WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Meet Wally Sparks
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 25 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Rodney Dangerfield, Debi Mazar, Cindy Williams, Alan Rachins, Michael Weatherly, Lisa Thornhill, Mark L. Taylor, Eamonn Roche, Lenny Clarke, Burt Reynolds & David Ogden Stiers

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 3
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Trimark Home Video
(Catalog Number): LDVM6574-WS
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 105
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1996
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Peter Baldwin
(Screenplay/Written By): Rodney Dangerfield & Harry Basil
(Story): Harry Basil
(Music): Michel Colombier
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Bryan Jones
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Raul Davalos
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): Harry Basil & Elliot Rosenblatt
(Producers): Leslie Greif

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

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Meet Wally Sparks is a ridiculous comedy aiming low for its humor in which Rodney Dangerfield stars as trash talk show host Wally Sparks. When the network president (Burt Reynolds), fed up with Wally’s bad behavior and outrageous antics, gives him an ultimatum, Wally and his producer (Debi Mazar) make a trip to the Georgia Governor’s (David Ogden Stiers) mansion in the hopes of getting a hot story. And with the help of a drunk horse—he does. Cameos include Tony Danza, Michael Bolton and a myriad of talk show hosts.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.85:1 picture exhibits generally good, sometimes inconsistent color fidelity with natural fleshtones and deep blacks. Images are generally sharp and detailed with good shadow detail and only some slight noise apparent.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Surround soundtrack is inconsistent throughout with dialogue scenes often dramatically below the 85dB reference level, but nonetheless natural sounding with excellent spatial integration. The music score, in contrast, is beautifully recorded and at an effective sound level. Sound effects are generally in stereo, but subtle.
(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: