Chris Farley and David Spade star in the cult comedy classic Black Sheep. Kino Lorber has given the film a 4K UHD upgrade from the original camera negative.
The Film
What would surprise anyone who hasn’t seen Black Sheep (far superior to Tommy Boy) is just how well-meaning and good-natured the entire film is. Yes, you get the snarky David Spade of it all, but the film is more about friendship, brotherhood, good intentions, and heart matter over career and power. Something that until recently seemed almost quaint. Director Penelope Spheeris’s comedy is heavy on physical comedy, heart, and soul making it a surprising entry into the all-too-short career of Chris Farley.
Al Donnelly (Tim Matheson) is running for the Governor of Washington. Donnelly’s campaign and management found the one issue is the candidate’s brother – Mike (Farley). Mike is a well-meaning but accident-prone lout who wants nothing more than to help Al win the election. Al agrees to have someone look over Mike. That comes in the form of Steve Dobbs (Spade) – a political aide with sites on an appointment within the cabinet – which he will get if he can make sure that Mike doesn’t disrupt but still helps with the campaign. Though Donnelly’s opposition the crass and crafty incumbent Governor Evelyn Tracy (Christine Ebersole) has designs on using Mike to win her reelection or any means for that matter.
What is so unexpected about Black Sheep is how much friendship and brotherhood come through the film. Mike shows Chris Farley at his best both as a comedian but also as an actor. There’s a good-heartedness to Farley’s performance that you can’t help but be won over by. The actor has this almost Jackie Chan or Harold Llyod physicality to him in the film in the best moments of the film. Farley daring us to laugh at his nimble physical set pieces that are far beyond just pratfalls. Though it’s the moments where Mike is down on himself or doubting that he’s good enough where Farley shows what could have been.
The jewel of the film is Farley and Spade’s relationship in the film. Though adversarial isn’t as mean-spirited as the one in Tommy Boy. It feels like Spade’s Dobbs sees the good intentions of Farley’s Mike though it’s the “Bull in a China shop” destructive nature of Mike that keeps getting in the way. When the duo figure out what the Governor has been up to, Spade and Farley really have won over the audience as a true force to be reckoned with. Though it should be noted, Spade’s acidic nature isn’t left stranded or not put to good comedic use. The actor’s work with Gary Busey as a deranged War Vet mines some truly wicked comedic gold between the two.
Black Sheep is a great comedic because it manages to elevate its story, characters, and themes with a heartfelt message. That and seeing Farley and Busey beat the crap out of each other… that shit is comedic fried gold.
The Transfer
Is an all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is a marvelous representation of the film. The transfer is razor sharp with a beautiful patina of film grain that’s representative of the film’s 35mm origins. The image is clean and free of any dirt, specs, or scratches. The Dolby Vision HDR master only enhances the look of the film leveling it up the already astutely looking visuals that people do not give comedies credit for. Kino continues to release truly revelatory transfers for films.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
- NEW Audio Commentary by Director Penelope Spheeris, Moderated by Film Critic and Author Simon Abrams
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
- NEW Audio Commentary by Director Penelope Spheeris, Moderated by Film Critic and Author Simon Abrams
- Theatrical Trailer
The all-new Audio Commentary by Director Penelope Spheeris, Moderated by Film Critic and Author Simon Abrams opens with how she began to work with Producer Lorne Michael and teaching Albert Brooks how to direct during the 1970s at the beginning of SNL. Some of the details include a discussion of the stunt scene that opens the film and how it was accomplished – during her days of low-budget action film days; a discussion of when she was approached to direct Black Sheep – which there was no script and only the barest of outlines; the fact that the film was shot entirely in Los Angeles – not Washington state; a heartbreaking statement made by Chris Farley made about his weight when working with Spheeris; a discussion of what it was like working with Gary Busey – including a few wild anecdote from the set; an interesting fact that Farley could not do Cable Guy because of contractual obligations to Paramount to do this film after Tommy Boy; Farley wanting to do a lot of his own stunts – a moment where he was hurt; the work of composer William Ross; the problems with the cabin set – which leads to an interesting discussion of budget and a director’s responsibility; a discussion of the script and improv with the cast and again a director’s responsibility – including rules that she came up during the production Wayne’s World; working with both David Spade and Chris Farley and their styles; a discussion of Farley’s troubling past and how during the production he was sober; a discussion through out of the various stunts and how they were accomplished for a surprisingly physical film; a discussion of the various songs and soundtracks were put together; and much more. The track is a lively affair with Spheeris giving great details while Abrams keeps things on track with interesting and informational questions about the production.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Black Sheep (2:20); Tommy Boy (2:33); Billy Madison (2:00); Happy Gilmore (2:23); CB4 (2:31); Half Baked (1:54); Brain Donors (1:29); Career Opportunities (2:15)
The Final Thought
Kino continues to bring truly wonderful films to 4K. Highest Recommendations!