Review by Leonard Norwitz

 

Studio:

Theatrical: Mandeville Films & Smart Entertainment

Blu-ray: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

 

Disc:

Region: A

Runtime: 91 min.

Chapters: 12

Size: 50 GB

Case: Locking Blu-ray case

Release date: March 3, 2009

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 2.40:1

Resolution: 1080p

Video codec: AVC

 

Audio:

English 5.1 Uncompressed (48kHz/24-bit). English, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1

 

Subtitles:

English SDH & Spanish

 

Extras:

• Audio Commentary by Director Raja Gosnell

• Legend of Chihuahua Animated Short (3:08)

• 10 Deleted Scenes with Intros by Raja Gosnell (24:39)

• Blooper Scooper (3:00)

• Exclusive to Blu-ray: Pet Pals: The Voices Behind the Dogs (9:28)

• Exclusive to Blu-ray: Hitting Their Bark: On Set with the Dogs of BHC (12:57)

• Exclusive to Blu-ray: BDisney Live Network

 

 

The Film:

Have you been following animal movies in general –you know: Beethoven, Look Who's Talking? That sort of thing. I haven't. But when Disney sent me "The Greatest Chihuahua Movie of All Time" I thought it was time for me to check one out. My reaction was not unlike Nathan Lee's, so I'll let him speak for me. (Just image my lips moving):

If you’re going to make anything as ridiculous as a talking-dog movie, you might as well go all the way. “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” approaches but never quite achieves a truly spectacular level of absurdity . . . Chloe (voice of Drew Barrymore), the pampered pooch of a megarich cosmetics mogul (Jamie Lee Curtis, in the flesh), is lost in Mexico and about to be devoured by three poorly animated cougars. Enter a mighty tribe of feral Chihuahuas with digital lips, who sweep Chloe away and teach her the power of saying “no más.”

No más to funny little outfits! No más to sitting on laps! You are Chihuahua! Where is your bark?

Chloe does indeed find her bark, which evidently has the power to make nearby architecture collapse. As for Rachel (Piper Perabo), the empty-headed dog sitter who misplaced her rich aunt’s most prized possession in the first place, she learns that it’s O.K. to love the Mexican gardener (Manolo Cardona) as long as he’s outrageously handsome, speaks perfect English and calls himself a “landscaper.”

Excerpt of review from New York Times located HERE

 

 

Image: 6/8
The first number indicates a relative level of excellence compared to other Blu-ray video discs on a ten-point scale. The second number places this image along the full range of DVD and Blu-ray discs.

From the pinks of Beverly Hills to the saturated warm tones of Mexico, the image seems faithful to the intent of the theatrical presentation. Shadows sometimes don't have a great deal of detail, especially in on-location nighttime scenes. The image isn't particularly highly resolved or all that sharp, and there's a granularity present that might have been in the first place what with post-production effects and all – or maybe we are not supposed to see what's behind the curtain very clearly. Blemishes are non-existent. Bit rates tend to lurk around the upper 20s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio & Music: 8/7
This is as bad a place as any to question the sense of having humans, recognizable actors mostly, giving voice to live animals – as different from cartoon animals. I don't think it works, especially if you don't alter the acoustic for the animal voices. I also think it's a mistake to bring in talking dogs in nearly overlapping (did I just say that!) dialogue right from the outset. No, the dogs need to start their yapping in a scene separate from the humans. So much for my thoughts on the subject. In any case, the dialogue from all quarters is intelligible, if not as clear as on the best mixes we've heard, even in lossless accountings. The music and effects are another story: Everything opens up disproportionally to the characters, though certainly with the gusto intended. The surrounds really get into it now and then, especially in the big finale amongst the cavernous ruins.

 

 

 

Operations: 7
I like that the menu pages all include brief summaries and timings about the various features. I'm not crazy about the huge expanse of pool water that tends to wash out the intent of the menu. All the pages are easy to navigate, and that persistent Disney "Here we go!" opening can be bypassed at the click of your Top Menu.

 

Extras: 6
Except for the animated short, Legend of the Chihuahua, this is all very much the usual EPK stuff, though in high quality HD, even the deleted scenes. I tuned into the commentary once in a while. Considering the technical effects and the coordination of live animals, Mr. Gosnell is most informative.

 

 

Bottom line: 6
A mildly diverting movie with, at times, a thunderous soundtrack – and for such little dogs! I liked the movie better as it went along and mostly when the human characters were less involved. The image quality is only fair. Lots of unseen talent behind those curiously animated mouths. I especially liked Placido Domingo as Monty. While the movie seems targeted to kids, we should ask: what's the message? Identity, it would seem, but do the results teach the right lesson?

Leonard Norwitz
February 22nd, 2009