Four Christmases Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "Four Christmases" showcases a commendable 1080p/VC-1 transfer that effectively captures every holiday hue, providing appreciable refinement and resolute imagery. The color range is rich and vivid, perfectly aligning with the film's festive theme, while maintaining bright, eye-catching hues. Fleshtones appear natural, though occasionally warmer than desired, potentially due to scene-specific lighting nuances. The transfer handles contrast with competence, delivering crisp whites and stable blacks, despite occasional minor elevation leading to less dynamic visuals in certain scenes.

Detail across the presentation is generally sharp and textures are adequately preserved, with subtle elements like Witherspoon's freckles and Vaughn's stubble remaining intact. However, some drawbacks include overzealous artificial sharpening that intermittently results in halos, and minor digital noise is detectable in background elements. Despite these issues, edge sharpness and the film’s overall clean rendering prevail. Additionally, instances of artifacting are minimal, primarily appearing in specific scenes but not detracting significantly from the viewing experience.

Banding, aliasing, and crush are managed proficiently, with smearing and softness only occasionally undermining the otherwise solid transfer. The original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 ensures a faithful visual representation. While the transfer won't draw extravagant praise due to these minor technical limitations, it should meet the expectations of viewers eager to indulge in Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon's holiday escapades. In summary, "Four Christmases" presents a capable and visually satisfying Blu-ray experience that balances minor imperfections with an overall engaging and festive visual performance.

The audio presentation of "Four Christmases" on Blu-ray, featuring a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround mix, presents a solid yet unexceptional experience typical of dialogue-driven comedies. Dialogue is predominantly front-loaded, offering clear and crisp audio even during overlapping conversations. Although quieter scenes convey ambient effects with clarity, the overall sound experience can feel somewhat flat and two-dimensional. However, the soundscape is notably elevated in key scenes such as the crowded nightclub, office Christmas party, busy airport, and the particularly chaotic inflatable jumpy-house scene, where both the LFE channel and rear speakers engage effectively. These moments enhance immersion through well-balanced directionality and smooth pans, delivering crisp crashes and other detailed sound effects with precision.

Despite its reserved use of surround activity, the track remains commendable. Subtle sound effects, music, and voices benefit from high-level detail, bringing depth to the soundstage. The mix exhibits occasional bursts of enveloping presence and dynamic low-end punch, albeit sparingly. Additionally, no instances of audio anomalies such as clicks or hiss were detected. Alternative listening options include an additional Dolby Digital 5.1 track alongside English SDH and Spanish subtitles.

In summary, while "Four Christmases" may not be a benchmark for audio excellence, its Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix reliably supports the film’s comedic and festive elements. It may lack groundbreaking immersive qualities but succeeds in maintaining clear dialogue and engaging moments in select scenes, making it a capable audio presentation for this genre.

The Blu-ray extras for "Four Christmases" offer a range of behind-the-scenes content and featurettes that vary in depth and engagement. Notably, all video content is presented in high definition, enhancing the viewing quality. Highlights include a light-hearted gag reel and seven additional scenes, with some deleted scenes arguably stronger than the theatrical cut. Featurettes such as "Holiday Moments" and "Behind the Madness" aim to provide insight into the production but often feel promotional rather than informative. Though not essential, the supplemental package offers a mixed bag of brief entertainments and behind-the-scenes glimpses.

Extras included in this disc:

Holiday Moments: Behind-the-scenes footage, film clips, and anecdotes.

Behind the Madness: Extended HBO "First Look" special.

Seven Layer Holiday Meals In a Flash: Paula Dean and Katy Mixon cook together.

Gag Reel: Traditional and amusing outtakes.

7 Additional Scenes: Deleted and alternate scenes.

WB BD-Live Access

Digital Copy Bonus Disc

"Four Christmases", directed by Seth Gordon, features Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon as Brad and Kate, a couple whose holiday plans to evade family obligations are interrupted, forcing them to navigate four family celebrations in one day. While the cast boasts heavyweights like Robert Duvall, Jon Voight, and Sissy Spacek, the film struggles to maintain likable characters and intelligent humor. Vaughn and Witherspoon, typically reliable for their charisma, come off as self-centered and unlikable, which undermines the potential chemistry and depth of their roles.

The narrative attempts a comedic exploration of familial estrangement but is hindered by disjointed storytelling and an inconsistent script penned by four screenwriters. The film’s humor misses the mark more often than not, leaning on unoriginal gags and predictable scenarios that lack genuine wit. Even the talents of Duvall and Voight are underutilized, with their moments of emotional resonance overshadowed by the chaotic and often mean-spirited portrayal of dysfunctional family dynamics.

Ultimately, "Four Christmases" feels like an elongated sitcom episode rather than a cohesive holiday film. Despite its brief moments of authenticity, the movie remains an exercise in missed opportunities, failing to deliver the heartfelt or hilariously over-the-top experience one might expect from such a star-studded ensemble.

"Four Christmases" on Blu-ray struggles to deliver the festive cheer expected from a holiday film. Despite featuring seasoned actors like Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, the film is marred by its mean-spirited characters, lackluster dialogue, and contrived gags. While the narrative’s premise of chaotic family visits can provide initial amusement, it quickly descends into painful distractions that hamper the viewer's overall experience. Warner's Blu-ray release, though technically competent, does little to salvage the movie. The video transfer and TrueHD audio track are adequate but suffer from occasional flaws.

The special features are particularly disappointing. Marketed with a claim of "45 Minutes of Hilarious Content," viewers are left searching in vain for genuine humor within both the film and its bonus material. This misleading promise only adds to the frustration. Despite a solid technical setup, including a well-calibrated projector and high-quality speakers, the content fails to impress, contributing little more than mediocre entertainment value.

In conclusion, "Four Christmases" on Blu-ray is a film that fails to capitalize on its potential. Save for its acceptable technical presentation, the movie and its extras are largely devoid of substantive value and genuine holiday spirit. It is more likely to disappoint than delight, making this release one to avoid for those seeking a truly enjoyable seasonal viewing experience.