As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support!
×
Did you know that Blu-ray.com also is available for United Kingdom? Simply select the
flag icon to the right of the quick search at the top-middle.
[hide this message]
C.H.O.M.P.S. Blu-ray offers solid video and audio in this fan-pleasing Blu-ray release
Desperate to save her father's company, Casey Norton (Valerie Bertinelli) and her fiancee, electronics genius Brian Foster (Wesley Eure), are about to unveil a secret weapon that'll have burglars begging for mercy: C.H.O.M.P.S., the world's first computerized watchdog! Faster than a speeding pit bull and able to leap tall fire hydrants in a single bound, this powerful pooch is programmed to sink his teeth into crime. But when the company's rivals hear about C.H.O.M.P.S., they hire a pair of prowlers to destroy him. Now Casey and Brian must catch the crooks and outsmart the competition before Norton Securities winds up in the doghouse.
For more about C.H.O.M.P.S. and the C.H.O.M.P.S. Blu-ray release, see C.H.O.M.P.S. Blu-ray Review published by Brian Orndorf on March 2, 2022 where this Blu-ray release scored 3.5 out of 5.
There was something about the 1970s and movies interested in exploring the canine experience. Dogs were involved in robbing banks, saving
families, and, apparently, becoming high-tech robots meant to dominate the home security industry. 1979's "C.H.O.M.P.S." endeavors to take the cute
and cuddly ways of a pet and turn it into a slapstick comedy with some action beats. It's one of the few ventures into live-action filmmaking from
animation titans Hanna-Barbera (coming off their work on "Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park"), who retain their cartoon instincts for the feature,
which is directly aimed at 5-year-olds in need of aggressive music cues and broad antics to understand the entertainment value of the picture.
"C.H.O.M.P.S." isn't made for adults, but it's not exactly a shining example of family entertainment, as the simplistic screenplay and unrelenting
goofiness of the supporting cast wears thin in a hurry, even for the target demographic.
Business is not going well for Norton Security Systems, with boss Ralph (Conrad Bain) in need of a fresh idea to increase sales. He's put his faith
into Brian (Wesley Eure), a bright young man who's been distracted with his latest invention. Using dog Rascal as inspiration, Brian has created
C.H.O.M.P.S. (Canine Home Protection System), a robot dog with super senses and loud speakers capable of warding away trouble. Brian manages
to impress Ralph's daughter, Casey (Valerie Bertinelli), with the robotic pooch, providing demonstrations of its abilities. Ralph is less pleased, needed
something more to win him over, while rival Gibbs (Jim Backus) is breathing down his neck, trying to take over Norton with help from his inside
man, Ken (Larry Bishop). With bumbling crooks Brooks (Chuck McCann) and Bracken (Red Buttons) sneaking around causing trouble, C.H.O.M.P.S.
springs into action, keeping Brian on his toes as the machine showcases its incredible powers.
This being a Hanna-Barbera production, "C.H.O.M.P.S." naturally opens with an animated main title sequence that's meant to recall similar work for
"The Pink Panther" series, also giving the production a chance to gobble up four minutes of screentime right out of the gate. It's a lively way to
begin the picture, but cartoon style doesn't end here, continuing into the film with another dog known as Monster. He terrorizes local animals, but
we also hear his thoughts, and he's got a bit of a potty mouth, helping to butch up the feature for older viewers. Rascal doesn't receive the same
treatment, staying silent, but trying to figure out the rules of "C.H.O.M.P.S." isn't advised, as the movie just simply does anything it wants to get by,
on a singular mission to keep kids happy during matinee babysitting time.
"C.H.O.M.P.S" spends a lot of time on introductions, with Brian happy to send the robot on various missions to prove its capabilities. There's x-ray
vision and super speed, and the dog is controlled by numerical commands, leading to occasional confusion as outsiders accidentally speak numbers
during average conversations. Time with Brian and his machine is fine, with Eure a bright screen presence, working hard to sell the lightness of the
endeavor, offering mild chemistry with Bertinelli. There are a lot of dog high jinks in "C.H.O.M.P.S." to hold attention as well, which isn't
unappealing.
