WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Def Jam’s How To Be A Player
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 27 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Bill Bellamy, Natalie Desselle, Lark Voorhies, Mari Morrow, Pierre, Jermaine “Big Hugg” Hopkins, A.J. Johnson, Max Julien, Beverly Johnson, Gilbert Gottfried & Bernie Mac

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3.5
Sound Rating: 4
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): PolyGram Video
(Catalog Number): ID4007PG
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $29.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 93
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): No
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1997
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Lionel C. Martin
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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 Digital Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
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WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Def Jam’s How To Be A Player stars Bill Bellamy as Andre Jackson, a slick “player” with better moves than a basketball star. With Sherri, Shante, Tamie, Barbara, Lisa, Amber and Nadine—just to name a few—you’d think “Dray” would have his hands full. When his sister, Jenny (Natalie Desselle), uses her gorgeous friend Katrina as bait, all Dray’s girls end up at the same place at the same time.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture, matted at 1.85:1, exhibits slightly oversaturated color fidelity with vivid fleshtones, rich and vibrant colors and deep blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with excellent shadow detail and contrast. A slight veil of noise is apparent throughout, as well as occasional artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
Both the Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete and PCM matrix soundtracks are nicely presented. The hip hop music score is terrific and well recorded with excellent deep bass extension. Dialogue is natural sounding with exceptional spatial integration. Surround envelopment is generally subtle, but occasionally aggressive with discrete surrounds.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
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(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
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(Aggressive Split Surround):
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(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: