Super Troopers on Blu-ray Disc Review
By Rachel Cericola
The Film
Somewhere in between
Police Academy and
Reno 911!, we had
Super Troopers. Created by the five-man comedy band known as Broken Lizard, this slapstick flick follows a crew of silly state troopers who are more concerned with hijinks than the whole "protect and serve" thing. However, after a drug ring and murder pop up, they kick it into high gear to save the day -- and their jobs.
Broken Lizard has a cult following and two other major studio releases (
Club Dread,
Beerfest) in its portfolio. Still, the troupe isn't exactly the next coming of Kids in the Hall. Hell, they aren't even The State. The film is not without laughs, though, and hey -- what do I know?
Super Troopers 2 will be speeding (legally!) into theaters come 2010.
The Picture
The film only had a $3 million budget. However, the magic of Blu-ray helps take away that low-rent look. The 1.85:1 transfer does a decent job with details on the road, close-ups on the characters, and even grossing you out during the syrup-chugging scene. The film is very life-like, but doesn't have the fireworks of other HD releases.
The Sound
Some of the sound effects and soundtrack comes off as very loud. After all, this crop of borderline-hyperactive cops is
always on. They never seem to come down. Sometimes the audio adds to that, but sometimes it's downright annoying. Still, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 provides crystal-clear dialogue in the middle of the mayhem.
The Extras
Even though there weren't a ton of extras, Broken Lizard certainly knows its audience. One of the best in the bunch is "Stupor Troopers: The Drinking Game." If you can get through the long intro, which includes a ton of alcohol-related warnings (yeah, that's fun!), the game is pretty amusing -- and impairing. Also, even if you aren't a fan of commentary, the PiP version offers an interesting alternative, with most of the cast chatting it up
Mystery Science Theater-style.
Final Thoughts
If you're going to bother with any of the Broken Lizard flicks,
Super Troopers is the one to watch. Now, that's not a ringing endorsement; it's a fact. The film and its makers have a strong cult following, Sundance street cred, and a cast that includes the very impressive Brian Cox. I get it, but just didn't want it. Still, if you're a fan, this Blu-ray is a decent investment.
Where to Buy:
Product Details
- Actors: Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolehanske, Brian Cox, Daniel Von Bargen, Marisa Coughlan
- Director: Jay Chandrasekhar
- Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Surround (Spanish), Dolby 5.1 (French)
- Subtitles: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Region: A
- Number of Discs: 1
- Rating: R
- Studio: 20th Century Fox
- Blu-ray Disc Release Date: December 9, 2008
- Run Time: 100 minutes
- List Price: $34.98
- Extras:
- Commentary by director/co-writer/actor Jay Chandrasekhar and co-writer/actor Erik Stolehanske
- Commentary by co-writers/actors Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme and Paul Soter
- PiP Commentary
- Stupor Troopers: The Drinking Game
- Outtakes and Extended Scenes with Optional Commentaries
- Featurette
- Road Trip News Wrap
- Original Theatrical Trailer
