CHiPs
(2017 feature film/Warner Blu-ray w/DVD)
Picture:
B+/B- Sound: B+/B- Extras: B Film: C
Dax
Shepard (When in Rome) directs and stars in this messy big
screen adaptation of the hit '70s - '80s TV series CHiPs
(2017, original series reviewed elsewhere on this site). While the
film isn't without its funny moments, it sometimes feels a bit
predictable and very similar to other comedies in the same genre.
This 2017 movie year has had some decent comedies with the best so
far being Masterminds and The Greasy Strangler
(reviewed elsewhere on this site), both of which I would recommend
over this film in terms of laughs and replay value.
Michael
Pena (Ant Man) and Shepard have pretty good comedic chemistry
onscreen and the supporting cast isn't half bad with Rosa Salazar
(Insurgent), Adam Brody (Think Like a Man Too, The OC),
Kristen Bell (who is Shepard's real life wife to whom he makes a
scummy character here), Jessica McNamee (The Vow), Ryan Hansen
(Veronica Mars), and the highly underrated Vincent D'Onofrio
(The Cell).
Still
despite this cast of funny faces, this big budgeted comedy has many
scenes that feel like afterthoughts (jokes that were added during
editing to make the film funnier) and there are a few scenes that
seem to be unmotivated, primarily written to put another car chase or
action scene in.
Jon
Baker (Shepard) and Frank "Ponch" Poncherello (Pena) have
just joined the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Los Angeles, but
for very different reasons. Baker is a beaten-up former pro
motor-biker with bad knees who is trying to put his life and marriage
back together (though failing miserably at the former), while
Poncherello is a sex addict and know-it-all undercover federal agent
investigating a multi-million dollar heist that may be an inside job
- inside the CHP (to which D'Onofrio is behind). When these two cops
get together, the results are everything but normal. Can they work
out their differences to help crack the biggest case of their
professional careers whilst putting their personal lives at bay?
This
set contains three copies of the film, the best being the 1080p high
definition Blu-ray edition of the film, which presents the film in
its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio and a nice sounding
DTS-HD
MA (Master Audio) 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit) lossless track. Most of the
film takes place in California and features nicely defined shots of
the city of Los Angeles and there are some earlier scenes that take
place in Florida. Character details are spot on and for a film of
this nature, it doesn't necessarily need a 4K upgrade for maximum
enjoyment.
A
standard definition DVD of the film is also included with an
anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a lossy 5.1 Dolby
Digital track. While obviously not as impressive as the
Blu-ray,
this edition maintains high standards for the format and will read
fine on some HDTVs that aren't 4K. When watching on a nicer set
though, the differences are immediately notable with compression
being the main drawback. Also included is a digital HD copy of the
film that looks better than the DVD.
Special
Features:
This
Is Not Your Dad's CHIPS
Practical
Pursuit
Ducati:
The Perfect Bike
Director's
Audio Commentary
While
not a huge box office success, CHiPs brings back a lost
television franchise to the big screen with some modern day updates.
Many plot devices used for the main characters are a bit tiresome,
especially Dax Shepard's knees which is a constant reoccurrence in
the film, and Pena's sexual addiction, which is a joke that the Bad
Santa films used to a better effect, could have been stronger.
If you're a fan of the original show and can turn your brain off
while watching, CHiPs is an okay attempt at a modern day
reboot.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
