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Review
Archives
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Today's
Date is:
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Inspector
Gadget 2
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Reviewed
by: |
David
Litton |
| Genre: |
Comedy
|
| Video: |
1.66:1
anamorphic widescreen |
| Audio: |
English Dolby
Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 2.0 |
| Language: |
English,
French |
| Subtitle: |
English
(cc) |
| Length: |
88
min |
| Rating: |
G
|
| Release
Date: |
03/11/2003
|
| Studio: |
Buena
Vista Home Entertainment |
| Commentary:
|
Feature commentary
with director Alex Zamm, feature commentary with director Alex
Zamm and cast members French Stewart and Elaine Hendrix |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
"The Gadgets Behind Gadget's
Gadgets" featurette |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
None |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
Deleted scenes,
outtakes |
| Music
Video: |
Rose Falcon "Up, Up,
Up" music video |
| Other:
|
"Illustrated
Gadget" activity, "Gadget Training Simulator" game, storyboard-to-film
comparison |
| Cast
and Crew: |
French Stewart,
Elaine Hendrix, Tony Martin, Caitlin Wachs |
| Written
By: |
Ron Anderson,
William Robertson, Alex Zamm |
| Produced
by: |
Charles Hirschhorn, Peter
M. Green |
| Directed
By: |
Alex Zamm
|
| Music: |
Chris Hajian
|
| The
Review: |
Not
that I've ever been really big on the whole "Inspector Gadget"
following, but this sequel doesn't even appear to be trying
very hard to make any sort of jab at entertainment. This new
outing finds Gadget (French Stewart, replacing Matthew Broderick)
on probation, just as arch nemesis Claw (Tony Martin) is making
his escape from prison to plan yet another dastardly deed. Now
it's up to Gadget and his new accomplice, G2 (Elaine Hendrix),
to root out Claw and prevent him from carrying out his master
plan. Stewart, while admirable as a comic actor, is not right
for the part, and Martin, although he gives it his all, is no
Rupert Everett. The special effects are spiffier and there's
more of them, and the gadgets have also multiplied in numbers.
But for the most part, "IG2" could use a stability inspection
of its own. |
| Image
and Sound |
As
always, a very good transfer from Disney. The 1.66:1 anamorphic
transfer boasts excellent color fidelity and saturation, with
great fleshtones and rich, solid blacks. Contrast is very good,
with nice shadow detail. The edges are vary sharp with slight
but unintrusive halos, and the overall picture looks very clean.
The sound is also commendable. Mastered in Dolby Digital 5.1,
the entire soundfield gets a good workout when the special effects
and action kick in. Surrounds are nicely used, as well as deep
bass from the .1 LFE, which is clean and powerful. Dialogue
sounds natural, and the overall track has some nice range to
it. |
| The
Extras |
Quite
a few extras have been supplied for this one, and considering
it's only a direct-to-video release, it's a little surprising.
The featurette "The Gadgets Behind Gadget's Gadgets" takes a
look at some of the creative minds of the project, with some
behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and crew
about the movie's new gizmos and contraptions. This is okay
for what it is, but only the film's fans will really find anything
interesting. The deleted scenes are also somewhat dull, and
the outtakes aren't too humorous. Then we have the "Illustrated
Gadget" activity, a "Gadget Training Simulator" game, both skippable,
and a storyboard-to-film comparison. |
| Commentary |
The
feature commentary with director Alex Zamm talks mostly about
the technical aspects of the production, while the commentary
with director Alex Zamm and cast members French Stewart and
Elaine Hendrix is more playful and jovial, as they recall their
days working on the film. |
| Final
Words: |
Not
one of the worst movies around, but there is a reason why it
was not released theatrically. Maybe in the next movie, Gadget
will invade Disney Studios and discover the secret as to why
they keep wasting their money on stuff like this. |
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