THE MOVIE

Living comfortably and employed at a large food company, Charlie Hinton (Eddie Murphy – Beverly Hills Cop, The Nutty Professor), is content in his “normal” life. However his wife and son get a backseat in his routine, as he is generally very busy at work. After a failed attempt to sell a new product he is fired. Coincidently, around the same time, his wife finds work, leaving Charlie to take care of his son, Ben. Together with his work mate Phil (Jeff Garlin), who also happened to be fired, and has a young son of his own, come up with the idea of operating a child day care.

While the only other day care centres around are either expensive and outrageously strict academies or dodgy dilapidated holes, Charlie's would be the affordable, middle-class alternative, lending itself to good profit. However, he and Phil soon learn that they've taken on a job which they have no experience in.

It’s no secret that Eddie Murphy has in recent years not really been releasing the best of films, though Daddy Day Care isn’t a total failure. Depending on your taste, you’ll either find it somewhat amusing or not at all funny. Murphy himself does suitably well enough, but it’s the secondary characters, such as the eccentric Marvin (Steve Zahn – National Security, Happy, Texas), the evil day care director (Anjelica Huston – The Royal Tenenbaums, The Addams Family) and the kids who provide much of the entertainment.

Eddie Murphy fans will obviously get a bit more out of this than everyone else, but in the end it is a light, family comedy that has it’s heart in the right place. However, it has all been seen before in other films like Mr Mom. You may want to consider renting this one first.

THE TRANSFER

Video:

The film is presented in 1.85:1, 16:9 enhanced.

The main issue I had with this transfer was that it had a small level of grain that was noticeable throughout the entire feature. But generally speaking, the picture isn’t too bad. Colours are vibrant, yet always natural, and film artefacts were kept to a bare minimum. Black levels are strong.

Audio:

The audio is presented in English, Czech, Hungarian & Russian Dolby Digital 5.1

Audio wise, there were no major issues here. All the dialogue is clear and discernible. The surrounds are used a fair bit, which is surprising for a film of this nature. Be it to support the music or add some impact to some of the scenes, they help to add some ambience, and you will definitely notice your surrounds at work. The LFE is used mainly for the numerous musical numbers. All the other tracks sounded identical.

THE EXTRAS

Theatrical Trailers

Unless otherwise indicated the trailers are presented in various ratios, and are 16:9 enhanced. The audio is presented in English Dolby Digital 5.1

The trailers included on the disc are Daddy Day Care, Annie, Oliver and Stuart Little 2. Oliver is the only trailer that is not 16:9 enhanced. All the trailers are well presented.

Early Bloomer (Approx. 3 ½ min)

The featurette is presented in 1.33:1, full screen.

A brief computer animated short made by Sony ImageWorks about a group of young tadpoles who make fun of another who happens to sprout legs earlier than expected. Definitely one for the kids.

Good Morning Eddie Murphy – Featurette (Approx. 3 min)

The featurette is presented in 1.33:1, full screen.

A mini doco where the kids interview each other about what they thought of Eddie Murphy. Both Eddie and the director of the film also talk about working with them and Eddie jokes about the difference between how he coped working with the kids in the film as opposed to handling his own kids. The featurette is inter-cut with behind the scenes footage of Eddie interacting with the kids.

Meet the Kids of Daddy Day Care – Featurette (Approx. 6 ½ min)

The featurette is presented in 1.33:1, full screen.

Another short featurette which concentrates more on interviews with the kids. We find out what their interests are what they like to eat and their favourite parts of the film. Inter-cut with the kids talking, are scenes from the film, home movies and behind the scenes footage. Some may find this cute, I found it tedious.

Quiet on the Set!! – Featurette

The featurette is presented in 1.33:1, full screen.

This time the kids are asked what they think the role of a director is, and what they thought of the director of the film Steve Carr. Behind the scenes footage shows the acting coach for children hired for the film and to what degree he helped the director in getting the film made. Some of the actors discuss how different movie making can be, when it involves children. One of the more interesting featurettes in this batch.

What Did That Kid Say? – Featurette (Approx. 3 ½ min)

The featurette is presented in 1.33:1, full screen.

Yet more kids interviewing each other and being cute. This time asking each other what they thought about the whole movie making experience. Half way through though, it goes on it’s own tangent, and that’s when I lost whatever minute interest I had left up to this point.

Name The Noise Maker – Game

A game where you have to match the sound from either a scene from the film or a character. If you get it wrong you are shown a short clip from the film with a weird sound. If you get it right you are shown the sequence from the film where the sound appeared.

Kid Card Match Up – Game

This game involves choosing the right puzzle pieces to fit together. If you get it right, the pieces snap together and you hear a lot of clapping and cheering. If you get it wrong you get a scene from the film accompanied by a weird sound.

Odd One Out – Game

The game involves picking the odd photo out of a selection of four. Again, if you get it right, you hear a lot of clapping and cheering. If you get it wrong you get a scene from the film accompanied by a weird sound.

Bloopers Reel

This option just jumps straight to the end credits of the film to show you the blooper reel. Only mildly amusing.

SUMMARY

An average film given an average release. Something for the kids when there isn’t much else to rent at the video-store, or something if you’ve absolutely positively seen everything Eddie Murphy has made and you just can’t get enough.