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WAYNE’S WORLD
Synopsis: Based on the Saturday Night Live sketch of the same name, Wayne’s World is a wacky, irreverent pop-culture comedy about the adventures of two amiably aimless metal-head friends, Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey). From Wayne’s basement, the pair broadcast a talk-show called “Wayne’s World” on local public access television. The show comes to the attention of a sleazy network executive (Rob Lowe) who wants to produce a big-budget version of “Wayne’s World”—and he also wants Wayne’s girlfriend, a rock singer named Cassandra (Tia Carrere). Wayne and Garth have to battle the executive not only to save their show, but also Cassandra. Director Penelope Spheeris, Myers and Carvey hang a lot of silly, but funny, jokes on this thin plot, and the energy of the cast—as well as the wild pop-culture references—make Wayne’s World a cut above the average Saturday Night Live spin-off movie.
Wayne’s World debuts on Blu-ray with a decent but at times uninspired 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer that generally passes for average-at-best high definition material. Detail is adequate, but nothing ever stands out as too terribly eye-catching. Colors are decent if not a bit faded in appearance, particularly during the film’s darker segments that tend to obscure detail, be it in clothing or the objects scattered around the “Wayne’s World” set. However, the transfer suddenly reveals more in the way of color and detail during some later segments of the film, noticeably during a sequence at a garage in chapter four.
Special Features:
Commentary with Director Penelope Spheeris
Extreme Close-Up
Theatrical Trailer
WAYNE’S WORLD 2
Synopsis: The success of their TV show allows Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) to finally move out of their parents’ homes, but now they have to figure out what to do with their lives. Wayne’s girlfriend, up-and-coming rock star Cassandra (Tia Carrere), is enjoying a career boost thanks to her new manager Bobby Cohn (Christopher Walker), but Garth thinks that Bobby is more interested in her body than her place on the charts. Meanwhile, Wayne is visited in a dream by the late Jim Morrison (Michael A. Nickles), who convinces him to promote a massive rock festival, “Waynestock,” featuring Aerosmith as headliners. Garth, on the other hand, is finally relieved of his pesky virginity by femme fatale Honey Hornee (Kim Basinger), though it turns out that Honey has a hidden agenda. Drew Barrymore, Harry Shearer, and Charlton Heston play cameo roles in Wayne’s World 2, and Jay Leno, Rip Taylor, and Todd Rundgren appear as themselves.
Wayne’s World 2 comes to Blu-ray with a decent Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. From the very first notes over the opening credits, a palpable difference between this soundtrack and that of its predecessor is noticeable, this one heftier and more robust, with a greater sense of warmth and space to it.
Special Features:
Commentary by Director Stephen Surjik
Extreme Close-Up
MAJOR LEAGUE
Synopsis: She’s beautiful, smart, goal-oriented, and she just inherited the Cleveland Indians. Unfortunately, she wants to move the franchise to Miami, and a losing season is her only ticket to Florida. So she signs the wildest gang of screwballs that ever spit tobacco. They’re handsome, but they’re hopeless! Her catcher (Tom Berenger) is a washed-up womanizer who struck out in life. Her ace pitcher (Charlie Sheen) is a punked-out crazy who struck out with the law. And her third baseman (L.A. Law’s Corbin Bernsen) is more concerned fielding endorsements than grounders. Throw in a busload of other misfits and you’ve got yourself a hilarious line-up that’s destined for disaster! Or is it?
This Blu-ray edition of Major League makes the call to the bullpen and sends in a fine selection of bonus materials.
Special Features:
Commentary by Writer/Director David S. Ward and producer Chris Chesser
My Kinda Team
A Major League Look at Major League
BLACK SHEEP
Synopsis: Mike Donnelly (Chris Farley) is dedicated to helping his big brother Al (Tim Matheson) win the race for Washington State governor, he turns every opportunity for votes into an embarrassing disaster. Campaign aide and super slacker Steve Dodds (David Spade) volunteers to baby-sit Mike. Big mistake! When Mike discovers that the incumbent governor is a crook, he dives headfirst into a whole new level of well-intended destruction. Chris Farley and David Spade, the stars of Tommy Boy, once again show why they are “the comedy team of the ’90s!” (Leo Quinones, KIIS-FM). Directed by Penelope Spheeris (Wayne’s World) and costarring Gary Busey, Black Sheep is “a crowd-pleaser directed with maximum energy!” (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times). Featuring an electrifying performance by super Seattle band Mudhoney!
Paramount’s Blu-ray release of Black Sheep delivers surprisingly good results. Presented in 1080p high definition and framed inside 1.78:1 window, the transfer never misses a beat, remaining lively and natural throughout. The transfer reveals above-average levels of detail in most every shot. Bright, outdoor scenes fare extraordinarily well, as the texture of the street pavement, tree trunks, the political banners and signs, clothing, and all sorts of objects are rendered nicely and appear natural and lifelike. This Blu-ray release of Black Sheep offers absolutely no extra content.
WITHOUT A PADDLE
Synopsis:Three childhood friends go into the Oregon wilderness in search of lost treasure. They take a canoe upriver and everything that can go wrong, does. Hunted by two backwoods farmers, they encounter death-defying rapids, tree-hugging hippie chicks and a crazy old mountain man played by Burt Reynolds.
The original Without a Paddle boasts a nice trio of comedy actors with Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, and Dax Shepard. In an offbeat comedy movie like this, having some star power certainly helps add some meat to the entertainment. Known talent separates Without a Paddle with the follow up, Nature’s Calling, which had a much less familiar cast, with a very similar storyline. Though neither movie is a classic, there are some laughs if you are in a lighthearted Friday night mood.
Special Features:
Commentary by Director Steven Brill
MTV’s Making the Movie: Without A Paddle
13 Additional Scenes with Optional Director Commentary
6 MTV Interstitials
