Blu-ray Movie Reviews

A top-secret, highly trained trio of guinea pig super spies is assigned to stop a dastardly plot to take over the world. Squad leader Darwin (voiced by Sam Rockwell) will do what it takes to guarantee the success of his team, which also includes Blaster (Tracy Morgan), a weapons expert with an attitude, and Juarez (Penelope Cruz), a sexy martial arts pro.

First time director Hoyt H. Yeatman, Jr. keeps the pacing tight with a kid friendly 88-minute runtime and my entire family had a blast. It's farfetched for sure, but it's entertaining with plenty of laughs and outstanding CGI. When I first saw the trailer I thought Jerry Bruckheimer was nuts to attach his name to the picture, but the super producer continues his impressive streak of hits.

Not only is the entertainment value high, the AVC encode looks great too. Resolution is top-notch with amazing detail and clarity, solid black levels, and rich color saturation. The CGI inserted hamsters look realistic and blend seamlessly into their surroundings along with the other visual effects.

The DTS-HD MA soundtrack is just as impressive with solid dialog, great ambience, and impressive dynamics—especially in the third act with an exciting car chase and climatic battle. Bass response is tight and deep and the surround envelopment is first-rate.

Supplements include an audio commentary with director Hoyt H. Yeatman, Jr., behind the scenes featurettes, bloopers, deleted scenes, and music videos. Blu-ray exclusives take you behind-the-scenes of the animation with Cine-Explore and two additional features. The three disc set includes the Blu-ray, a DVD copy of the film, as well as a digital copy for portable devices.

Low expectations can sometimes lead to a pleasant surprise, as is the case here. Critics blasted the film during its theatrical run but Disney was able to garner $131 million in box-office receipts. The presentation on Blu-ray is outstanding and if you have young kids I suggest you put some popcorn in the microwave and enjoy it with the younglings. Recommended for families.

Release Date: December 15, 2009
Studio: Disney

Show: 8/10
Picture: 9/10
Sound: 9/10

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo Pro PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Belkin PF60 power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector

Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics