Caddyshack (LD) Released by:
Warner Home Video, Distributed by Image EntertainmentFeatures:
1980; 98Min; Rated R; Digital Tracks: Mono, Analog Tracks: Isolated Music and Effects; Widescreen 1.78.Extras:
Caddyshack: The 19th Hole; Theatrical Trailer.Review:
It's about time! All right, I'll put this in perspective. Caddyshack is not the greatest movie ever made. But, with all due respect to Adam Sandler (Happy Gilmore) and his crew, Caddyshack is the greatest golf comedy in history. Finally, after nineteen years, ok, I'll give Warner benefit of the doubt, say six to eight considering the extent of widescreen presentations on LD, justice has been done. And DVD only owners? DENIED!Fine, I won't rub it in too hard, but, situations like this remind me as to why I still own an LD player. Well this, V, V: The Final Battle, Babylon 5, Disney Animation (Until this year, where's Mulan, damnit?) and the new widescreen, Dolby Digital, Indiana Jones Trilogy... oh wait, that DVD screw job hasn't occurred yet. At least not officially. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have Indiana Jones on DVD as well, but since that apparently won't be an option (and I gave my original widescreen disc to one of my friends two years ago for her birthday), I will support the lemming theory and bite on the LD's. Also, fully realizing the reality, I'll buy the DVD's if they happen next year. Ok, I'm done. Now on to the review...
Caddyshack is essentially the story of Danny Noonan (Michael O'Keefe), a caddy in search for some direction in his life. Danny's goal is to go to college, unlike his, uh... twenty brother or sisters, this is never explained. One morning, Danny's father even has to ask one kid who he is, you get the idea. Noonan must get a scholarship to go away to college, and the only one he's eligible for is the caddy's scholarship offered by his club.
Noonan may be the intended focus of this film, but the real stars are the secondary characters. Chevy Chase plays Ty Webb, the country club's resident pro, and philosophical guru to Noonan. Ted Knight, in his only film appearance I believe, plays Judge Smails, Bushwood's owner. Al Czervik, played by Rodney Dangerfield, is the course's high roller big mouth. Last, but definitely not least, is Bill Murray as Carl Spackler. He is the green's keeper, that smokes the greens, and has a "license to kill gophers." Oh, I almost forgot... there's the gopher as well.
What follows is a wild set of scenarios in which all the characters get into idiotic confrontations and situations. Murray and the gopher. Judge Smails with Czervik. Chevy Chase with Smails', how should I put it? Free spirited niece, Lacy Underall. Along the way we're also exposed to Judge Smails' annoying grandson Splading. Noonan's arch rival, Tony, as well as his girlfriend Maggie. This film is inspired chaos. It all accumulates in an all or nothing match play event, that turns, in one word, explosive.
The question you'll all are asking yourself now is, how the new presentation? Well, I've definitely seen better SE's on LD and DVD, but all things considered it not too bad. The new widescreen print, matted at 1.78, seems to have a bit more color than the previously released LD's and DVD. There also seems to be a lot of digital enhancement of the discs' sharpness, it was annoying. The framing of the film seems to gain image slightly on the edges, but loses a little from the top and bottom. This doesn't bug me, because the film looks properly balanced now. The audio seems a little clearer than the most recent release, the DVD, but it's still mono. No big deal, the film's never been stereo anyhow.
The new documentary, Caddyshack: The 19th Hole, is a good retrospective about the making of the film, unfortunately, it was a little too short for my taste. All of the insights provided by the interviewees, are pretty funny, and the un-edited outtake of Murray and Chase in Carl's home is pretty funny, but I kept asking myself, Where's Murray? This is the second straight film, Ghostbusters the other, in which I though he would be showing up to show some insight into the fun he had making the film. Alas, he is not involved. Also, somewhat surprisingly, there is no audio commentary from Harold Ramis. Considering his enthusiasm during the documentary, you'd think he'd be chomping at the bit to do one for this film.
Overall, I'm just giddy to have this disc, considering I had to wait about to month's for the re-pressing of the disc. Hell, I never thought I'd ever see a widescreen print of this film. I've got a feeling Image and Warner were caught off guard by the demand for this title, many people held off, assuming Warner would be releasing a DVD as well. That'll teach us. Image, thank you for the re-press.
A personal note to Warner, get it together guys, there's one other major Chevy Chase comedy waiting for a widescreen treatment, National Lampoon's Vacation. Not to mention the SE of Road Warrior, the re-releases of all $14.98 crap-o-rama titles, properly presented, etc.
On a scale of 1 to 10, the movie ranks a 8 in my book.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I'll give this presentation a 6, with a 1/2 a bonus biscuit for actually happening...
Dan Linzmeier, FIT Productions
Fitprod@aol.com
Home
Reviews
Copyright 1999-2000, FIT Productions