Kabluey (Sony DVD)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: C Film: B
Who would
have thought that Lisa Kudrow, Christine Taylor, and Teri Garr could all three
star together in a decent film?
Certainly not me, but Scott Prendergast’s 2007 film Kabluey proves me wrong. I
like when a film does just that, puts words back into my mouth, makes me
rethink things, and more importantly wins me over during its duration. Kabluey
did just that.
Strangely
enough the film flew completely under the radar, but Sony is hoping that this
DVD release will put the film into the right hands and find a fan-base, which I
truly believe it will eventually find.
Worst-case scenario is that the film will eventually become a cult item
and there is nothing wrong with that either.
The film
begins as we are introduced to the Kudrow character, who is currently not
working, trying to raise kids, and her husband is off fighting in Iraq. The last thing she wants to do is turn to her
brother-in-law (played by Prendergast) since he is the epitome of disaster, but
she is desperate and needs his help, whatever help that is. He arrives in town and begins to help out
with the kids and lands a job with a failing company (a dot-com company that
is) and becomes the company mascot (a giant blue puffy suit and thus the title
of the film). Oddly enough he finds
confidence in his newfound costume/alter ego and things begin to turn around
for everyone involved, but the ongoing comedy wraps things up in some unexpected
ways and makes for an entertaining evening, plus a fresh breath to the comedy
genre.
Arriving
to DVD the film is presented in an anamorphic 1.85 X 1 transfer that is
adequate, but it would be great to see this film in the Blu-ray format,
especially since I was unable to view it theatrically. I can see where the limitations of standard
definition sell the film short in certain respects, but the content is off-beat
enough and works well enough that it’s not a distraction. Colors are warm and the film has a really
fresh look that few comedies these days have.
There is a bit of softness from times to times, mostly interior and
darker scenes, but again this is the problem with compressed video that we have
seen all too often. Audio is basic too;
a solid Dolby 5.1 mix that is sufficient for the content here, but again the
Blu-ray will be able to take that to a new level as well. There are deleted scenes as well, but it
would have been great to get a commentary track for the film, maybe that too
can be added once it gets Blu treatment.
Kabluey will have an opportunity to shine
once it hits Blu-ray then it truly can be KaBLUey. For now, people will have to get acquainted
via this DVD, which will hopefully drive a fan base and demand for High
Definition.
- Nate Goss
