The Film
Before director Todd Phillips had a series of successful Hangovers, he went on a Road Trip -- with Tom Green.
Thankfully, Green is more of a blip than a main character in this 2000 comedy. It's more about John (Breckin Meyer), who has been with Tiffany (Rachel Blanchard) since the age of 4. College soon separates the inseparable couple, and the distance has Josh worried. Of course, it doesn't help that he can't get a hold of her. After a series of calls, Josh hooks up with uber-hottie Beth (Amy Smart) and videotapes the process. A slight mistake has the tape on its way to Tiffany -- and Josh and his friends on the road to head it off at the pass.
Of course, every Phillips journey has a series of wacky mishaps. This one finds its characters with exploding transportation, stealing from a blind woman, partying with an all-black fraternity, and hanging with a pot-smoking grandpop.
Road Trip isn't exactly The Hangover. It may not even be The Hangover, Part II. However, it's still pretty funny and has the perfect blend of comedy, hijinks and nudity to classify as a classic teen comedy. Phillips can also thank lead actors Meyer, Smart and especially DJ Qualls and a Stifler-esque Seann William Scott.
The Picture
Paramount does a really nice job with this 1.78:1 transfer. It's got a little grain on it, but it's pretty impressive. There are plenty of details, even in those wide shots. The close-ups, however, are especially impressive, with a lot of detail in faces and on clothing. Colors are also good, delivering a very accurate image throughout.
The Sound
Road Trip isn't your typical comedy that depends strictly on dialogue for the gags, and has the DTS-HD Master Audio to back that up. Of course, that dialogue is important and is crystal clear. It is surprising that a movie about a road trip doesn't have more ambient sounds, but a few peek through here and there. That said, this track makes up for that during the movie's louder moments -- and when it does, the track will shake the room.
The Extras
This single-disc release is currently only available at Best Buy. Considering the exclusivity, there isn't a ton of extras. Viewers get the theatrical film, as well as an unrated version with another 30 seconds or so. Otherwise, this release has a few deleted scenes, a music video, trailers, and a promotional short titled, "Ever Been on a Road Trip?"
Final Thoughts
Best Buy currently has the Road Trip Blu-ray as an exclusive. It's too bad that they aren't offering much besides the film. Is that worth it? Well, it's not the best teen comedy. It's not even the best Todd Phillips comedy. That said, it has enough funny moments and a fun audio/video presentation, which should warrant spending the low street price.
Product Details
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