Bad Grandpa .5 Blu-ray Review

"Bad Grandpa .5" delivers a commendable 1080p transfer on Blu-ray in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The video quality closely mirrors the original "Bad Grandpa" release, showcasing a range of visual fidelity that hinges on the equipment used during filming. High-end movie cameras offer meticulously detailed imagery that highlights the expertly applied makeup, revealing every nuance with startling clarity. Colors are vibrant and natural, skin tones are accurate, and black levels are deep and well defined in these high-quality segments.

However, some scenes utilize lower-grade equipment, resulting in less impressive visuals. These segments exhibit fuzzy details, inconsistent colors, and evident compression artifacts and noise. Despite these issues, the behind-the-scenes footage consistently stands out with its crisp, stable HD presentation. Textures and colors are vividly rendered, breathing life into the images captured. Overall, "Bad Grandpa .5" maintains a strong visual performance, particularly in its professionally filmed scenes.

Paramount's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack for "Bad Grandpa .5" performs well within the scope of expectations for a behind-the-scenes film. This presentation adeptly handles clear, center-focused dialogue, which is pivotal given the production's reliance on both interviews and spontaneous on-location interactions. The dialogue is consistently crystal clear and anchored to the center channel, ensuring it remains comprehensible amid various background noises.

Despite the documentary-style format, the sound mix impressively utilizes surround speakers to inject life into the aural landscape. Ambient sounds, such as cars driving by, city and nature noises, and background chatter, enrich the viewing experience without overwhelming it. The most notable sonic moment occurs during the strip club sequence, where the dynamic range expands significantly with bass and music that enliven the environment through pronounced low-frequency effects (LFE). These bursts of energy are effectively managed, providing a stark contrast and peak auditory engagement.

Overall, this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is well-balanced, maintaining a consistent track free from pops, cracks, or hissing. It may not offer an overwhelmingly dynamic range throughout, but it supports the film’s varied content aptly with bursts of engaging audio moments. While it doesn’t go beyond the necessary call of duty, it solidly underpins the narrative with precision and clarity.

"Bad Grandpa .5" includes a selection of insightful and entertaining extras. Foremost, the round table interview offers enlightening anecdotes from Johnny Knoxville, Spike Jonze, and Jeff Tremaine, capturing the creative spirit behind the project. "Casting Billy" provides a behind-the-scenes look at Jackson Nicoll’s casting process with amusing interview clips and prank setups. The deleted scenes deliver additional humorous moments, showcasing cut content that is both valuable and entertaining. Finally, the outtakes feature an extended gag reel—showcasing on-set mishaps and actor bloopers. The presentation quality of these extras ensures a high-definition visual treat complemented by engaging, humorous content.

Extras included in this disc:

• Round Table Interview: Johnny Knoxville, Spike Jonze, and Jeff Tremaine share collaboration tales.
• Casting Billy: Interviews and pranks ensure young Jackson Nicoll was fit for the role.
• Deleted Scenes: Eight additional humorous scenes.
• Outtakes: Extended gag reel with bloopers and equipment failures.

Bad Grandpa .5" is not a wholly new film but rather an 86-minute companion piece to the original, functioning more like a detailed supplementary feature. Initially aired on MTV before its Blu-ray release, it delivers extensive behind-the-scenes looks at the iconic "Bad Grandpa" and his notorious pranks. This feature delves into the history of Irving Zisman's character, starting from his debut in 2001, comprehensively covering the remarkable evolution of the makeup, which was so seamless that it earned an Oscar nomination. It also revisits memorable scenes from the original film, like the restaurant penguin incident and the male strip club gag.

Moreover, "Bad Grandpa .5" showcases new skits involving Irving's antics such as stealing wallets, anti-smoking rants, and appearances by Catherine Keener and Spike Jonze. While Knoxville remains the driving force with his crude humor, the feature suffers from a lack of significant appearances by young Jackson Nicoll, which diminishes some of the dynamic seen in the full feature. Yet, fans will find value in this release with extended scenes and deleted sequences that highlight behind-the-scenes efforts, including Spike Jonze's notorious Gloria character and hilarious public pranks like the colostomy bag in a hot tub.

In summation, "Bad Grandpa .5" serves as an elaborate Blu-ray supplement filled with belly-laugh-inducing content and provides insightful glimpses into the production challenges. Despite its package suggesting a whole new movie, it is essential for fans who appreciate the rich trove of extra footage and behind-the-scenes look at what went into creating the chaos and hilarity that is "Bad Grandpa.

"Bad Grandpa .5" offers an intriguing extension of the original "Bad Grandpa" experience, blending new and alternate footage with substantial behind-the-scenes content. This release includes numerous segments that didn't make it into the theatrical cut, accompanied by extensive interviews and documentation of the production process. Viewers are treated to additional pranks, character moments, makeup tests, and other elements that provide a deeper understanding of the film's creation.

Technically, the Blu-ray presentation is commendable, featuring clear, high-definition visuals and sound that ensure an immersive viewing experience. However, it's important to recognize that "Bad Grandpa .5" functions more as a companion piece than a standalone film. It thrives as a supplement for fans eager for more content rather than offering a cohesive narrative on its own. The interviews and behind-the-scenes footage are particularly engaging, offering a look at the extensive creative efforts and humorous work that went into making the original "Bad Grandpa."

In a world prior to the invention of home video supplements, "Bad Grandpa .5" might have proven a strong release. Here, however, it feels like a studio charging extra for a supplement -- an excellent supplement, but a supplement nonetheless -- that very well could have been included on the original Blu-ray. Die-hard "Bad Grandpa" fans will find enough value here in the mixture of new and alternate footage, as well as the lengthy behind-the-scenes process and interview segments to make a purchase worthwhile. Others might be smart to wait it out and hope for a comprehensive bundle or re-release including everything "Bad Grandpa" in one package later on down the line.