The Film
"Let's go, while we're young!"
It's been 30 long years since Caddyshack was first released. Does it still hold up? Depends on whom you're asking.
People seem to either love or hate Caddyshack. The former group typically loves the material to the point where they can quote the entire film. For the latter, well, as the tagline for the film states: "Some people just don't belong."
On the surface, Caddyshack is just a coming-of-age story about caddy Danny Noonan (Michael O'Keefe), who takes drugs every day and dreams of going to college outside of Nebraska. The sex, the faux pregnancy, the climactic tournament, and even the gopher are all secondary, but also hilarious.
"How about a Fresca?"
Caddyshack isn't the best looking movie. It's not even the best-looking golf movie. However, this 1.85:1 transfer is better than the many releases its had to date. The greens are especially bold, both on and off the golf course. After a watching this movie a jillion times, we never realized the interior of Danny's house was green. Of course, Bushwood is filled with greens, which are sometimes a bit overpowering. Close-ups are pretty sharp, especially on stubble-filled faces and, of course, on the gopher's furry noggin. Some of the wider shots are a bit soft, but overall, it's a significant improvement.
The Sound
"Whoa, did somebody step on a duck?"
From the first few bars of Kenny Loggins' "I'm Alright," it's obvious that this release is an upgrade. Thunderstorms and explosions aside, audio geeks may be disappointed if they're expecting 21st century sound, but anyone that's seen the movie will notice a difference. There are moments of Johnny Mandel's soundtrack that many won't even know existed. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track delivers the dialogue very well, and manages to belt out the Kenny Loggins, Journey, and other soundtrack staples. That said, the film rarely leaves the front speakers.
The Extras
"You'll get nothing and like it!"
OK -- it's not that bad, but Warner could have pulled out the old Billy Baroo for this latest release. Instead, they rehash two old documentaries. "Caddyshack: The 19th Hole" is a 31-minute retrospective from 11 years ago. "The Inside Story" is a bit meatier at 80 minutes, but first aired on the BIO channel. Each one is a must-see for fans, offering a lot of interesting tidbits and behind-the-scenes footage. However, most fans have probably seen both by now.
Final Thoughts
"And that's all she wrote..."
Caddyshack holds up extremely well and is given a nice boost to picture and sound on Blu-ray. We're guessing that anyone thinking of buying this umpteeth release probably already owns the movie in some form. Unless it's VHS, or you're rocking a giant projection screen, the upgrade to HD might not be that dramatic. It's a good transfer, but not great. If you've managed to hold out on adding this classic to your collection, it's time to stop thinking, let things happen, and be... (the ball).
Product Details
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