Ski Patrol (1990) (MVD Entertainment) Blu-ray Review + 1080p Screenshots + Packaging Shots

Studio: MVD Entertainment
Release Date: January 12th, 1990 (theatrical) / November 22nd, 2022
Run Time: 1 hour 32 minutes 3 seconds
Region Code: A (locked)

Disc Count: 1 (BD-25)
Picture: 1080p (1.85:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: English LPCM 2.0
Subtitles: English
Slipcover: Yes (limited along with the poster)
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Roger Rose, Yvette Nipar, Ray Walston, Martin Mull
Written by Steven Long Mitchell, Craig W. Van Sickle
Directed by Richard Correll
Rating: PG (mild rude humor and some brief language)

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Poster

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What's It About?

The Snowy Peaks ski patrol is one diverse crew. Jerry, the senior member loves skiing and is in love with Ellen, a ski school instructor at Snowy Peaks; Iceman is a singer and a master of impressions; Eddie is the demolition and explosives expert; Stanley has failed to make the patrol seven years in a row; and foreign-exchange patroler Tiana likes Stanley. While having fun and keeping the mountain safe, they try to save the lodge from greedy land developer Sam Maris.

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Video/Audio

While the film keeps its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the transfer leaves a fair amount to be desired. This is a dated transfer if ever I saw one. There is film even if it is a bit coarse at times. Colors are probably the best thing about this transfer as they stand out more than anything else. Detail is fine but nothing too deep. It would have been cool if they had done a new scan but this will do.

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Extras/Packaging

Ski Patrol (Original Theatrical Trailer) (1m 58s, HD, 1.85:1)

Ski Patrol (VHS Trailer) (1m 35s, SD, 1.33:1) very poor quality. Looks like it could have been taken off of YouTube.

Also Available from MVD

Men at Work (1m 45s, SD, 1.78:1)
Canadian Bacon (2m 12s, SD, 1.85:1)
Vampire's Kiss (2m 4s, HD, 1.85:1)
Dirty Laundry (2m 21s, HD, 1.78:1)

MVD does a great job with the packaging. We start out with the slipcover that features artwork I have never seen before. It is really good artwork. The clear blu-ray case features reversible artwork, with the slipcover artwork on one side and the film's original theatrical poster art on the other side. I do wish they had used the artwork that was used on the VHS release with the guy going over a cliff wearing skis. I was sad until I saw the menu that featured this very art. MVD thinking of everything. There is also a mini poster featuring the slipcover artwork.

The film is divided up into 12 Chapter stops.

The disc is REGION A (locked)

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Overall

SKI PATROL comes from the people who brought us the POLICE ACADEMY series which was a good sign to me. The film began and was going really good. I laughed a lot during the film's first fifteen minutes or so. Then they make a fatal flaw: they focus more on the skiing than on the comedy. This could have been a great POLICE ACADEMY successor but they spend so much time on the skiing, the jokes feel like they don't really matter all that much. Don't get me wrong: the skiing is fantastic. There is that sense of danger that is missing from so many films nowadays with the stunts being very real and kind of scary. If the film had just been that with some character stuff thrown in, then it would have been fine. Look at how BREAKIN' 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO does it. They know people came for the dancing and dancing we get. The problem with this is we didn't watch SKI SCHOOL for the skiing. We watched it for the antics. We do get some antics but not enough to save the film. Had they cut down the skiing stuff to bigger moments and then added more comedy, we would have gotten a much better film. The film is ok but it could have been so much more.

MVD does what they can with the film. They give us a dated but good transfer but skimp out on the special features. I know there is probably no one who wants to talk about the film or they were working with no budget at all. I wish the film had gotten a bit more love but what we get is good.

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Extras/Menus