Next Day Air (2009/Summit DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: D Feature: D
Benny
Boom is yet another Music Video director trying to make a narrative feature and
his clients in that realm include Nelly, Sean Combs, Nas, Boys II Men,
Ginuwine, Jermaine Dupri, LL Cool J, Kelly Rowland, Ja Rule, Monica, 50 Cent,
Keyshia Cole, Mase, Busta Rhymes, Will.i.am and Tyrese. With an impressive resume like that, you
would think his urban heist comedy Next
Day Air (2009) would be another Set
It Off. Unfortunately, it is a
cliché-fest that goes by very quickly and does not add up to much.
With
jokes that seem like Friday
recycled, the delivery gone wrong and bank robbery gone wrong become more about
laughs that don’t work than anything with suspense, then you get all these
sudden breaks in the narrative for shootouts or beatings, but there is not
enough story to hang them on. Donald
Faison, Mike Epps, Debbie Allen and a barely-seen Mos Def are among the more
familiar faces. Too bad the script is
even more familiar in everything we have seen before, even when they throw in
Mexican Gangsters.
Mark this
one “return to sender”.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image was supposedly shot in 35mm film, but
this is on the soft side and that may be inaccurate. Director of Photography David A. Armstrong
lensed the first six Saw films (yes,
the 6th is due soon) and the big surprise is that he can produce
images that don’t look bathed in green.
Still, it offers little interesting visually. The Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo (with
limited Pro Logic surrounds) mixes are not that good, with the 5.1 offering
compressed and even harsh sound affecting the soundfield. Dialogue is not always recorded as well as it
could be. Extras include barely amusing
outtakes and an audio commentary track by Boom.
- Nicholas Sheffo
