Plot: What’s it about?
Larry the Cable Guy isn’t always on the clock for the cable company, as he also makes ends meet as, if you can believe this, a health inspector. Yes, a man who doesn’t bathe and has hygiene that would scare Kevin Federline works as a health inspector. And you thought Denis Richards as a scientist in The World is Not Enough was a stretch, that seems like natural casting by comparison. He has fallen into this position, torn flannel shirt and all, because he was a failure in all other positions he has held. He brings his easy going, slow as molasses self to the job however, so the system won’t change this Nebraska native posing as a Southerner. His laid back persona is tossed aside when a rash of food poisonings strike five star eateries however, as he is set to prove he can be serious, though still unclean, when he needs to be. His straight arrow partner can’t even throw him off the case, until of course, he is thrown off the case. Now he must go undercover, but can he foil the poison ring and even if so, who cares?
The tagline for this film is “They’ll give anyone a badge.” After seeing Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, I think a more appropriate phrase is “They’ll give anyone a movie.” I know there is this wave of popularity for Blue Collar Comedy and right in the middle of it all is Larry the Cable Guy, an unfunny redneck character with the lamest catchphrase ever, Git-R-Done. At least with Jeff Foxworthy, he seems sincere when he speaks of redneck culture, Larry the Cable Guy seems like a bad Saturday Night Live sketch, someone looking to cash in on the trend and sadly, he was able to. The crest of the Blue Collar wave has past however, so hopefully we won’t see much of this untalented sack of shit in the future. This movie was even worse than I expected and I expected total crap, but this is far worse than simple crap. Even with a gifted cast that tries to make the most of this mess, the lame jokes and Larry’s faux redneck presence sink the ship. I can honestly say this was one of the least entertaining films I’ve ever seen, a dull and humorless experience that no human or animal should have to endure. Not only can I not recommend this, even as a free rental to desperate souls, but I should have known better than to watch it myself, Health Inspector is a total waste of time.
Video: How does it look?
Health Inspector is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, with a full frame version also included, since Larry hates those damn black bars. This is what you’d expect from a new release, a clean and crisp visual effort. This is not the most refined film in terms of visuals, with more of a television feel, but still has a solid overall presence. The print is clean and shows no real problems, so softness remains minimal and as a result, you can see all the yankee hiding under this false rebel. The colors are bright and bold, while contrast is consistent, not much else we could want from this presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track won’t disappoint, but this material isn’t that powerful, so don’t expect too much. The main surround presence comes from the musical soundtrack and a few audio intensive scenes, such as the ones with Dig’s plane. The atmosphere is active when it needs to be, but that it isn’t often and as such, the front channels handle most of the burden. This is how it should be however, as the film is dialogue driven and the vocals are well presented, with no real issues to report. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround option, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
There’s a featurette here, but I can only stomach so much of this joker.
