WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Inkwell, The
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 11 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Larenz Tate, Joe Morton, Suzzanne Douglas, Glynn Turman Vanessa Bell Calloway, Adrienne-Joi Johnson, Morris Chestnut, Jada Pinkett, Duane Martin, Mary Alice & Phyllis Yvonne Stickney

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Touchstone Home Video
(Catalog Number): 2749 AS
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $$39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 112
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1994
(LD Release Date): 10/1/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Matty Rich
(Screenplay/Written By): Tom Ricostronza & Paris Qualles
(Story): NA
(Music): Terence Blanchard
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Lester Cohen
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Quinnie Martin, Jr.
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Jon Jashni
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Irving Azoff & Guy Riedel

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.78:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
The Inkwell is a coming-of-age family comedy that takes place in the summer of 1976, and centers around Inkwell Beach on Martha’s Vineyard. Drew Tate (Larenz Tate) is 16, lonely and misunderstood by his parents, Kenny and Brenda, played by Joe Morton and Suzzanne Douglas. A vacation at the beach with the in-laws, sounds dull until Drew is taken in hand by his cousin Jr., played by Duane Martin, and he learns all about fun, hot music and good friends. Once Kenny, an ex-Black Panther, begins to accept the bourgeois life-style of his in-laws the family are well on their way to making this vacation the funniest ever.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture is sharp and detailed without grain or noise artifacts. Color is vibrant with solid blacks and excellent shadow detail, highlighted by excellent contrast. Fleshtones are naturally rendered. The picture has been matted at 1.78:1

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The hot soundtrack is conventional with minimal surround envelopment, but a dy-namic music score features Marvin Gaye, Jade, Gladys Knight and B.T. Express.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: