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Happy Gilmore
R2 - United Kingdom - Fabulous Films Review written by and copyright: Rick Curzon (11th February 2016). |
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The Film
 ***This is an A/V and Extras review only. For reviews on the movie from various critics, we recommend visiting HERE.*** Adam Sandler stars in this hilarious comedy that scores a hole in one for gut-busting wit and outrageous slapstick. Happy, a raucous hockey player turned golfer, sends the sedate sport into overdrive after he becomes a media sensation with his outlandish antics on the links. It's par for the course entertainment co-starring Christopher McDonald, Richard Kiel, Carl Weathers and Kevin Nealon.
Video
UK independent label Fabulous Films has (licensed from Universal) reissued this popular Adam Sandler comedy; aspect ratio 1.85:1 presented with 16x9 enhancement. Previously available on a 1999 DVD release, this would appear to be a direct port; including 55 seconds of dialogue substitutions. In 2010 Universal also issued a Blu-ray which ported over the scant extras (deleted scenes, trailer etc) that were available on the US special edition DVD. At this time it's not clear if that disc is also compromised by substitutions. What we have here is a pristine standard definition copy of the film which is perfectly serviceable with no signs of damage or wear on the print. Like many standard def transfers from the late '90s / early 2000s it lacks the punch that modern equivalents have but this is respectable standard definition transfer as you'd expect when it was prepared so soon after the film's release. Happy Gilmore is shot in a fairly unremarkable but standard way for a Hollywood comedy; brightly coloured and with decent black levels. Bar one of the Blu-rays this DVD will do for those who just want to watch the film. In standard definition terms it's an ok transfer of a standard looking movie. Note: There is no menu. 1.85:1 anamorphic / PAL / 88'07"
Audio
Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1 French Dolby Digital 5.1 Czech Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo German Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Polish Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (voiceover) Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, German, Dutch. This has a passable, if unremarkable Dolby Digital Track that serves the film well, only really kicking into full force in the musical moments and when Gilmore hits his long golf shots. Being a comedy which is mainly concerned with what is being said this isn't surprising. There's little use of the LFE track; it gave my subwoofer a workout at choice moments of music only and then only fleetingly. This is a fairly standard, lossy standard definition soundtrack. It does it's job perfectly well if unremarkably. That said this isn't really the kind of film to go to town on it's immersive soundtrack. I detected no distortions or other flaws such as pops, clicks or hiss.
Extras
Just some basic extras which are only available right at the end of the feature. Production Notes Cast & Filmmakers Theatrical Trailer (2:11)
Overall
If you want to watch this tolerable comedy from Sandler this disc will do just fine, but true collectors will want HD goodness and the Blu-ray is pretty cheap these days so if it were my call, that's the disc I'd be going for. However, it's unclear as to whether the UK Blu-ray is uncut - the UK DVDs have substituted audio - so go for the US Blu-ray.
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