For the first time on Blu-ray, Warner releases Quick Change into their Archive Collection, giving a chance for new and existing fans of the film to enjoy it in High Definition. This is a must for Bill Murray fans, and one of the better releases Warner Bros. have done in quite awhile!
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided us with a free copy of this Blu-ray/DVD that we reviewed in this blog post. The opinions we share are our own.
“The star of Caddyshack, Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day headlines and codirects this uproarious Big Apple heist-and-pursuit caper. Bill Murray plays Grimm, a frazzled unrbanite who disguises himself as a clown – and sets out to rob a bank. Geena Davis and Randy Quaid play accomplices in Grimm’s daring scheme, and Jason Robards is the blustery cop caught up in Grimm’s “Clow Day Afternoon.”
Swiping a million bucks is a snap compared to getting out of town. Grimm and his cohorts commandeer a car, a cab, a bus, a baggage tram and a plane (and encounter future stars Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub in hilarious supporting roles) to make what becomes a less-than-merry escape. But for comedy lovers, Quick Change is a ticket to ride!”
Quick Change is one of those more obscure Bill Murray films that not a lot of people have seen, and I’m not sure why. It may not be as iconic as some of the other films mentioned in the synopsis of Murray’s career, but in many ways it’s just as funny as the others. While the main catalyst of the film is the bank robbery in which they get away with a million dollars, the rest of the film follows a much different path. It didn’t seem all that difficult to get out of the bank with the money, but the hard part comes when they try and get out of New York City. The story takes wild and unpredictable turns as each plan they have to make it out goes awry, leading to some hilarious situations in which Grimm and the others have to improvise, before they find themselves at the mercy of the next unexpected delay.
The film reminds me a lot of Martin Scorsese’s After Hours, which also takes place in New York, in which strange and unexpected situations are continued to be thrust upon the main characters. It’s clear that both films focus on the craziness of New York City as the backdrops to their films, with each situation becoming more insane than the next. Grimm’s hatred of New York grows and grows as these situations escalate that prevent him from escaping with his money, to our amusement of course. Murray’s comedy is about the same in all of his films, and this is no different. His dry and sarcastic style, brash and sometimes explosive bouts of dialogue are the usual Bill Murray style, but in this he just seems unburdened in some way.
The chemistry between the three is really good, making each of these ridiculous comedy sequences all the better. Geena Davis plays the straight woman for the most part, wanting a future together with Grimm, but focused on escaping without getting caught, with or with him. Randy Quaid plays the somewhat less intelligent side-kick, loyal to the end, also coming up with some hilarious situations that definitely make me miss the less real-life-crazy version of the man.
Video
Quick Change is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1. This transfer looks really good. Grain is kept at a manageable level, with a nice color balance, highlight some of the brighter colors and flesh tones that keep it looking very natural. The Blu-ray offers a nicely detailed image, crisp and clear, free of any noticeable issues. For the first time on Blu-ray, fans of this film will be pleased with the quality of the video they’ll get.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. For a stereo track, this sounds decent. Levels are good, dialogue is clear and concise against the rest of the information coming through. The soundtrack is the perfect accompaniment to the film, also sounding quite good. I still would have loved to see a new mix for this, but we’ll have to get by with the upgraded video for the meantime.
Special Features
Absolutely no extras on this disc. Very disappointing.
Quick Change may not be the traditional comedy you’re used to, but the quirky and strange situations they find themselves in just keep getting funnier and funnier. If you’re a Bill Murray fan and haven’t seen this yet, do yourself a favor and pick this up as soon as possible, you won’t regret it!
