Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Jay (Jason Segel) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) have lost the spark. The couple’s college sexcapades are a distant memory, as marriage and children have snuffed their sex drive… until, fueled by tequila shots, they decide to make a three-hour porno wherein they attempt every position in the classic handbook, The Joy of Sex. When Jay saves their video to his iPad, however, he mistakenly sends it to friends and family, then spends the remainder of the film trying to reverse his mistake. Jake Kasdan, who directed Diaz and Segel in Bad Teacher, completes the Power Trio here. Like their previous collaboration, Sex Tape is dumb and predictable but very funny. Diaz and Segel share an easy chemistry that overcomes shopworn dialogue and a contrived plot. The talented supporting cast is distinguished by Rob Lowe, hysterical as a childlike toymaker who blasts both heavy metal and cocaine.

Did anyone at Sony watch this disc before it shipped? For a major Blu-ray release, this transfer’s image quality is unacceptably sloppy. Fleshtones veer from slightly warm and saturated in some scenes to frighteningly unnatural in others. Whites are nicely resolved and color-correct, but at the opposite end of the spectrum, black levels are often compressed and bereft of detail. During interior sequences in which the two stars are adjacent to each other, compare Diaz’s distinctly rendered blonde locks to Segel’s black blob of hair. Fine detail is well rendered, as is resolution of lighter shadows.

Audio achieves a higher and more consistent standard; unfortunately, Sex Tape offers few opportunities for standout sound quality. Dialogue clarity is exemplary, and center-channel weighting is both correct and consistent. Songs and musical scorings are mixed to both front and surrounds, enhancing dynamics and envelopment. Though sonic details are admirably resolved, the dearth of Foley effects is disappointing.

The highlight of this Blu-ray package is the panoply of entertaining extras. Particularly worthwhile is “Romance Reboot with Dr. Jenn Berman,” a 10-minute dissertation with the sex therapist and VH1 host. Lowe creates a short and curious character of his bizarre Hank Rosenbaum, while Kasdan, Diaz, and Segel discuss their preparation for the film’s abundant sex scenes. Though worthwhile for a few belly laughs and some enthusiastic acting, Sex Tape is about as far from a show-off disc as you’ll find.

Blu-Ray
Studio: Sony Pictures, 2014
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Length: 94 mins.
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Jake Kasdan
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Rob Corddry