Less compelling is the human side of things, as Ken is up to no good, also training his attention on Casey, leading to some jealous feelings from
Brian, though the feature doesn't make much time for a romantic subplot to develop. Hurting the picture is criminal activity, with boobs Brooks and
Bracken returning to the story periodically to provide wacky accidents and miscommunication. Buttons and McCann commit to their moments, but
it's basic slapstick at best, with director Don Chaffey refusing to spend any more time on it than he has to.
Listed as a "New 2K Master," "C.H.O.M.P.S." arrives on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Detail is a bit soft, but
provides an appreciation for skin surfaces and period costuming. Animal fur and robotic innards are also open for inspection, along with urban distances
and office spaces. Color offers natural skintones and dog fur, also doing well with clothing choices and decorative additions. Primaries are intact.
Delineation is satisfactory. Grain has slight blockiness at times. Source is in good condition, with a few damaged frames.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix shows some signs of age, with slightly crackly highs and some sibilance issues. Dialogue exchanges remain appreciable, with a
satisfactory sense of performance. The crazy score is also adequate, supporting the action with decent instrumentation. Sound effects are louder, but
inherently so.
Intro (:34, HD) is a brief clip of actor Wesley Eure welcoming viewers to the "C.H.O.M.P.S." Blu-ray experience.
Commentary features actor Wesley Eure and co-writer Duane Poole.
Interview (9:13, HD) is a brief chat with actor Wesley Eure, who welcomes viewers to the commentary track for
"C.H.O.M.P.S." Eure was an in-demand actor in the late 1970s, appearing on both "Days of Our Lives" and "Land of the Lost," juggling gigs when he was
hired for the movie, adding momentum to his young career. Co-stars are recalled, offering reverence for Red Buttons and Jim Backus, and he shares
fond memories of Valerie Bertinelli. Anecdotes are provided, including the production's demand for Eure's own truck for use in the picture. The
interviewee delivers kind words for director Don Chaffey and the Hanna-Barbera team, and remains in awe of the "C.H.O.M.P.S." fanbase, hoping the
feature will find a new audience on Blu-ray.
In an alternate world, "C.H.O.M.P.S." would be directed by a young David Cronenberg, exploring the primal connection between people and their
machine pets. Instead, the film is a Disney-like presentation of buffoonery, with cranked-up performances and a punishing score by Hoyt Curtin, which
loops throughout the whole feature. It's not completely dispiriting viewing experience, but the potential of "C.H.O.M.P.S." certainly isn't realized.
Use the thumbs up and thumbs down icons to agree or disagree that the title is similar to C.H.O.M.P.S.. You can also suggest completely new similar titles to C.H.O.M.P.S. in the search box below.
Code Red has detailed its upcoming Blu-ray release of Don Chaffey's comedy C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979), starring Wesley Eure, Valerie Bertinelli, Conrad Bain, Chuck McCann, and Red Buttons. The release, which will be distributed by Kino Lorber, will be available for purchase ...
Code Red has dated its upcoming Blu-ray release of Don Chaffey's comedy C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979), starring Wesley Eure, Valerie Bertinelli, Conrad Bain, Chuck McCann, and Red Buttons. The release, which will be distributed by Kino Lorber, will be available for purchase ...
Code Red has revealed that it is preparing a Blu-ray release of Don Chaffey's C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979), starring Wesley Eure, Valerie Bertinelli, Conrad Bain, Chuck McCann, and Red Buttons. The release, which will be distributed by Kino Lorber, is expected to arrive ...
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
flag icon to the right of the quick search at the top-middle.
[hide this message]
Use the thumbs up and thumbs down icons to agree or disagree that the title is similar to C.H.O.M.P.S.. You can also suggest completely new similar titles to C.H.O.M.P.S. in the search box below.
