WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

So Fine
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Ryan O’Neal, Jack Warden, Mariangela Melato, Richard Kiel

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3.5
Sound Rating: 1.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
(Catalog Number): 11143
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $34.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 91
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1981
(LD Release Date): 10/98
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Andrew Bergman
(Screenplay/Written By): Andrew Bergman
(Story): NA
(Music): Ennio Morricone
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Santo Loquasto
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Alan Heim, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Mike Lobell

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): Mono Sound
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
In So Fine, Ryan O’Neal stars as Bobby Fine, a stuffy college professor leading a quiet life in New England. That is until his dress-merchant father Jack (Jack Warden) has a sizable loan debt come due. Bobby is pressed into service in the failing company with less than stellar results. What’s worse, he becomes romantically involved with Lira (Mariangela Melato) whose husband is a seven-foot tall loan shark (Richard Kiel). Business isn’t getting any better until a ripped pair of jeans starts an international phenomenon—and puts Fine Fashions back on top—or in this case, back “on the bottom.”

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture, matted at 1.85:1, exhibits fully saturated colors, accurate fleshtones and deep, solid blacks. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered. Images are sharp and detailed, with good fine background detail. Sometimes interiors are wanting in better clarity, appearing slightly dated, but darker scenes are often nicely presented with deep solid blacks and good visual information in the darker scenes. Overall this is a generally pleasing picture. Minor noise is apparent throughout, but artifacts are not distracting.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is undistinguished monaural that sounds distorted with strident dialogue and hum throughout.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition:
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison: