This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Double the action and double the laughs with David and Peter Paul (“The Barbarian Brothers”), the most mismatched pair of identical twins since Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger! David is an L.A. detective. Peter is a convicted cat burglar. The brawny brothers become unlikely partners when Peter is granted immunity to help his bro bust an international jewel smuggling ring. Sibling rivalry erupts as David tries to teach his slow-reforming brother that crime doesn’t pay. But when they team up against a sinister ringleader (Roddy McDowall, Fright Night) and an army of corrupt bureaucrats, no one can tear them apart in this fast-paced action-adventure that’s bulging with comedy and a stacked cast that includes A.J. Johnson (House Party), Steve Kanaly (TV’s Dallas), Troy Donahue (Cry-Baby), James Doohan (TV’s Star Trek), Bill Mumy (TV’s Lost in Space) and David Carradine (Bird on a Wire).
For thoughts on Double Trouble, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Double Trouble comes to Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer derived from a slightly older high definition master that gets the job done but could be improved. This transfer seems to retain the natural film grain of the presentation which provides a decent level of detail in brighter environments. This transfer has a soft look which allows some items to lose their crisp borders. The establishing shots of landscapes look pretty well rendered. Clarity and detail is readily apparent with skin tones that look natural, perhaps slightly on the warmer side of the spectrum.
Colors appear well saturated with some of the vibrant hues in the locations and clothing jumping off the screen. Instances of print damage are sporadic but not a major nuisance. Subtle facial features are noticeable in closeup.. Black levels are admirable in their depth with only some of the shadowy scenes lacking some precise detail and looking a touch milky. This new presentation from Kino Classics could use a refresh, but there is enough here to provide a fine viewing experience.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a good DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that easily executes everything that is thrown at it. Dialogue and background noises are balanced with all competing elements. The sound effects and music appear to be authentic to the original intent. The soundtrack comes through with pleasing clarity and fidelity which grounds the action. Despite the prominence of the music, nothing ever overshadows the dialogue or other important information. This track shows no particularly unfortunate instances of age related wear and tear such as hissing or popping. This is a perfectly solid presentation of the film. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.
Special Features
- Trailers: There is a two-minute trailer provided for Double Trouble. There are also trailers provided for The Barbarians and Sinbad of the Seven Seas.
Final Thoughts
Double Trouble will be mostly for those looking for dumb ‘80s fun that still lingered in the ‘90s. The truth is, this movie is pretty terrible with painful performances, misguided humor and boring action set pieces. Certain audiences will eat this up, but that audience is not this reviewer. Kino Classics has provided a new Blu-Ray featuring an acceptable A/V presentation and no special features. Only seek this one out if you know you have a high tolerance for “bad” action movies.
Double Trouble is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
