You’ve Got a Friend

August 28, 2012 4 Min Read

Disc Scores

VIDEO 3.5 / 5
AUDIO 3.0 / 5
OVERALL 3.0 / 5

Review by: Fusion3600

Plot: What’s it about?

Bobby Graham (Dylan McLaughlin) is only twelve years old, but he has experienced a lot in his short life. His parents recently passed on, so he has moved to New Mexico to live with his aunt and uncle. Between his parents’ deaths and this shift into a new place, Bobby has a lot to cope with, but he refuses to buckle under the pressure. He wants to make his late father proud and design a soap box racer, then win the entire competition. Of course, he’ll need some help and despite his uncle’s protests, Bobby finds that help from the town recluse, Jim (John Schneider). Just getting a racer designed and built is a tall order, but Bobby is determined to overcome the odds. So he and Jim continue to work on the racer and prepare for the big race, though no one else seems to think there is a chance to win. Can a young boy with tragic circumstances and a troubled Vietnam veteran triumph over the odds, or is it all just a pipe dream?

In case you couldn’t tell from the synopsis, this is a family friendly movie that deals with loss, perseverance, and redemption. These kind of movies can often fall into melodrama or sermon, but does You’ve Got a Friend avoid those pitfalls? The movie is better than I expected, but it does veer into melodrama from time to time. The story is simple, but allows for a good amount of character development, even if it is all rather predictable. But movies like this are inspirational in nature, so being predictable isn’t a bad thing in this case. John Schneider of Dukes of Hazzard fame has a substantial role as a reclusive Vietnam vet and he does quite well, especially in his interactions with Dylan McLaughlin. The two have the core relationship of the movie, so it is good that they were able to work off each other so well. This movie isn’t going to win you over if you’re in a cynical mood, but if you’re after a family safe movie that has some noble messages, You’ve Got a Friend is worth a look.

Video: How does it look?

You’ve Got a Friend is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This transfer is rock solid. The detail is good, but not great, with some light softness at times. I found colors to be natural in scope, with no visible errors, while contrast was smooth and up to the job at all times. Perhaps not a top tier visual effort, but the movie looks quite good and this is the best looking way to watch You’ve Got a Friend.

Audio: How does it sound?

The included stereo soundtrack is passable, but isn’t memorable. This never proves to be a concern though, as the film’s audio needs are rather basic. The music sounds good and other sound effects are well handled, but again not dynamic or immersive. The main emphasis is on dialogue, which sounds clean and crisp at all times. So this one won’t rumble your home theater, but the film’s bases are covered.

Supplements: What are the extras?

This disc includes no bonus materials.