BLU-RAY REVIEW

RV

Featured In Issue 113, October 2006

Picture3
SoundNR
WSR Score2
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
15592
(MPAA Rating):
PG
(Rating Reason):
For grude humor, innuendo, and language
(Retail Price):
$38.95
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
Yes
(Running Time In Minutes):
99
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
1
(Theatrical Year):
2006
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
08/15/06
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Barry Sonnenfeld
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Digital 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):

Growing up in the same household as Gary Reber meant one thing for certain—life was anything but dull. I've got to say, though, when I first saw the image of the RV on-screen in this film, all the traumas of my childhood came rushing back. Imagine driving around in a similar vehicle as the Munro family did but instead of a motor home, a bread truck, and instead of the screaming RENT ME! sign, a big old REBER For Congress plastered on the side. Life was not quite as adventurous as this fictional family's vacation was, but I guess in the end the outcome was the same—the family that played together, stayed together. (Tricia Spears)

There are some of the same supplements found on the Blu-ray Disc DVD that were on the DVD, including the Telestrator commentary with Director Barry Sonnenfeld and the following featurettes: "Barry Sonnenfeld: The Kosher Cowboy" (nine minutes), "JoJo: The Pop Princess" (five minutes), "RV Nation: The Culture Of Road Warriors" (12 minutes), "Robin Williams: A Family Affair" (five minutes), and "The Scoop On Poop" (four minutes).

With a bright, unnaturally colorful palette, the 2.40:1 MPEG-2-encoded Blu-ray Disc and anamorphically enhanced DVD picture fit the storytelling well, but flesh tones are a touch too oversaturated. The imagery can be impressively detailed at times, but for the most part it is rather soft on both formats. Edge enhancement can be noticed from time to time on the DVD, although it doesn't cause much of a distraction. Blacks are deep and contrast is superb with the Blu-ray Disc version, although whites can look clipped and blown out. (Tricia Spears)

While both the Blu-ray Disc's linear PCM and the DVD's Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack can sound good, surround envelopment is not fully realized, which makes the soundtrack feel very one-dimensional. The LFE channel is incorporated well, however, both for effects and music. Dialogue sounds good, but there really is not much that is exciting about this soundtrack. (Danny Richelieu)