Review of UHF

Introduction

Badgers? Badgers? We Don`t neeeed no steeeknin` Badgers!

"Weird Al" plays George Newman, a daydreaming loser (with very lucid dreams) whose only skill is getting fired. One day his Uncle wins a small-time, local UHF TV station and is persuaded to let George run it.

Through a series of odd events, they become the most watched station in the town and the target of the local syndicated (evil) station ........

Throw in some subtle (and, erm, not so subtle) take-offs of well known movies and you have a rather good, unique, comedy.

Video

They have done a good job here, the film is presented in anamorphic widescreen and is refreshingly free from the dust and scratches you often find on older movies.

Colour fidelity is good rather than excellent, but contrast is high and the blacks show details and aren`t all washed out.

There is some evidence of digital enhancement and sharpening but it is never intrusive.

Audio

Audio is a simple Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo soundtrack but for something like this, that`s fine. Dialogue is clear throughout and the soundtrack is never intrusive.

Weird Al`s songs are funny - and clever, as always and worth listening to a couple of times to get all the lyrics :)

Features

Not a lot here, a choice of languages and subtitles and a trailer.

The DVD menu is static and quiet but nicely laid out.

The region 1 version of this disc has oodles of features btw (grr, whinge etc)

Conclusion

I loved this when I first watched it and I still do, this has become something of a cult classic nowadays and you`d be surprised how many people can quote a line or two.

The acting is a little wooden at times and over the top at others but the gags are genuinely funny and the odd (even zany!) characters entertaining in the style of Airplane and The Naked Gun.

If you liked this film anyway, this is a good improvement over the VHS version. If you like this kind of thing but have never seen this, you won`t be disappointed......

I`m off to play "Wheel of Fish!"