Review by Leonard Norwitz

 

Studio:

Theatrical: 20th Century Fox

Blu-ray: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

 

Disc:

Region: A

Runtime: 83 min.

Chapters: 22

Size: 25 GB

Case: Locking Amaray Blu-ray case

Release date: August 26, 2008

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Resolution: 1080p

Video codec: MPEG2 @ 24.8 MBPS

 

Audio:

English DTS HD 5.1 Master Lossless Audio, French & Spanish 5.1 Dolby Surround

 

Subtitles:

English SDH, Spanish, Cantonese & Korean

 

Extras:

• Theatrical Trailers in HD

 

 

The Film: 5

"Dude, Where's My Car?" - the oft repeated line from one of the silliest movies ever made has entered the lexicon as a kind of catch phrase for duhness itself – a movie that somehow manages to endear itself despite a script where an unsuspecting phrase is repeated to the point of meaninglessness. But how many of us have actually watched this movie, which is a kind of Jesse & Chester's Excellent Adventure by way of Plan 10 from Outer Space? Could you ask for a more authoritative pedigree! I'm confident Ed Woods himself would have been envious.

Dude, Where's My Car? also answers certain historical questions of moment, like: Why did Jennifer Garner need an alias from the CIA after making this movie? And, whatever happened to Kristy Swanson once she passed along her stakes to Sarah Michelle? As for Seann William Scott – what does one do after practically stealing the movie while waiting for the sequellae to American Pie? Of course, to some people, the most important question is: What was there about Ashton Kutcher that caught Demi's attention – the tattoo?

Potheads Jesse & Chester (aka: Sweet & Dude) wake up one morning to find they have no memory of the night before. They must have had the time of their lives, because they always do. But as they retrace their steps they learn that this particular night involved a suitcase full of money, which they were seen to draw on and give away liberally, and aliens from outer space.

 

 

Image: 7.5/9
The first number indicates a relative level of excellence compared to other Blu-ray DVDs on a ten-point scale. The second number places this image along the full range of DVDs, including SD 480i.

Neat, crisp, sun-drenched, lots of pancake makeup. (Poor Kristy was scarcely able to move her face.) The source print appears to be in excellent condition. But DNR (?) might be responsible for a certain waxiness to complexions that might not be entirely due to makeup.

 

Audio & Music: 6/8
The idea of a DTS HD mix for a movie of this caliber strikes me as major overkill, but I say, if properly applied, why not! From the opening salvos of Dangerman's "Listen to the Music" we know this is going to be fun soundtrack, one that gets a better treatment than it deserved. I wasn't aware of much happening in the surrounds, but I wouldn't have expected anything either, except maybe in the arcade, where it turned out there was precious little. Dialogue is clear – heaven help us!!

 

 

Operations: 6
This Fox Blu-ray gets right to the main menu almost before you return to your chair. But make sure you check out the anti-smoking promo first – In this context it has a touch of Reffer Madness about it. Once at the main menu, and seeing as how there are no extra features to speak of - just a few theatrical trailers in HD, it is inexplicably unclear as to which function of the menu has been clicked on, unless you access the menu from the feature.

 

Extras: 2
Four theatrical trailers in HD is all there is, including one for the Dude.

 

 

Bottom line: 7
If you are in just the right mind-set, Dude, Where's My Car? can be a funny and entertaining movie. It certainly looks and sounds good on Blu-ray. If you've never see it before, Rent it first.

Leonard Norwitz
August 14, 2008