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Dish, The
Warner Bros. // PG-13 // August 31, 2001
List Price: $19.99 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie:
There's been several such pictures over the last few years - light comedies from around the world that have focused on a small town of eccentric and jovial folks who run into a bit of trouble or what-not. The best example of this group is actually based upon a true story. The light Austrailian comedy "The Dish" follows a small Austrailian town who is elated to have had their Satellite dish picked to follow Apollo 11 into the stars. Members of the Australian Department of Radio Physics, Cliff Buxton (Sam Neill), Ross 'Mitch' Mitchell (Kevin Harrington) and Glenn Latham (Tom Long), and their NASA associate, Al Burnett (Patrick Warburton), spend weeks getting everything prepared, but as the big moment approaches, something goes terribly wrong.
"The Dish" takes its main plot of the four Physics department members and builds upon it nicely, opening the film out into the small town. Glenn has a flirtation with a cute local girl, Janine (Eliza Szonert) and the town prepares for the reception of the American ambassador, among other subplots. The characters are realistic and grounded, not made wacky for comedic purposes; as a result, they are more engaging and sympathetic.
Although the film was marketed as a comedy, I didn't find it a laugh-out-loud picture, but it provided enough amusing moments consistently that I was entertained. The majority of the film nicely mixes comedy with a little touch of drama. The crises that come up which threaten the dish's involvement in this historic event are nicely handled - we know the outcome, but there are still tense moments.
The performances are also stellar throughout the picture, especially Sam Neill and Patrick Warburton, who will always be remembered for his hilarious "Seinfeld" character. A sweet movie that thankfully never got too sappy, "The Dish" is a witty heartwarmer that I found quite enjoyable.
Note: The film's PG-13 rating is questionable. Although the film is rated such for "brief strong language", these instances are very brief. The movie is appropriate for older children and could have been PG.
The DVD
VIDEO: "The Dish" is presented in a respectable 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer from Warner Brothers. The picture generally seemed crisp and well-defined, but there were a few flaws that called attention to themselves infrequently. Sharpness and detail were usually quite fine; although some of the interior scenes appeared slightly on the softer side, the majority of the film was quite crisp and well-defined.
Flaws were visible, but were largely kept at bay and only made infrequent appearances. A couple of very minimal traces of pixelation appeared, as did a slight bit of edge enhancement now and then. Lastly, print flaws in the form of some light marks were spotted, mainly in the first half of the film.
Colors looked superb throughout the movie - from the warm interiors to the beautiful exterior scenery, colors looked natural and crisp, with no instances of smearing or other problems. Flesh tones also appeared accurate and natural. A nice, although not stellar presentation.
SOUND: "The Dish" is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. The film's audio is, as one would expect, fairly unremarkable when it comes to surround use. The 60's soundtrack that the film boasts is the one element that opens the audio up a bit. Other than that, surrounds remain silent with the exception of a windstorm that threatens to overtake the dish late in the picture. Audio quality sounded pleasant, as the songs that populated the soundtrack came through crisply and warmly, while dialogue sounded clear and natural.
MENUS:: Basic, non-animated menus liven by the score in the background of the main menu.
EXTRAS:: The region 4 release of "The Dish" is a packed special edition with two commentary tracks and other features. Unfortunately, this release only offers the film's trailer and cast/crew bios.
Final Thoughts: A well-made comedy that is simple, but effective, "The Dish" is a charmer that's got fine performances and great characters. The DVD from Warner Brothers presents the film with respectable audio/video quality, but nothing much in the way of extras. Still, the DVD is recommended.
There's been several such pictures over the last few years - light comedies from around the world that have focused on a small town of eccentric and jovial folks who run into a bit of trouble or what-not. The best example of this group is actually based upon a true story. The light Austrailian comedy "The Dish" follows a small Austrailian town who is elated to have had their Satellite dish picked to follow Apollo 11 into the stars. Members of the Australian Department of Radio Physics, Cliff Buxton (Sam Neill), Ross 'Mitch' Mitchell (Kevin Harrington) and Glenn Latham (Tom Long), and their NASA associate, Al Burnett (Patrick Warburton), spend weeks getting everything prepared, but as the big moment approaches, something goes terribly wrong.
"The Dish" takes its main plot of the four Physics department members and builds upon it nicely, opening the film out into the small town. Glenn has a flirtation with a cute local girl, Janine (Eliza Szonert) and the town prepares for the reception of the American ambassador, among other subplots. The characters are realistic and grounded, not made wacky for comedic purposes; as a result, they are more engaging and sympathetic.
Although the film was marketed as a comedy, I didn't find it a laugh-out-loud picture, but it provided enough amusing moments consistently that I was entertained. The majority of the film nicely mixes comedy with a little touch of drama. The crises that come up which threaten the dish's involvement in this historic event are nicely handled - we know the outcome, but there are still tense moments.
The performances are also stellar throughout the picture, especially Sam Neill and Patrick Warburton, who will always be remembered for his hilarious "Seinfeld" character. A sweet movie that thankfully never got too sappy, "The Dish" is a witty heartwarmer that I found quite enjoyable.
Note: The film's PG-13 rating is questionable. Although the film is rated such for "brief strong language", these instances are very brief. The movie is appropriate for older children and could have been PG.
The DVD
VIDEO: "The Dish" is presented in a respectable 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer from Warner Brothers. The picture generally seemed crisp and well-defined, but there were a few flaws that called attention to themselves infrequently. Sharpness and detail were usually quite fine; although some of the interior scenes appeared slightly on the softer side, the majority of the film was quite crisp and well-defined.
Flaws were visible, but were largely kept at bay and only made infrequent appearances. A couple of very minimal traces of pixelation appeared, as did a slight bit of edge enhancement now and then. Lastly, print flaws in the form of some light marks were spotted, mainly in the first half of the film.
Colors looked superb throughout the movie - from the warm interiors to the beautiful exterior scenery, colors looked natural and crisp, with no instances of smearing or other problems. Flesh tones also appeared accurate and natural. A nice, although not stellar presentation.
SOUND: "The Dish" is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. The film's audio is, as one would expect, fairly unremarkable when it comes to surround use. The 60's soundtrack that the film boasts is the one element that opens the audio up a bit. Other than that, surrounds remain silent with the exception of a windstorm that threatens to overtake the dish late in the picture. Audio quality sounded pleasant, as the songs that populated the soundtrack came through crisply and warmly, while dialogue sounded clear and natural.
MENUS:: Basic, non-animated menus liven by the score in the background of the main menu.
EXTRAS:: The region 4 release of "The Dish" is a packed special edition with two commentary tracks and other features. Unfortunately, this release only offers the film's trailer and cast/crew bios.
Final Thoughts: A well-made comedy that is simple, but effective, "The Dish" is a charmer that's got fine performances and great characters. The DVD from Warner Brothers presents the film with respectable audio/video quality, but nothing much in the way of extras. Still, the DVD is recommended.
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