Tooth Fairy 2 Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Tooth Fairy 2" on Blu-ray is an extension of the film's low-budget origins, resulting in a somewhat lackluster viewing experience. Encoded in 1080p/AVC, the transfer remains faithful to the source material, yet falls short of impressing due to its digital filming on a tight budget. The level of clarity varies; while close-up shots offer commendable sharpness, broader and darker scenes suffer from a noticeable lack of depth and detail. Varying black levels further contribute to an inconsistent visual experience, often presenting themselves in a grayish, crushed manner rather than a rich inky tone.

Color grading does lend a warm and punchy cast to the image, which adds some life to the otherwise flat cinematography. Realism in color is preserved to a degree, though daytime scenes appear slightly muted, consistent with the overall economical production design. Noise is visible in several scenes, particularly the darker ones, but it never quite crosses the threshold into being a major distraction. Compression artifacts are minimal, ensuring a relatively clean visual presentation, although it does little to elevate the film's visual appeal.

Overall, the Blu-ray provides a serviceable but unremarkable video quality that aligns with expectations for a direct-to-video sequel. The clarity may serve as a double-edged sword by highlighting both positive and negative aspects of the film’s visuals, revealing all the minor imperfections in the production. For viewers seeking exceptional picture quality, this offering won't set any new standards but should suffice for those simply looking to enjoy the film in decent high definition.

The audio presentation of "Tooth Fairy 2" on Blu-ray features a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that, while functional, remains uninspired. The mix is front-anchored and utilitarian, providing clear dialogue and basic directional cues but failing to deliver a consistently immersive or dynamically intense experience. The rear channels are sparingly utilized, primarily for the jaunty score and infrequent effects. Notably, even during more chaotic scenes, such as Larry the Cable Guy's slow-motion dance to "Jungle Boogie," the sound design lacks impact, with low-frequency effects (LFE) being notably subdued.

While dialogue clarity is maintained and directionality is competent, occasional issues do arise, such as voices sounding slightly muffled or hollow in specific scenes, like Larry’s initial encounter with Nyx. Ambient sounds are conspicuously absent, causing the mix to feel flat and unengaging. The overall audio experience does what is necessary without excelling, leaving much to be desired in terms of surround sound utilization.

Additionally, the disc offers French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 dubs alongside optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles. While there are no significant audio errors, the sound mix remains mundane, lacking the initiative to enhance the viewing experience significantly.

The Blu-Ray extras for "Tooth Fairy 2" provide an entertaining extension to the film's whimsical premise, though they often highlight the over-the-top humor of Larry the Cable Guy. "Why Do I Lose My Baby Teeth?" is an educational yet humorous segment where Larry explains dental maturation in his trademark style. The "Return to Fairyland - Making Tooth Fairy 2" featurette, despite its cringeworthy attempts to celebrate the film, offers insight into its production. "Larry the Hairy Fairy" delves into the comedic aspect of Larry donning a tutu, while "Introducing Crusher the Pig" humorously explores Larry's interactions with a piglet. The "Deleted Scenes and Alternate Takes" section provides additional content, though the excluded material demonstrates why some scenes didn't make the final cut. Lastly, the "Strawberry Shortcake Sneak Peek" offers a brief look at another family-friendly franchise.

Extras included in this disc:

• Why Do I Lose My Baby Teeth?: Larry gives us a lesson about dental maturation.
• Return to Fairyland - Making Tooth Fairy 2: Insightful but slightly cringeworthy making-of featurette.
• Larry the Hairy Fairy: Short featurette on Larry wearing a tutu.
• Introducing Crusher the Pig: Snippet about Larry's interactions with a piglet.
• Deleted Scenes and Alternate Takes: Additional scenes not included in the final cut.
• Strawberry Shortcake Sneak Peek: Brief look at another family-friendly franchise.

"Tooth Fairy 2," a sequel that epitomizes Hollywood's propensity for cash-in productions, recycles the plot of its predecessor while adding minimal modifications. Larry the Cable Guy dons the pink tutu previously worn by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, stepping into the role of an unfunny, bumbling protagonist. Here, Larry Guthrie is depicted as a never-was mechanic whose greatest achievement is winning a car at a bowling alley raffle. His story arc involves a series of comedic—and mostly flat—attempts to win back his former girlfriend, Brooke, and to redeem himself after telling a daycare kid that the Tooth Fairy isn't real. In his misguided quest, Larry lands in absurd situations, from conducting a Barbecue Mustache Contest to introducing children to flour-filled pantyhose "snowball" fights.

The film's production values are notably subpar, indicative of its straight-to-video nature. Key characters from the first film, such as Julie Andrews and Stephen Merchant, are conspicuously replaced by a less charismatic cast. Larry's punishment from the Department of Dissemination of Disbelief (DDD) introduces him to Nyx, an 11-year-old fairy who demands he collect ten teeth in ten days or lose his cherished memory. The narrative repeatedly subjects viewers to the same tired joke: Larry's embarrassment as he transforms into a winged, tutu-wearing substitute Tooth Fairy each time a child loses a tooth. The slapstick comedy often resorts to lowbrow humor, including multiple instances of Larry emitting fairy-dust-laden flatulence following a burrito binge.

Ultimately, "Tooth Fairy 2" is an unwanted, under-funded sequel that lacks both wit and originality. Its humor falls flat, relying heavily on recycled gags and Larry's dubious comedic talent. Such characteristics make it struggle to endear itself even to its intended younger audience, who are likely to find this watered-down entertainment unsatisfactory. While the first movie at least benefited from The Rock's presence, this sequel offers only mediocrity and mindless antics that fail to elicit genuine laughter or engagement.

"Tooth Fairy 2" on Blu-ray fails to deliver on both narrative and technical fronts, making it a lackluster sequel to an already subpar original. The storyline is poorly conceived, lacking depth and humor, which are critical for a family-friendly film of this nature. Larry the Cable Guy's performance, characterized by his trademark sleeveless, redneck shtick, offers nothing new or entertaining. Instead, it amplifies the movie's inadequacies, leaving viewers with no memorable moments or laughs.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray release offers standard picture quality, but it fails to impress. The visuals are adequate but unremarkable, lacking the vibrancy and clarity often expected in modern high-definition releases. The audio mix is equally uninspired, providing a basic auditory experience that doesn’t enhance the viewing experience in any meaningful way. These factors combined make for a product that doesn’t justify a purchase when there are far superior options available in the family genre.

And here I thought the original Tooth Fairy was bad. The sequel takes what's now a franchise, I guess--heaven help us--to blindingly stupid new lows. (Might I suggest Gary Busey for the third film?) You don't need me to tell you that Tooth Fairy 2 is terrible; do your kids a favor and pick up a Pixar film instead.