Just Go with It Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Just Go with It" is an exceptional visual treat that embodies the strengths of 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfers. The image quality impresses with its impeccably detailed and wonderfully colored visuals, delivering a mesmerizing clarity that enhances every scene. Whether it's the intricate textures of a leather couch, the fine lines in polished wood, or the lush tropical vistas of Hawaii, the transfer consistently delivers sharpness and resolution. Certain scenes, particularly those set in Hawaii, exhibit captivating depth and vibrant colors, with sparkling blue waters and lush greenery presented with unmatched precision.

Color reproduction is a standout feature, with a palette that remains consistently vivid without becoming excessively hot. Black levels are generally well-balanced, though they may appear slightly lighter in some nighttime scenes. Canonically, the video retains good sharpness across various shot distances, maintaining detail in long shots and close-ups alike. Notably, the contrast is dynamic but not overpowering, enhancing the clarity of low-light and shadow details without sacrificing depth.

Technically, the transfer is pristine, free from banding, blocking, or other artifacts. The encoding ensures stable sharpness and crisp detail throughout. While some scenes appear better resolved than others, this is likely attributable to the original cinematography rather than any limitation in the encoding process. This presentation exemplifies Sony's commitment to Blu-ray excellence, complementing the film's aesthetic with high-fidelity visuals that captivate viewers from start to finish. The overall result is a visually pleasing experience that leverages modern Blu-ray technology to its fullest potential.

The audio presentation of "Just Go with It" on Blu-Ray is commendable, featuring a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack that performs admirably within the confines of its genre. Dialogue is consistently crisp and clear, maintaining excellent room penetration and ensuring no lines are lost. The front soundstage is dynamically open, offering solid channel separation which enhances the overall listening experience. Directionality is employed sparingly but effectively when the scene calls for it, ensuring immersive engagement during key sequences.

The use of surround channels is primarily for spatial cues and subtle effects, particularly effective during the restaurant and beach scenes, creating an enveloping but not overwhelming rear sound field. The soundtrack’s tropical beats and ambient effects, such as crashing waves and chatty seagulls, are reproduced with rich texture and sonic nuance, which transport listeners to the film's various lush locales. Though there is no sub-bass present, the subwoofer provides low bass emphasis that suitably extends the low-range content present in the soundtrack, offering a satisfying auditory breadth.

This audio mix includes English and French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks, with additional Dolby Digital tracks for Spanish and an English Audio Description. While the dynamic range and bass might not be robust, they are appropriately tailored for a romantic comedy, ensuring a balanced focus on dialogue. The subtle use of surround elements and restrained directional effects deem this track fitting for the film without overpowering its comedic essence. Subtitle options in English, English SDH, French, and Spanish provide ample accessibility to this clear and well-balanced audio presentation.

The Blu-ray of "Just Go with It" offers an extensive array of supplementary materials, albeit with mixed results. The disc includes two commentaries: one track with Adam Sandler, Nick Swardson, and others, plagued by a lack of structure and coherent insights, and another more traditional commentary by Director Dennis Dugan, offering production trivia but marred by extended pauses and off-topic anecdotes. The additional featurettes, presented in HD, provide a superficial glimpse into various aspects of the film's creation, from bloopers to makeup processes and shooting locations, but fail to deliver substantial content or captivating behind-the-scenes revelations. Despite the high-definition quality and availability of supplementary materials in multiple languages, the extras largely fall flat in offering memorable or engaging insights into the film's production.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with Adam Sandler, Nick Swardson, and the Filmmakers: Light-hearted anecdotes and jokes.
• Commentary with Director Dennis Dugan: Detailed production insights with several pauses.
• Laughter is Contagious: A gag reel featuring line flubs and cast laughs.
• 16 Deleted Scenes: Various omitted moments from the film.
• Adon: Living Plastic: Kevin Nealon discusses his makeup.
• Along Came a Prop Guy: Gags involving prop crew members.
• Decker's Got Gas: A prank with an iPhone app by Brooklyn Decker.
• Dolph: Not the One from Rocky IV: Nick Swardson's character exploration.
• Kevin Nealon: The Plastic Man: Makeup process for Kevin Nealon.
• What's a Dugan?: Insights into Director Dennis Dugan.
• Look Who Else is in the Movie: Features minor actors.
• Sneaky Kiki & Bart the Water Fart: Focus on young actors Bailee Madison and Griffin Gluck.
• The Perfect Couple: Jen and Adam: Interviews about Sandler and Aniston's roles.
• The Not So Perfect Couple: Behind-the-scenes with Nicole Kidman and Dave Matthews.
• Decker's First Role: Working with Brooklyn Decker.
• Shooting Hawaii: Production details in Hawaii.
• Grand Wailea Promo: Commercial for the resort in the film.
• BD-Live enabled

"Just Go with It," directed by the same person who helmed Grown Ups, stars Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. The narrative centers around Danny Maccabee, a plastic surgeon who, after being jilted at his wedding, adopts an outlandish and morally questionable scheme to win women by pretending to be unhappily married. The plot's absurdity escalates when Danny enlists his assistant Katherine to play his soon-to-be ex-wife in an elaborate deception designed to keep his new love interest, Palmer, in the dark. The whole charade leads to an out-of-control weekend in Hawaii involving Katherine’s children, further tangling the web of lies.

Despite the presence of a capable cast and some potential in the storyline, the movie falls short of its comedic aspirations. The jokes mostly rely on juvenile gags, such as crude humor and physical comedy that rarely hit the mark. Adam Sandler’s characterizing a plastic surgeon is not just implausible but also superfluous to the plot, serving merely as a vehicle for forced humor based on plastic surgery mishaps. Jennifer Aniston delivers a more grounded performance, but even her efforts cannot salvage the film from its poorly constructed narrative and weak punchlines.

The film's few redeeming qualities lie in the performances of the young actors who play Katherine's kids. Their natural chemistry with Sandler provides some of the scarce genuine laughs. The Hawaiian landscape offers a visually delightful backdrop that brightens the scenes but cannot compensate for the underlying deficiencies in plot and humor. Overall, "Just Go with It" feels like a mechanical assembly-line romantic comedy that fails to deliver fresh or substantial content, leaving viewers with little more than a sense of having watched yet another forgettable film.

"Just Go with It" is an uninspired comedy headlined by Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, directed by Dennis Dugan. The film fails to deliver on its comedic promise, relying instead on the star power of its leads to attract audiences. The narrative feels like it's on autopilot and quickly detours into uninteresting territories. The humor is lackluster, offering only sporadic chuckles that seem loosely tied to the main storyline. This results in a movie that overstays its welcome through an overlong runtime and fails to capitalize on its potential.

Technically speaking, the Blu-ray release from Sony is impressive. The video transfer is pristine, showcasing vibrant colors and sharp details, enhancing the visual experience. The lossless soundtrack delivers robust audio quality, ensuring dialogues and background scores are clear and impactful. Additionally, the release comes packed with numerous extras, although they add little value to the overall package. While these technical aspects are commendable, they do little to elevate the subpar content of the film itself.

In conclusion, "Just Go with It" is marred by lazy writing and mediocre direction. Despite an excellent Blu-ray presentation, the film's lack of engaging humor and a cohesive storyline makes it hard to recommend. Fans of Sandler and Aniston may find some enjoyment, but newcomers are advised to rent before making a purchase.