‘Smiley Face’ Blu-Ray Review – Anna Faris Totally Commits To Hilarious Stoner Journey

Slacker actress Jane (Anna Faris), is having a bad day that is getting more outrageous by the minute. Jane’s misadventures begin when she treats herself to a batch of cupcakes left unattended by her psycho roommate that prove not as innocent as they appear. She then bums a ride from her roommate’s friend (John Krasinski) and attempts to cross town so she can repay an unforgiving drug dealer, attend an audition, and somehow replace the precious cupcakes. Enjoy the wild journey as Jane’s efforts to get through her day prove an arduous task of epic proportions.

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Video Quality

Smiley Face debuts on Blu-Ray domestically at long last with a welcome 1080p video presentation after being released on DVD exclusively back in 2008. This new transfer retains its beautifully filmic nature while resolving effortlessly. There is a world of personality within the production design and outfits as we go along this odyssey. All of these elements provide clear textural details that far outpace the previous standard definition release. The presentation provides a respectable amount of depth out in the world. The color palette faithfully saturates the screen with vibrant splashes of colors within the design elements which never lack for something appealing. Black levels are appropriately deep with no observable digital noise. The flesh tones are natural with a standout amount of detail in close-ups. This Blu-Ray will prove to be worth the wait for fans. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a grand DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures the quixotic nature of the story through creative sound design. Dialogue is the focus of the film, and it always emanates clearly without being overshadowed by any competing sounds. Kinetic moments are in short supply, but the environmental sounds of the world engage the surround speakers in a truly effective way. When the characters are walking around, some nice ambient details flesh out the scene. This film is consistently elevated by its soundtrack, and every tune is granted rich fidelity on this disc. These sounds fill the speakers in a wonderful, well-balanced way. Certain sound effects engage the low end of the track in a way that supplies a vital texture to the proceedings. The audio track delivers on all fronts. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

• Audio Commentary: Film historian Elizabeth Purchell provides a fun new commentary in which they discuss the career of Gregg Araki, how Smiley Face factors into his filmography, recurring themes in his work, and their love for the film with a good mixture of personal insights and broad creative observations.  

• Original Trailer (1:09) 

• Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring an essay by film critic Mia Lee Vicino is provided that explores the production and themes of the film. 

Final Thoughts

Smiley Face delivers exactly what you expect from a stoner comedy, which can be a blessing or a curse depending on your tolerance for the culture. As juvenile as some of the developments can be, you are never less than mesmerized by the committed performance of the one and only Anna Faris. Her dedication is hilarious with every misguided decision leading to some big laughs even when she has you pulling out your hair. It is also impressive to look back at the supporting cast for this one and see how many talented people are sprinkled throughout delivering memorable turns even with limited screen time. The film is very straightforward yet very funny if you jive with the average stoner sensibility. Dark Star has released a Blu-Ray featuring a wonderful A/V presentation and an informative commentary track. If you are a fan of this film, it has finally been treated with the proper respect. Recommended 

Smiley Face is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Dark Star and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.