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Beethoven's 4th
Universal // G // December 4, 2001
List Price: $24.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie:
While "Beethoven" was an unexpected success in theaters a few years ago, it's been rather downhill since, hasn't it? While neither the third or fourth film actually made it to theaters, these films continue because - suprisingly - they actually rent. Apparently, kids really like to watch a big dog either foil the plans of criminals who are dumber than the dog or get mixed up in all sorts of wacky adventures.
One would think that this series has run out of plots long ago - and they would really be right. This film has an excuse for a story, but it's really a way to string together scenes of the big dog knocking things over. This time, Beethoven switches places with another, far more well-behaved dog named Michelangelo.
The performances are not particularly good, but I will give the actors - especially Judge Reinhold (who replaced original star Charles Grodin as of the third film), who gives a decent performance in what could have been autopilot in his two effort acting with a giant, slobbering dog as the main co-star. Julia Sweeney (who deserves better than playing a character who gets barfed on by a dog) also gives a respectable, but not particularly memorable performance.
The film itself really is harmless and inoffensive, but that doesn't mean it's any good, either. Little goes on throughout the movie, as one-dimensional characters continually look irritated as the dog destroys something new. Kids will probably seek this one out due to their familiarity with the series and the characters, but there's certainly better material for them to watch out there, such as one of Universal's other long-running series, "Land Before Time", whose eighth effort, "The Big Freeze", I found entertaining.
The DVD
VIDEO: Universal presents "Beethoven's 4th" in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. While not a terrible effort, the picture quality falls somewhat short of the studio's usual strong efforts. Sharpness and detail is good, but rather inconsistent, as some of the interior sequences appeared a bit soft.
The picture suffers, although not horribly, from several small flaws. Minor specks and slight dirt occasionally was visible, as was a few instances of slight edge enhancement. Mild grain and occasional shimmering also appear, as well. Colors look good, but lack a certain shine that one might expect. This is an okay effort from the studio for a direct-to-video effort, but there are certain elements that come up short.
SOUND: "Beethoven's 4th" is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 by Universal. While the fact that the film has been given a full 5.1 presentation is appreciated, the fact that this is a comedy and a kid's film generally guarantees a rather underwhelming audio experience. Surrounds are not put to any use throughout the picture and the sound sticks firmly in the front speakers. Audio quality is fine, but unremarkable, as dialogue can occasionally be a bit rough.
MENUS:: Basic, non-animated menus that essentially use film-themed images and cover art.
EXTRAS:: A sneak peak of "Balto: Wolf Quest", production notes, cast/crew bios, recommendations.
Final Thoughts: "Beethoven's 4th" is predictable, lacking in action, interest or enjoyable characters. While these films may continue to rent well and that's why more are being produced, there's a point where ideas simply run out - I think for this series, that was several years ago, as the fourth edition is even more dismal than the third (and that's definitely saying something). Universal's DVD is a firmly average effort, with decent audio/video and not much in the way of supplements. Skip it.
While "Beethoven" was an unexpected success in theaters a few years ago, it's been rather downhill since, hasn't it? While neither the third or fourth film actually made it to theaters, these films continue because - suprisingly - they actually rent. Apparently, kids really like to watch a big dog either foil the plans of criminals who are dumber than the dog or get mixed up in all sorts of wacky adventures.
One would think that this series has run out of plots long ago - and they would really be right. This film has an excuse for a story, but it's really a way to string together scenes of the big dog knocking things over. This time, Beethoven switches places with another, far more well-behaved dog named Michelangelo.
The performances are not particularly good, but I will give the actors - especially Judge Reinhold (who replaced original star Charles Grodin as of the third film), who gives a decent performance in what could have been autopilot in his two effort acting with a giant, slobbering dog as the main co-star. Julia Sweeney (who deserves better than playing a character who gets barfed on by a dog) also gives a respectable, but not particularly memorable performance.
The film itself really is harmless and inoffensive, but that doesn't mean it's any good, either. Little goes on throughout the movie, as one-dimensional characters continually look irritated as the dog destroys something new. Kids will probably seek this one out due to their familiarity with the series and the characters, but there's certainly better material for them to watch out there, such as one of Universal's other long-running series, "Land Before Time", whose eighth effort, "The Big Freeze", I found entertaining.
The DVD
VIDEO: Universal presents "Beethoven's 4th" in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. While not a terrible effort, the picture quality falls somewhat short of the studio's usual strong efforts. Sharpness and detail is good, but rather inconsistent, as some of the interior sequences appeared a bit soft.
The picture suffers, although not horribly, from several small flaws. Minor specks and slight dirt occasionally was visible, as was a few instances of slight edge enhancement. Mild grain and occasional shimmering also appear, as well. Colors look good, but lack a certain shine that one might expect. This is an okay effort from the studio for a direct-to-video effort, but there are certain elements that come up short.
SOUND: "Beethoven's 4th" is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 by Universal. While the fact that the film has been given a full 5.1 presentation is appreciated, the fact that this is a comedy and a kid's film generally guarantees a rather underwhelming audio experience. Surrounds are not put to any use throughout the picture and the sound sticks firmly in the front speakers. Audio quality is fine, but unremarkable, as dialogue can occasionally be a bit rough.
MENUS:: Basic, non-animated menus that essentially use film-themed images and cover art.
EXTRAS:: A sneak peak of "Balto: Wolf Quest", production notes, cast/crew bios, recommendations.
Final Thoughts: "Beethoven's 4th" is predictable, lacking in action, interest or enjoyable characters. While these films may continue to rent well and that's why more are being produced, there's a point where ideas simply run out - I think for this series, that was several years ago, as the fourth edition is even more dismal than the third (and that's definitely saying something). Universal's DVD is a firmly average effort, with decent audio/video and not much in the way of supplements. Skip it.
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