Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

Amy Schumer said that she was offered her role in the film Trainwreck after director Judd Apatow heard her on The Howard Stern Show. He knew just how perfect the casting would be.

In case you didn't realize, the comedian is pretty well known for her raunchy rumor. (Her "Last F**kable Day" sketch is quite a hilarious example.) This is exactly the type of humor that's sorely needed in this type of film.

Trainwreck is about Amy (Schumer), a girl who was taught from an early age that "monogamy isn't realistic." So she spends her nights drinking, partying, and having sex with pretty much anyone who's up for it. Her days aren't a whole lot better. She works at a disgusting men's magazine with an evil boss (an unrecognizable Tilda Swinton), who assigns Amy to a sports story even though she loathes the topic. It's all about the spark, people! While on the job, Amy meets Aaron (Bill Hader), a good guy who could change her party ways.

It's not exactly an original plot, but Schumer's rapid-fire delivery is so awesome that she really sets Trainwreck apart from the typical rom-com. Plus, how can you hate a movie where LeBron James practically steals the show?

Pining for more about this movie? Check out Tom Fugalli's theatrical review of Trainwreck.

The Picture

Trainwreck is surprising in so many ways. One of the biggest surprises comes in the 2.40:1 image, but it's not really one of those good surprises. The color is fine and pretty realistic throughout, but it's just not a sharp-looking film. I didn't see the film theatrically, so I have to assume this was on purpose. However, it doesn't lend anything to the viewing experience. In fact, I thought I was watching the standard-def DVD at first.

The Sound

Despite being very dialogue-heavy, this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track does get a lot of moments to shine throughout the film. Voices are always crystal-clear, but those moments at the Big Apple Jam Fest and in club scenes get the room bumping and are definitely a highlight here.

The Extras

Like the movie, the extras for Trainwreck are pretty entertaining. There are 17 deleted scenes, 12 extended/alternate scenes, a 12-minute "Gag Reel," two Line-O-Rama options, and the two scenes from "The Dogwalker." One of my favorite shorts gives Method Man (who has a small role as Temembe) 12 minutes to explain the "Secrets of the Wu" to 101-year-old veteran actor Norman Lloyd. There's also under 10 minutes dedicated to the athletes in the film, which is done in a jokey manner. ("This has been some of the hardest work I've ever done in my entire life -- and I've worked with James Franco," Judd Apatow quips.) It's all good, but my one gripe is that LeBron James really deserved his own short.

Final Thoughts

Despite a less-than-stellar image, this film doesn't really live up to its title. Trainwreck is a lot of fun. Smetimes, it falls into the typical rom-com formulas, but the cast (most notably Amy Schumer and LeBron James) make it stand out and worth picking up.

Product Details

• Actors: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, Colin Quinn, John Cena, Tilda Swinton, LeBron James
• Director: Judd Apatow
• Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), DTS 5.1 (French, Spanish), DVS 2.0 (English)
• Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of Discs: 2
• Rating: R
• Studio: Universal
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: November 10, 2015
• Run Time: 125 minutes
• List Price: $34.98
• Extras:
  • Unrated Version
  • Feature Commentary with Director Judd Apatow, Writer/Star Amy Schumer and Associate Producer Kim Caramele
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Extended/Alternate Scenes
  • Secrets of the Wu
  • The Dogwalker
  • Gag Reel
  • Line-O-Rama
  • Directing Athletes: A Blood Sport
  • Behind-the-Scenes
  • Trainwreck Comedy Tour
  • Red Band Trailer
  • Standard-Def DVD
  • Digital Copy
  • UltraViolet Digital Copy