Blue Streak Released By:
Columbia/Tri-Star Home VideoFeatures:
1999; 94 Min; Rated PG-13; Dolby Digital English 5.1; Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85) and P/S.Extras:
2 Featurettes - HBO First Look: Inside And Undercover, Setting Up For The Score; 3 Music Videos; Cast And Crew Biographies; Theatrical Trailers.Review:
Martin Lawrence is probably best known for his successful Fox comedy Martin, while plugging along in the film industry as a second fiddle. Even when he wasn't supposed to be second fiddle, Bad Boys, he seems to get over shadowed. Blue Streak was intended to be become his break out hit. I assume Mr. Lawrence is still looking.Lawrence plays Miles Logan, a very successful jewel thief. When a job goes terribly wrong, he is force to hide his newly acquired $20 million diamond in a nearby construction site. He's arrested, and goes away for two years. When he is released, he returns to the scene of the crime, only to discover the building he hid the diamond in, is a new police station. Houston, we have a problem.
In an effort to infiltrate the police station, Logan becomes officer Malone, a crack detective, at least that's what his mock resume says. Along the way, Logan is teamed up with a rookie cop, Carlson (Luke Wilson), who believes Logan is a master detective. Logan is also forced to arrest his buddy Tulley (Dave Chapelle), confront the main person who mucked up the first job, LeFleur (a demented Peter Greene) and bring down a Souther Californian drug czar.
This buddy comedy isn't complete loss. Lawrence and Chapelle are hilarious when they're together, unfortunately it wasn't enough. Les Mayfield's direction is competent, but can't save a rather mediocre script. I think this is one of the cases where the studio was thinking more about the ratings board instead of the screenplay. Mayfield's other credits include Flubber and Encino Man, so maybe his resume is saying something.
As with 99% of all Columbia/Tri-Star DVD releases the video standard is exceptional. The anamorphic 1.85 picture is fabulous. I did check out the pan and scam briefly, and it does seem that the widescreen edition gains a little on the sides, but since I never watch a full length pan and scan...
The audio mix is great. Since there's a lot of hip-hop music, the soundtrack contains a lot of thump. It never seems to get out of hand, where the bass is over used. For an action comedy, they surround aren't overly aggressive. Most of the surround sound elements are in the music, but during chapter 22, "Sting operation," the sound track get put through its paces. Bullets fly, the music roars ,etc. Again, a well produced mix.
The extras save this title. Two, twenty minute documentaries have been included: "Setting Up for the Score" and an HBO first look feature "Inside and Undercover." I got through the HBO documentary, but it seems the second one is redundant, I didn't finish it yet.
Three music videos have been included on the disc, a rarity. They are: "Girls Best Friend" by Jay-Z, "Criminal Mind" by Tyrese featuring Heavy D and " Damn (Should've Treated U Right)" by So Plush featuring Ja Rule. These aren't really my type of music, by at least they're included. In addition to the original trailer for Blue Streak, the trailer for Bad Boys is thrown in.
Final thoughts? Since I have a high tolerance for buddy comedies, I picked this disc up, fortunately at a discount. By all means, Martin Lawrence fans should pick this disc up. Personally, I prefer his directorial debut, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate much more. If you're looking for something to rent one night, you won't go wrong with Blue Streak.
Movie: 4
Picture: 8
Audio: 8
Extras: 7Dan Linzmeier, FIT Productions
Fitprod@aol.com
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