Wrong Reasons – MVD Visual (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 2022
Director: Josh Roush
Writer: Josh Roush
Cast: Ralph Garman, Liv Roush, James Parks, Teresa Ruiz, Kevin Smith, David Koechner

Release Date: August 15th, 2023
Approximate running time: 97 Minutes 4 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Interlaced / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 English, LPCM Stereo English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $24.95

"When an ambiguously intentioned masked man (James Parks, The Hateful Eight) kidnaps a drug addicted punk singer (Liv Roush, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot), it triggers a police investigation headed by Detective Charles Dobson (Ralph Garman, Ted) as well as a media circus." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Wrong Reasons comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.1 GB

Feature: 22.8 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Flesh tones and colors look correct; image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English, LPCM Stereo English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English and a LPCM stereo mix in English. Both audio mixes sound excellent. Dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and the soundtrack sounds robust. Included are removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, a slipcover (limited to the first poressing), a trailer (2 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a trailer with an introduction with actress Liv Roush and Executive Producer  Kevin Smith (2 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Idiot Cops short film (2 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), original opening sequence (4 minutes 27 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), two deleted scenes: Peanut Butter and Pickle (2 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and Hopscotch (51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), outtakes (14 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Kevin Smith introduction (8 minutes 39 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a Q & A with director Josh Roush, Live Roush and moderated by Kevin Smith and actor Ralph Garman (56 minutes 2 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Josh Roush, producer Matt Rowbottom, composer Cam Mosavian and Liv Roush, and an audio commentary with Josh Roush and Kevin Smith.

Other extras are trailers for Max Reload, Clerk, and Film Hawk.

Summary:

Wrong Reasons is the feature film debut of Josh Roush, a filmmaker whose other credits include short films and two documentaries about films directed by Kevin Smith.

The narrative revolves around Kat Oden, a drug-addicted singer who is abducted by someone wearing a bear mask.

Though Wrong Reasons was made on a limited budget, the result is a film that often exceeds its resources. Where most first-time directors try to make a film that is confined to a few locations, Wrong Reasons takes an opposite approach. Another area where Wrong Reasons goes against the norm is its visuals, which include a few shots like an aerial drone shot that most first-time directors would not attempt.

The most impressive aspect of Wrong Reasons is its cast, which features many recognizable faces, notably Kevin Smith (Mallrats), who was also an executive producer. That said, it is Liv Roush in the role of Kat Oden, Ralph Garman in the role of Detective Charles Dobson, and James Parks in the role of James Winandi, the man who abducted Kat Oden, who carry this film.

The heart and soul of Wrong Reasons are these three damaged characters' journeys. In the case of Kat Oden and James Winandi, though their relationship starts off combative, the more time they spend together, the more they forge a bond in which they help each other deal with baggage from their pasts.

Though billed as a drama or comedy, when it comes to the latter, the humor is not that effective. Fortunately, when it comes to comedy, these moments are few, since it is the drama side of Wrong Reasons in which this film is very effective.

From a production standpoint, the positives far outweigh any negatives. An interesting premise is well executed, and the narrative does a good job building momentum. Also, the soundtrack, which is mostly made up of punk rock, perfectly reinforces the mood. Ultimately, just how much you enjoy Wrong Reasons comes down to how much you like its three main characters.

Wrong Reasons gets an excellent release from MVD Visual that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer