Search - Strange Brew on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Adult Humor Movie Release: 1983 DVD Release: 10/01/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 30 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Comedy, Satire, Farce, Absurd Comedy

Purporting to be loosely based on Hamlet, Strange Brew is about an evil braumeister at the Elsinore Brewery who has discovered an additive that when guzzled in beer, allows the drinkers to be easily controlled. Braumeister Smith (Max von Sydow) has a plan to take over the world with his new brew, and only the Great White hosers of the North, Bob and Doug McKenzie (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) -- with their plaid shirts, ski toques, fur-lined parkas, and addiction to beer -- can stop the dastardly plan, sober or not. There are several jabs at "hoseheads" and the business of movie-making, including an epilogue that critiques the film itself. Strange Brew found a cult audience with fans of the Second City comedy troupe, of which Moranis and Thomas were members. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Dave Thomas - Doug McKenzie
Rick Moranis - Bob McKenzie
Max von Sydow - Brewmeister Smith
Paul Dooley - Claude Elsinore
Lynne Griffin - Pam Elsinore

Strange Brew makes a worthwhile debut on DVD that is likely to please this film's cult following. Fans used to this cult favorite from its drab-looking original VHS release will be pleasantly surprised by the transfer, which serves up the film with a nice, clean letterboxed image that is surprisingly colorful and sharp. This disc further benefits from a nice Dolby Surround stereo mix: Strange Brew's use of sound does not put this format to the test but it's a nice surprise and delivers a solid, distortion-free soundtrack. Although this disc is not a special edition, Strange Brew throws in a couple of interesting extras in addition to the usual theatrical trailer. First up is a short cartoon entitled The Animated Adventures Of Bob And Doug MacKenzie: it is essentially an extended promo for a forthcoming cartoon series but is amusing enough to please the film's fans. Even better is "How To Stuff A Mouse In A Beer Bottle," a fun sketch from SCTV that was the genesis of a gag later used in Strange Brew. There is also an easily found 'easter egg' that leads to a text dictionary of Canadian slang terms. All in all, Warner Brother's DVD of Strange Brew is well worth the price for the film's fans and good fun for comedy fans. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide