BLU-RAY REVIEW

Cheech & Chong's Up In Smoke

Picture3
Sound3
WSR Score3.5
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(Studio/Distributor):
Paramount Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
2090576
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$13.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
85
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
4/10/2018
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Lou Adler
(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):
DTS HD Lossless 6.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Subtitles):

"Cheech & Chong's Up In Smoke" is the 40th Anniversary release of the outrageously funny classic inspired by Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong's now legendary comedy routines of the early '70s. In the film, Cheech and Chong play wannabe musicians and stoners who unwittingly smuggle a van made of marijuana from Mexico to L.A. Their drug-laced humor keeps their spirits high as they unknowingly elude the police and meander their way to an outrageous finale at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood where Cheech performs in a pink tutu and Chong plays drums in a red body suit with a Quaalude logo. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary by Cheech Marin and Director Lou Adler, the documentary "How Pedro Met The Man" (HD 15:15), Roach Clips with optional commentary (deleted scenes) (SD 11:29), the featurette "Lighting It Up: A Look Back At Up In Smoke" (HD 11:11), the "Earache My Eye" music video featuring Alice Bowie (HD 05:43), Cheech & Chong's "The Man Song" (SD 02:35), vintage radio spots, the theatrical trailer, upfront previews, and an UltraViolet digital copy. A special Deluxe Collector's Edition is also available, which pairs the Blu-ray with the original soundtrack on CD and Vinyl LP in deluxe packaging.

The 2.36:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD HDR10 picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed on 35mm film stock using Panavision cameras in Panavision® and sourced from a 2K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture is, of course, dated and the production is low budget (yet grossed over 100 million dollars). As such, picture quality is mediocre at best with film grain prominent throughout. Contrast and color fidelity are rather inconsistent. Still, the colorful picture delivers in conveying a wild and crazy ride with the drug-addicted duo. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack has been derived from the original sound elements (originally mixed in monaural). While frontal focused and monaural centric, it is the music that really energizes the soundtrack with an aggressive surround presence and good fidelity and stereo positioning, with extension to the surrounds. Otherwise, dialogue is intelligible throughout. This is a fun soundtrack with outrageous dialogue that celebrates a cannabis culture. (Gary Reber)