Mac & Devin Go to High School Blu-ray Review

"Mac & Devin Go to High School" delivers a 1080p transfer that offers a mix of attributes. The movie was shot digitally, and it comes with a somewhat sterile, glossy appearance. Fine detail is most impressive in close-ups, rendering skin textures and wardrobe items such as varsity jackets with notable precision. Colors are evenly balanced, capturing the vibrancy of Miss Huck's dress and Devin's blue shirt. The overall sharpness is commendable, despite occasional softer edges in certain frames. Light shimmering on some surfaces is minimal, ensuring that there are no major distractions in the viewing experience.

However, the transfer is not without its flaws. The film can often appear flat and lifeless, lacking the depth and dimension that could make it more visually engaging. Much of the movie exhibits a hazy, made-for-TV quality reminiscent of early 90s productions. This is particularly evident in its color representation and contrast, both of which come across consistently washed out. Additionally, blacks and shadows lack the depth to offer any significant dimension, and the computer-generated graphics suffer from pixelation in high-definition, appearing amateurish. Grain levels are inconsistent and banding and aliasing issues arise in numerous scenes, further diminishing the overall quality.

In summary, while "Mac & Devin Go to High School" presents a serviceable picture with some strong moments of clarity and color accuracy, it also falls short in several technical aspects. Nonetheless, it suits the casual tone of the movie adequately but leaves much to be desired for those seeking a premium visual experience.

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack for "Mac & Devin Go to High School" offers a mixed experience. While the music enjoys good, rich clarity and is supported by a quality low end, the balance of dialogue presents notable challenges. At times, the dialogue appears shallow, getting lost under the musical elements even at reduced levels. This results in certain spoken words lacking intelligibility, primarily from the center channel. Additionally, scenes featuring Snoop Dogg often have dialogue mixed too low, making it difficult to discern his lines due to his quieter delivery.

Moreover, the overall sound design tends to be front-heavy, with limited surround utilization. Background school atmospherics, such as the din of busy hallways, are predominantly restricted to the front channels and fail to envelop the listening audience fully. Contrastingly, moments featuring the CG joint exhibit inconsistent volume levels, with dialogue suddenly spiking to shrill and intrusive levels. This inconsistent audio balance can detract from the viewer's experience, as it oscillates between being too soft and excessively loud. Despite these issues, the TrueHD mix still manages to hit most of its musical cues with satisfactory precision, maintaining an engaging presence throughout the film.

The extras provided on the Blu-ray of "Mac & Devin Go to High School" offer a limited yet engaging overview of behind-the-scenes insights. The primary supplemental feature is an audio commentary track helmed by Director Dylan Brown, alongside notable contributions from Executive Producer/Actor Snoop Dogg and Actor Wiz Khalifa. The commentary provides perspectives from each individual's role in the film, offering depth to the viewing experience. However, it's worth noting that the limited scope may not suffice for viewers seeking substantial additional content or comprehensive making-of features. Despite the succinct nature of the extras, fans of the lead actors will likely appreciate the personal anecdotes and reflections shared.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Director Dylan Brown, Executive Producer/Actor Snoop Dogg, and Actor Wiz Khalifa share insights and experiences from the making of the movie.

'Mac & Devin Go to High School,' available on Blu-ray, delivers an intriguing if ultimately shallow viewing experience. The film's plot centers around the unlikely duo of Mac (Snoop Dogg), a 15th-year senior and habitual stoner, and Devin (Wiz Khalifa), the school's top student with his future meticulously planned. Their worlds collide when the chesty AP Chemistry substitute, Miss Huck (Teairra Mari), pairs them up for a critical project that could determine their futures. What ensues is a journey through weed-infused escapades, raucous parties, and a series of questionable life lessons. The film’s simplicity leaves much to be desired in terms of depth and substance, making it more of a visual accompaniment to the soundtrack rather than a standalone narrative experience.

Technically, the film's Blu-ray presentation is polished but insubstantial. Snoop Dogg’s effortless screen presence is perhaps the highlight, though his performance feels underutilized within a flimsy plot structure. The Blu-ray package itself is standard fare from Anchor Bay, presented on a 25GB disc with no frills in terms of packaging or additional content. The movie’s soundscape, featuring tracks from the accompanying soundtrack released by Atlantic Records, arguably stands as its most engaging element. Visuals are competently rendered, but the digital effects, including a rudimentary CGI joint, detract rather than enhance.

For those seeking realism or nuanced storytelling, 'Mac & Devin Go to High School' falls flat. Its simplistic cheers for a hedonistic lifestyle will resonate more with fans of Snoop Dogg and rap culture, who may appreciate the carefree vibe and infectious beats more than the plot itself. The film’s indulgence in stoner humor and adolescent antics guarantees it as a niche enjoyment rather than a universal entertainment piece.

"Mac & Devin Go to High School" is fundamentally a straightforward, albeit shallow, tale of a high school overachiever whose collision with the world of drugs and mindless fun questions his chance at graduating as valedictorian. The narrative is more of an exploration into indulgence rather than a story with meaningful substance. Character developments are superficial, with the centerpiece being the transformation of a squeaky-clean brainiac into a life that mimics that of a rap star. However, this metamorphosis feels trivial and lacks the depth necessary to engage viewers not already immersed in the culture it portrays.

Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release offers an acceptable audiovisual experience, but it does nothing to elevate the content's overall mediocrity. The video presentation is clean but fails to impress with any notable definition or remarkable color prowess. The audio tracks similarly do their job without leaving a significant impact. The lone supplement, a commentary track, fails to add substantial value or insight, further underscoring the thinness of the film's offerings.

In essence, "Mac & Devin Go to High School" seems self-aware of its own frivolity, making it challenging for any viewer approaching it with a serious or sober mindset. While it might be moderately enjoyable under certain influenced states as the movie itself suggests, nearly every other audience will find it hard to justify the time spent. Given the unremarkable technical specs and lackluster content, renting rather than purchasing seems to be the most prudent choice.