The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
87
Studio and Year: Universal - 2012
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 101 minutes
Genre: Comedy/Thriller
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Starring: Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper, Tom Arnold, Kristin Chenoweth, Bradley Cooper, Joy Bryant, Beau Bridges, Ryan Hansen
Directed by: Dax Shepard & David Palmer
Music by: Julian Wass
Written by: Dax Shepard
Region Code: A,B,C
Blu-ray Disc release Date: January 8, 2013
"A comedy that never takes its foot off the gas"
Film Synopsis:
A nice guy with a questionable past, Charlie Bronson (Shepard), risks everything when he busts out of a witness protection program to drive his girlfriend (Bell) to Los Angeles for the job opportunity of a lifetime. Their road trip grows awkwardly complicated, however, when they’re chased by an inept federal agent (Arnold) and Charlie’s ex-pal (Cooper), a vengeance-crazed criminal he helped put behind bars.
My Take:
Writer/co-director Dax Shepard’s favorite movie is Smokey and the Bandit. Watching Hit and run you can clearly see its influence. Conceptually it brings nothing original to the table and features a surface level story about a guy in witness protection that opts out in favor of driving his girlfriend back to Los Angeles a place that holds a job opportunity for her but also people from his past that would like nothing more than to settle an old score. Conventional or not Hit and run proves to be fairly entertaining thanks to some decent muscle car eye candy, a little over the top humor/situations and a pervading level of amiable charm found both in the dialogue and characters. The cast is quite good, consisting of Dax Shepard buddies Bradly Cooper, Kristin Chenoweth, Joy Bryant and lady love Kristen Bell. Screen veteran Beau Bridges and funnyman Tom Arnold (who is a hoot in the role of Randy the bumbling Federal Agent assigned to witness protection) round out the remaining notables among the cast.
Hit and Run is a decent way to spend an hour and a half and makes for a worthwhile fix when you’re hankering for a fast paced comedy thriller that doesn’t ask but that you sit back and enjoy the ride.
Parental Guide:
The rating is for pervasive language including sexual references, graphic nudity, some violence and drug content.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
Audio: 86
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
Video: 88
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
Hit and run comes to Blu-ray Disc from Universal Studios Home Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 33 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 3.5 Mbps.
This is a high quality video presentation that seems a perfect match for the source material. Colors are deeply saturated with eye pleasing vitality and delineated depth. Images are resolute, with stable sharpness, crisp detail and appreciable subtle refinement. Certain scenes appeared better resolved than others although I suspect this is related to the photography and not the encoding. Contrast was dynamic without being overpowering and blacks were respectable in depth with discernible detail in low lighting and shadows. I didn’t see any signs of video related artifacts and thought that in general video quality was excellent.
This is a solid DTS-HD Master Audio encoding that renders this soundtrack well. Dialogue is firmly planted in the center channel and clearly renders voices and effects with appropriate distinction and balance within the front soundstage. Low frequency effects aren’t foundation shaking but the subwoofer is kept busy as it works in tandem with the rest of the system to convey the low level bass impact as dictated by the film’s elements. Dynamic range is good which lends subtle distinction to low level sounds and gravity to broader ones. For a film such as this I was a bit surprised at how front oriented the audio mix was however the entire system kicks in during the more active sequences.
Bonus Features:
- (HD) 6 deleted scenes
- (HD) Featurettes (3 segments):
-
- Street legal = 2 minutes
- Run and gun – 2 minutes
- Love on the run – 2 minutes
- Street legal = 2 minutes
- My Scenes bookmark feature
- D-Box Motion Code enabled
- Bonus DVD
- Digital Copy
- Ultraviolet Digital Copy
Final Thoughts:
Hit and run comes from the mind and heart of writer/co-director/star Dax Shepard and is a formulaic car chase comedy thriller that puts an entertaining spin on the genre. Hardcore fans may not find it wholly satisfying however it musters enough laughs, muscle car action and amiable charm to make for 90 plus minutes well spent. It comes to Blu-ray Disc from Universal Studios Home Entertainment featuring excellent high definition video, crystal clear lossless sound quality and a disappointing supplemental package that consists of a handful of deleted scenes and three repetitive featurettes that offer brief insights from Dax Shepard and Kristin Bell. I have added it to my collection (although I rarely turn down flicks starring Kristen Bell) but would say that a rental is a good place to start.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS55 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100” 16x9 Screen
Onkyo PR-SC5508 THX Ultra 2 Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-103 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package
