$5-A-Day
(2008/Image Blu-ray)
Picture: C+ Sound: B- Extras: C Film: C+
The road
movie never goes away and has a spirit all of its own, so even when a film like
Nigel Cole’s $5-A-Day (2008) does
not always work out, it is not from lack of trying or talent, it is just that
it gets sidetracked by its quirkiness.
Alessandro Nivola (Coco Before
Chanel) plays a troubled, conservative young man estranged from his
manipulative, con artist father played by Christopher Walken, who was also a
deadbeat dad.
Father
Nat is still playing people and has found himself with a Chrysler PT that is a
promo for a sugar substitute and that pink-mobile becomes their vehicle for
this trip. From there, the Neal H. &
Tippi Dobrofsky screenplay is a mixed bag of hit and miss jokes, some of which
work and too many that do not. Like
feature films of Richie Rich and Josie & The Pussycats, there may be
one to many ad placements, not so cleverly covered by jokes. Sharon Stone is also good as an old friend of
Nat’s who is as wacky as when they first met.
If you
can get through the parts that don’t work, you may enjoy this just enough to
give it a look. The acting is good and
it has some energy. I just wish it was
more on target for the kind of film intended.
Dean Cain, Peter Coyote and Amanda Peet also star.
The 1080p
1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image is a little soft and weak throughout,
though color is not bad, but this may well be an HD shoot of some sort. Director of Photography Peter Donahue (The Fog Of War, Gigantic) does his best with what he has to work with and that is
not bad, but the lack of sharp images and motion blur can distract. The DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) lossless 5.1 mix
is better with decently recorded sound and music, but this is a dialogue-based,
low-budget film, so the soundfield is limited.
Extras include the original trailer, stills and director/cast
interviews.
- Nicholas Sheffo
