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Wednesday, August 16, 2017

The Boss Baby Blu-ray Review

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson
Alec Baldwin, Jimmy Kimmel and Lisa Kudrow lend their voices to the release from DreamWorks Animation. The Boss Baby is the story of an imaginative 7 year old who get a brother he never wanted. Sibling rivalry is as old as time, but in this case the baby is not your usual infant. This baby arrives by taxi wearing a business suit.




Film (3 out of 5 stars)
Seven year old Tim (voiced my Miles Bakshi) has a great life. His parents indulge his vivid imagination and spoil him with books and a special song each bedtime.  Tim’s mom (voiced by Lisa Kudrow) and dad (voiced by Jimmy Kimmel) are thrilled about the arrival of Tim’s new brother.  Tim is less than enthused.  When his brother (voiced by Alec Baldwin) arrives Tim is panicked.  Tim grows angry as his brother’s needs become the priority for both parents. As you would expect with a newborn, Tim’s parents are sleep deprived and desperate to keep the baby happy and quiet.

Soon, Tim realizes he isn’t dealing with the run of the mill brother. The tiny suits and brief case are in place because his infant brother works for the Baby Corp. Baby Corp has become concerned that puppies are stealing love intended for babies. Corporate babies are there to deal with the cute and cuddly puppy threat. With the invention of forever puppies, puppies that don’t age, the situation is more dangerous than ever. Tim and his brother must work together to prevent disaster.

As you’d expect, The Boss Baby falls into the categories of cute and family friendly. If you’re thinking about bringing a second child into your family, you might wonder if it’s good for you only child to see a sibling freak out. I really enjoyed the beginning of the film where Tim’s imagination was explored and expressed in different ways. As I got to know his little brother, I became less interested in where the film was going. The entire idea of a corporate baby was hard to accept.  I suppose there is room for interpretation of what should be taken literally or not. 

With a DreamWorks animation film, I don’t really want to think about it that much. The beginning of the film was touching and the rest didn’t do it justice, for me.  It seemed a bit too far leaning towards an adult audience when it isn’t a film I would want to watch on my own. I appreciate Lord of the Rings and Raiders of the Lost Ark references but the average kid might not get the nods.
Video (4 1/2 out of 5 stars)
The Boss Baby on Blu-ray provides an excellent transfer.  The colors are bold and vivid, and are especially vibrant when exploring Tim’s imagination.  The palette throughout shows a great range from deep reds to the brightest yellows.  Definition and clarity are above average with only minor issues that most viewers won’t take note of (a shimmer or two and less than stable black level).
Audio (4 1/2 out of 5 stars)
The Boss Baby features a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track.  While well balanced, I did fell the need to raise the overall volume above normal levels.  You might take a moment to adjust at the beginning because the levels are low for the whole film.  Music and dialogue come across cleanly and with appropriate priority. Items like the blast from a rocket are delivered with power and crowd noise and ambiance are authentic.
Extras (2 1/2 out of 5 stars)
The Boss Baby contains a lengthy list of light content including the following:
  • Babycorp and You (3:02): The Boss’ orientation video.
  • The Forever Puppy Informercial (2:09): An advertisement for forever puppies.
  • Babies vs. Puppies: Who Do You Love? (3:26): The two lovable creatures go head to head in a news poll.
  • The Boss Baby and Tim's Treasure Hunt Through Time (3:35): The wizard takes you through Tim’s fantasies.
  • The Boss Baby's Undercover Team (2:17): A brief featurette about the b-team characters.
  • Cookies Are for Closers: Inside Babycorp (3:37): Your basic featurette with cast and crew interviews.
  • The Great Sibling Competition (3:27): Cast and crew discuss their own views on siblings.
  • Happy Accidents: The Deleted Scenes of The Boss Baby (11:30): Director Tom McGrath and Producer Ramsey Naito introduce a handful of scenes.
  • Gallery (3:03): Concept artwork with optional auto advancement.
  • Theatrical Trailer.
  • The World of DreamWorks Animation – A visit to Shrek, Madagascar, How To Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, The Croods, Turbo, and Home.
  • Sneak Peek (1080p): Additional DreamWorks titles. 
Summary (3 1/2 out of 5 stars)
The Boss Baby was enjoyable but not the type of film I hope to watch repeatedly with my son. The film lost its purpose and steam and is rolled through the final third of the film. The voice cast performs well. The Blu-ray offers excellent audio and video and fun but not terribly informative supplemental features. While not my favorite of all time, I do recommend it overall.

Order your copy today!

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