Tommy Boy
By David Vaughn   •   December, 2008 The good news is that Tommy (Chris Farley) has finally graduated from college after seven long years—and no, he didn't go to medical school. Fully educated and ready to make his mark on the world, Tommy goes into the family business of selling car parts. When his father suddenly dies, he needs to save the company from financial ruin by hitting the road with company sycophant Richard (David Spade) to sell a new line of brake pads.

I've watched Tommy Boy numerous times over the years, and I still enjoy the comedy team of Spade and Farley. Unfortunately, Farley's untimely death in 1997 of a drug overdose put an end to any future projects starring the two comedians. This is not a great film by any stretch, but there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

Holy schnike, for a catalog title from the mid-90s, Tommy Boy looks great. The print is in flawless condition, and the detail is well above average in both close-ups and long sweeping shots. Color saturation is strong and solid, and contrast is consistent from scene to scene. Black levels are never really tested to any degree, but they are deep enough to provide acceptable shadow delineation.

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack stays true to the movie's comedic roots with a front-laden presentation. The surround channels provide some atmospheric ambience, and the dialog is crystal clear and firmly rooted in the center speaker. The music includes some classic songs from the '70s and '80s that open up the dynamics in this otherwise vanilla track.

A slew of supplements grace the BD50 disc, including four behind-the-scenes featurettes, six deleted scenes, six alternate takes, 15 extended scenes, and seven storyboard comparisons. Additionally, there are 19 TV spots, a gag reel, a photo gallery, and the theatrical trailer. Unfortunately, each of the bonus materials only receives the standard-definition treatment.

It's rare that I can watch a comedy multiple times and laugh, but Tommy Boy doesn't disappoint. This is by far the best the film has ever looked and sounded. Recommended for fans.

Release Date: December 16, 2008

Movie: 8/10
Picture: 8/10
Sound: 7/10

Review System

Source
Panasonic DMP-BD55

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo Pro PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 Amplifier
Belkin PF60 power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector

Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics