Funny Farm (1988) / Spies Like Us (1985) (Double Feature) (2010)

Update on 11/12/11: There is a comment posted to this review that explains that this Disc is actually the correct version of the movie. Please read it if this issue concerns you.

'Spies Like Us' is a great movie. I bought this version thinking that it would have a wider view than my already purchased dvd which I could only find in full frame. I just compared it to my dvd. For this blu ray, all they did was chop some off from the top and bottom to give it the widescreen look. I thought people might to like to know.

While not classic comedies, "Funny Farm" and "Spies Like Us" have their funny moments. Both are very enjoyable Chevy Chase movies with his usual relaxed style, a combination of straight man and funny guy. He's teamed with equally funny Dan Aykroyd in the John Landis directed "Spies" which is sprinkled with some very funny cameos. The very good news about this new BD release is that both movies are presented in widescreen for the first time on home video.

Buy Funny Farm (1988) / Spies Like Us (1985) (Double Feature) (2010) Now

These movies were originally filmed in and correctly framed for 4:3. A 16:9 pan & scan crop was shown in the theaters and is what you get in this bluray release. For me the 16:9 looks overly chopped and not polished at times. Movies the were originally filmed in a wide screen format normally have better framing. Also this release still only has stereo audio. Both the DVD 4:3 and the bluray 16:9 will get the job done but I prefer the un-cropped version.

Read Best Reviews of Funny Farm (1988) / Spies Like Us (1985) (Double Feature) (2010) Here

Taken together, I almost have to give this a 3 "Funny Farm" is funny in its own way, but it will never measure up to "Spies Like Us," the movie that is caught between "us" and "them." My parents laugh out loud at "Funny Farm," and I can laugh at it, but they will never laugh so hard as I do at "Spies Like Us." It's so awesome. It's what 80s spy comedies were meant to be. If my parents don't get that, then that's because they grew up in the generation right between the two movies. I like them both, but "Spies Like Us" will always hold a special place in my heart. "Doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor..."

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Well, I haven't watched Funny Farm yet, I purchased this BD for Spies like US...a comedy classic as far as I'm concerned. :) So, in a way I feel like it deserves a BD of it's own, so that was kind of a bummer.. It was nice getting an extra ~i guess~ but feel like SLU would be nice with even a simple "making of" or behind the scenes featurette instead of just throwing in an extra movie that somehow makde it feel like it's status was lowered.

Anyway, SLU....great characters, great funny lines and a lot of subtle humor throughout. It's just a original story with great twists, great locations and some beautiful women.

As far as quality goes, it's a big jump over the DVD i had. So if you have a DVD of SLU and and wondering if it's worth purchasing the BD... it's a no brainer...wider (original) format, better image quality..all you'd expect with HD.

~HOWEVER~ once again (like packing this great film with Funny Farm) i feel they didn't do SLU justice because it could have used some color grading and correction) i seems like they just pushed the "auto correct" button. For example, the scene right after they cheated on the test and they're in the office being reprimanded/promoted...visually that was pretty dark with "squashed"...the blacks were too heavy with too much contrast. Outdoor scenes seem to be OK however. I remember the DVD being overall a bit lighter with less heavy handed contrast.

Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait for the 4K version to come out :) by that time (very soon i hope :) ) SLU will have received it's true status of cult comedy classic and they will decide to make a featurette and spent some time on adjusting the colors/contrast. Fingers crossed~!

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