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Bio-Dome (Blu-ray)
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- Published: 07-16-2015, 08:32 AM
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Bio-Dome
Released by: Olive Films
Released on: Apr 21, 2015
Director: Jason Bloom
Cast: Pauly Shore, Stephen Baldwin, William Atherton, Joey Lauren Adams, Teresa Hill, Kylie Minogue
Year: 1996
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The Movie:
On the tale end of the reign of Pauly Shore, Bio-Dome is a true to form slacker comedy that screams mid-90s. Directed by Jason Bloom, the film boasts dumb jokes and cheap laughs at the expense of women, the environment, and the world of science. While it has its charms and its momentary chuckle, Bio-Dome does not stand as a shining example of what should be re-released on Blu-ray.
Buddies Bud 'Squirrel' Macintosh (Pauly Shore) and Doyle 'Stubs' Johnson (Stephen Baldwin) are two losers that will do anything to get out of doing, well, anything. The two have girlfriends (Joey Lauren Adams, Teresa Hill) who are trying to get them to participate in an Earth-friendly clean up mission. The two dimwits crack a harebrained scheme to evade their request, and the girls get fed up. After they call up Squirrel and Stubs and convince them that they're running away with hotter, more eco-friendly boys, the girlfriends accidentally inspire them to get off their butts.
While their intent is to win back their girlfriends, Squirrel and Stubs get sidetracked by the latter's need to relieve himself. They stumble upon the Bio-Dome, a yearlong science experiment that recreates different ecosystems in order to observe and perfect the balance of each. A group of five scientists are preparing to lock themselves in with no aborting the mission for any reason. The two idiots naturally mistake the Bio-Dome for a mall, and the abysmal security method (one guard? Really?) does nothing to prevent them from getting locked in with them. Always the opportunists, Squirrel and Stubs decide that it's their chance to win back their girlfriends with their earthliness.
If you've never seen a Pauly Shore movie, I'm not sure this is the one to start on (if there even is one to recommend?). The plot is solely based around two slackers happening to come across this once in a lifetime event, ruining it, and hopefully saving the day in time to win the hearts of their ladies. It seems that women in general are the only things that matter to them, as the two attractive female scientists become objects for the two to ogle as well. There is little to no redeeming qualities about these dummies, except maybe their absolute commitment to being awful, useless people.
This complete slacker-osity does provide a few laughs here and there. The special bond of idiot friendship between Squirrel and Stubs makes for a pseudo-'Dumb and Dumber' relationship, although that is a stretch of a comparison on the basis of hilarity. If you're the rare person who thoroughly enjoys Pauly Shore, or you're watching this for nostalgia reasons, this release will definitely be for you. However, despite its moments, Bio-Dome does little for our modern sensibilities.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Bio-Dome is presented in a 1080p transfer with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The picture quality itself is phenomenal. Details are crisp and sharp, and there is a beautiful light grain throughout. Notable here is the green vegetation and differing areas inside the dome, with attention to nuances within each. Also notable is the use and presentation of color throughout, with clothing, flyers, and interior details displaying rich representations of purples, oranges, and yellows. Even the khaki uniforms on the scientists look great. Skin tones are well maintained upon close-ups. There is little to complain about with only minor debris here or there.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless mix of Bio-Dome doesn't fare as well as the visual aspect. Music throughout lacks clarity and consistency. At times, the music is too in-your-face; at others, it lacks a clear origin.
Similarly, the dialogue is a bit unfocused. While it is overall clear, it too lacks consistency on sensible choices of channel. Some moments that could add dynamics, such as fireworks, occur without sonic definition.
There are no special features on this Blu-ray disc.
Bottom Line:
While Bio-Dome looks pretty, it fails to deliver on so many levels. I had enjoyed it when I was 8 years old and the millennium hadn't yet occurred; nearly twenty years later, it was a much different experience. While Pauly Shore and Stephen Baldwin work hard to be a comedic duo, the writing itself and the shoddy plot do not support hearty laughs. This will be a welcome release for many, but for this reviewer, misogyny and ecological ignorance do not entertain in this format.
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