Synopsis
Cedric the Entertainer is Ralph Kramden. Mike Epps is Ed Norton. They have the get-rich-quick schemes that never work. Gabrelle Union and Regina Hall are Alice and Trixie, the long-suffering and very sensible wives who are increasingly exasperated by their numbnuts husbands. The latest scheme involves things like turning a pet greyhound into a competitive racer, all in the hopes of purchasing a duplex.
Cards on the table: I was never a fan of the TV show. Born too late, I suppose, …he humour has always struck me as very creaky. The film does its best to move the situational humour into the 21st Century, but still isn’t very funny. One of the problems is that it is, curiously, too earnest. When Alice complains that she finds their lifestyle oppressive, she does so with real despair, adding a level of seriousness that the premise cannot support. The cast does its best, but this is yet another film that really didn’t need to happen.
Audio
The audio is pretty spiffy. From the cracking opening credits onward, the sound is lively, crisp, and fun. The surround elements are strong, with plenty of environmental effects, and there is no distortion. Both 5.1 and 2.0 options are available.
Video
The disc under review is the fullscreen edition, and that kind of visual mutilation always counts for some docked stars. Further slapdown is called for since there does not appear to be a widescreen version available. Tsk tsk. That said, the cropping isn’t as noticeable as it might be. The colours are very strong, with excellent blacks and contrasts, and strong flesh tones. The image is sharp, and there is no grain or visible edge enhancement.
Special Features
The commentary by director John Schultz, Cedric the Entertainer and Mike Epps is pretty run-of-the-mill. The same is true of the making-of featurette. In other words, professional, but hardly inspiring. There are six deleted/alternate/extended scenes (with option commentary by Schultz), two “Interstitials” (basically a form of trailer), the theatrical trailer itself, and ads for other DVD releases. The menu is basic.
Closing Thoughts
Great colours (but what’s with the fullscreen only?), but the movie is dispiriting.
Special Features List
- Audio Commentary
- Deleted Scenes with Optional Director’s Commentary
- Interstitials
- Trailers
