the viewing experience.

In conclusion, while "Hoodwinked!" struggles with visual shortcomings, it remains an entertaining watch due to its smart script and strong voice performances. The Blu-ray release does justice to its audio-visual elements and supplements, making it a worthwhile addition to any collection. Although it's not without its flaws, "Hoodwinked!" stands out for its innovative storytelling and remains recommended for animation enthusiasts seeking light-hearted entertainment.