One for the Money Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "One for the Money" by Lionsgate is framed in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio and delivered through an AVC encoded 1080p transfer. The video quality is generally impressive, offering an overall sharp and aesthetically pleasing high-definition experience. The transfer excels in presenting the location shots, surprisingly utilizing Pittsburgh to represent Trenton, New Jersey. This strategy proves effective, as the visual appeal remains consistent throughout, with excellent clarity even in dimly lit scenes. Shadow details are meticulously preserved with minimal to no noticeable crush. The natural grain structure helps maintain a cinematic feel, and the colors are well-saturated and accurate.

While the disc is pressed onto a BD-25, there is little indication of compression flaws. Aliasing is present but minimal, primarily visible on car grilles and tightly woven fabric patterns. These artifacts are minor and do not significantly detract from the overall viewing experience. Colors are carefully balanced; while the film features a relatively mundane color palette, any introduction of vibrant primaries is effectively eye-catching without being overbearing—with one exception in a deliberately neon-lit scene. The black levels are robust and maintain detail integrity in shadowy sections, contributing to a high-quality cinematic presentation. One drawback noted is the lack of depth in the imagery; despite the sharpness and clarity, the image sometimes appears flat and lacks a three-dimensional quality.

Overall, "One for the Money" delivers a competent Blu-ray video experience that effectively balances sharpness, color saturation, and clarity. The minimal compression issues and strong black levels make it a reliable transfer, although the lack of depth might be noticeable to discerning viewers. This video section solidifies the Blu-ray as a technically proficient release with engaging visual fidelity.

The audio presentation of "One for the Money" on Blu-ray is powered by a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that delivers an exemplary performance throughout the film. Dialogue-driven scenes are crystal clear and well-balanced, maintaining the film's smaller scale without sacrificing clarity. The action sequences ramp up with impressive effectiveness, offering fantastic immersion through floorboard-shaking low-frequency effects (LFE) and consistent surround activity. Notably, environments such as the boxing gym utilize surround channels to create evocative and engaging sonic landscapes. Gunshots traverse the soundfield with striking fidelity, enhancing the overall auditory experience alongside the film's well-balanced score and source cues.

Despite the solid performance, it is worth noting that Lionsgate did not upgrade this release to a 7.1 audio track, a standard they have adhered to for most recent Blu-ray releases. However, the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio makes comprehensive use of all available channels. From the earliest moments, the film’s score is dynamically mixed across the sound field, filling the theater with rich, immersive audio. Surround and rear channels are utilized effectively, imaging sound effects such as screeching cars, whizzing bullets, and falling rain to create a robust and enveloping soundscape.

One notable issue lies within the dialogue tracks, particularly where narration intersects with in-movie dialogue. While Heigl’s narration is consistently clear and robust, its volume disparity with scene-specific dialogue can be jarring. This inconsistency requires viewers to adjust the master volume to achieve auditory balance, though thankfully, such instances are infrequent. Overall, "One for the Money" provides a technically sound and engaging auditory experience despite these minor quirks.

The Blu-ray extras for "One for the Money" provide a mixed bag of content that extends the film's universe with varying degrees of success. The behind-the-scenes feature, Making the Money, offers a fairly generic look at the adaptation process, exploring the casting decisions and adherence to the source material, which may appeal to die-hard fans of the book series. Bond Girls: Kicking Ass in the Bail Bonds Industry is surprisingly engaging, detailing the real-life experiences of female bail bonds professionals. The Gag Reel and Deleted Scene provide minimal additional entertainment, with the former showcasing lackluster on-set flubs and the latter offering an inconsequential alternate ending. The disc also includes the Theatrical Trailer, rounding out the extra features.

Extras included in this disc:

Making the Money: Behind the Scenes: Insight into adapting the novel and casting choices.

Bond Girls: Kicking Ass in the Bail Bonds Industry: Real-life stories of female skip tracers.

Gag Reel: Unentertaining on-set bloopers.

Deleted Scene: An alternate ending sequence.

Theatrical Trailer: Promotion for the film.

"One for the Money" pairs Katherine Heigl and Jason O'Mara in a somewhat predictable yet relatively enjoyable film adaptation of Janet Evanovich's successful novel series. Heigl portrays Stephanie Plum, a down-and-out lingerie saleswoman who becomes a bounty hunter, tasked with apprehending her ex-boyfriend, Joe Morelli (O'Mara), a cop wanted for shooting an unarmed man. The film leverages Heigl's comedic abilities and good on-screen chemistry with O'Mara, although their characters often fall into stereotypical tropes. While Heigl's performance brings some charm, her New York accent appears forced at times and detracts slightly from her otherwise strong comedic timing. Supporting performances from Debbie Reynolds as Stephanie's eccentric grandmother and Sherri Shepherd as streetwalker Lulu add vitality to an otherwise overly beige film.

Directed by Julie Anne Robinson, the film struggles with identity—a disconnect between its lighter comedic moments and attempts at a suspenseful thriller. Pittsburgh's substitution for Trenton, New Jersey, adds some visual intrigue, but the lack of palpable danger undermines the story's stakes. The script, though fast-paced and faithful to Evanovich's sharp dialogue, is burdened by formulaic plot points and predictability that might disappoint those seeking a fresh twist on the bounty hunter genre. Despite well-defined supporting characters and a few engaging sequences, Robinson can't quite bridge the gap between comedy and thrill, resulting in a film that feels disjointed and sometimes directionless. Fans of the book may find solace in its faithful adaptation, yet others may see it as just another middling addition to Heigl's filmography.

"One for the Money" is a film brimming with potential but falls short of delivering an engaging experience. Katherine Heigl's portrayal of Stephanie Plum captures her pluck and inherent incompetence effectively, yet the narrative fails to create the necessary suspense or thrill. The plot, centered around Stephanie's investigative endeavors, lacks the requisite danger or excitement, making the supposed thriller elements feel underwhelming. While it intermittently clings to its comedic undertones, the overall execution leaves much to be desired. Fans of Janet Evanovich's novel may find more enjoyment in this adaptation than the general audience.

The Blu-ray release presents superior video and audio quality, although minor enhancements could further elevate the viewing experience. The array of special features is rather modest, with one particular featurette standing out, likely to appeal to Evanovich enthusiasts. Despite its shortcomings, "One for the Money" does manage to surpass similar films like "The Bounty Hunter," thanks to moments of wit and smart dialogue despite its predictable and cliché-ridden script.

In conclusion, "One for the Money" may not resonate widely but offers enough charm to attract its target audience—women, Heigl fans, and followers of Evanovich's work. Given its technical strengths in audio and video, fans might consider it a collectible, while others might find a rental more prudent. Though it may not warrant frequent re-watching, it stands as a slightly better option amidst Heigl's filmography.