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Released By: Shout! Factory
Released On: 10/18/2011
Director: Joey Figueroa
Cast: Kevin Smith
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The Film:
Kevin Smith? A blu-ray featuring a stand-up comedy performance by Kevin Smith? Who in the hell wants to see that? Especially when it runs almost three and a half hours? And it's recent? Didn't that guy direct a couple of good movies like 20 years ago and then do a bunch of crap? Jersey Girl? Cop Out? Is he even funny? Why do I care that he's 40?
Many troubling questions may plague the first time viewer of Shout! Factory's release of Kevin Smith: Too Fat For 40. And even though I definitely found myself in the “Who cares about this?†camp, I'm pretty happy that I checked it out. Filmed at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey, Too Fat For 40 finds Smith on stage in his hometown, with a set hearkening back to his glory days when he was more or less the King of quirky indie films. Is he funny? He definitely can be, but don't expect (insert-your-favourite-stand-up-comedian-HERE); Smith's humour seems to be based mostly on the fact that his fans can relate to being high at inopportune times and a whole lot of poop dialogue.
And while it may seem like quite the stretch to find a 200 minute run of weed and toilet jokes entertaining, the real gold in this special is made up of the stories that Smith can tell. Whether it's the challenge of directing a scary man like Bruce Willis on the set of Cop Out, getting stoned with Seth Rogen while editing Zach and Miri Make a Porno, or traveling around the countryside in a “prom bus†with a great big bear of a gay dude, Smith definitely delivers in the anecdote department. Seeming to shrug off his stage fright fairly early on (the phrase “and shit like that†is uttered about 64 times in the first 10 minutes) his stories get more and more involved, careening off into strange directions before returning at just the right time for the punch line. Although he does venture into dick jokes a little too frequently (for some), his ability to poke fun at himself in talking about the Southwestern Airlines “Too Fat To Fly†media frenzy and to become much more sincere when called for, such as discussing the late George Carlin, makes him a damn likeable fella.
With so many great stories, the running time flies by. It probably won't make you crack up like Billy Connolly at the Royal Albert Hall, but Kevin Smith: Too Fat For 40 is definitely worth seeing.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Shout! Factory presents Kevin Smith: Too Fat For 40 on blu-ray in a 1.78:1 transfer with a Linear PCM 2.0 audio track. The picture is decent for the most part, though it does have a few issues with artifacting here and there. Still, it's a speaking performance and nothing that will throw you off of the presentation. The audio track is adequate, with good range and volume, though you will hear a few audio problems, courtesy of the performance itself.
Shout! has also included a second disc (DVD) in the set that has an extra 50 minutes of the encore Q&A from the performance. Smith talks about adapting Disney movies into R-Rated features, the advent of 3D in film, the possibility of a Clerks III, and Judd Apatow while fielding questions from audience members…some slightly normal, some Canadian, and some who are just far-out friggin' freaky as hell. But, if you've ever wanted to know what kind of rad moves Smith would bust out if Troma chief Lloyd Kaufman tried to kill him; well, look no further. The Encore Q&A is also presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic, with a Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track.
Next up is The Secret Behind The Stash, a feature run on EpixHD to promote the Too Fat For 40 special. As well as giving a quick walkaround of the set and introducing some of the crew, this featurette focuses on Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash, Smith's comic store, and the comics and props found inside. Interesting to note is that you can purchase the Buddy Christ statue from Dogma for a cool million dollars.
The Final Word:
Kevin Smith can be pretty funny, and he's got a lot of cool stuff to talk about. Even this casual fan found a lot to like about the disc, so if you're a fan of the man, you can't go wrong with this purchase.
Click on the images below for full size Blu-ray screen caps!
