HD DVD Review: The Heartbreak Kid

THE MOVIE: 2 1/2 stars out of 5

For the life of me. I don’t get Ben Stiller and why he is so popular. Maybe someone can explain it to me but I just don’t think this guy is funny. This is another Ben Stiller vehicle where he gets himself in trouble and tries to get out of it. The problem is that it is supposed to be a comedy and he is just not funny. In fact, he is so stupid and disagreeable that you actually root against him. At least the film has some great looking women in it. Naked ladies in HD can’t be all bad! I guess it you loved Something About Mary you will enjoy this film. I didn’t.

THE VIDEO: 4 5/8 stars out of 5

Encoded with AVC and presented in its original aspect ratio of 1:85:1, this is an excellent looking transfer. Colors are bright and bold and accurate. Black level is spot on and gives the image a good three dimensional effect. This is a very good looking film and transfer. It is too bad the picture was not up to the quality of the transfer.

THE AUDIO: 4 5/8 stars out of 5

Encoded with Dolby True HD, this is a find sounding film as well. Dialogue is well recorded, clear, distinct and well presented in the mix. The overall sound of the film is open and smooth with excellent bass response. The music in the film is the real surprise here as it sounds wonderful. Some of these 70’s and 80’s pop tunes have never sounded better than they do here. While the film is mainly dialogue driver the surround speakers are used effectively when they are. One of the examples of this is with the music where the surrounds add real nice ambience which greatly adds to the overall sound of the music. Where appropriate, the surrounds add a good immersive effect to the sound. It just doesn’t happen all that often.

IN CONCLUSION

While The Heartbreak Kid looks and sounds great, it is not my cup of tea. If you are a Ben Stiller fan, you may well feel differently. I would rate it as a rental only however.

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