‘Tenacious D In The Pick of Destiny’ Blu-Ray Review – A Hilarious Gift For Fans Of The Band

On a fateful day in Venice Beach, JB (Jack Black) and KG (Kyle Gass) meet and realize they are destined to make history by combining their musical genius. But when overnight success eludes them, they set out to find the legendary “Pick of Destiny” — a spectacular guitar pick believed to possess magical powers that can make any open-mike wannabe a rock legend. Their epic quest, which includes run-ins with the law, sorority hotties, and Sasquatch, will make you “laugh till it hurts and then you’ll laugh some more” (Guy Farris, KXTV-TV, ABC).

For thoughts on Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/pPsN6xv-QFw?si=pzgIY9m2_t18XEPL&t=2146]

Video Quality

Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Shout! Studios with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that is a much-needed upgrade from the ancient DVD from nearly 20 years ago. The exact source of this transfer is unclear, but the results are pleasing even if they did not necessarily go for a full 4K remaster. The new transfer provides a sumptuous viewing experience that is natural, stable, and detailed in all respects without signs of unsightly digital manipulation for a more artificial appearance. The film retains a consistent grain structure that preserves the filmic look of the picture, showcasing unique details in the production design, clothing, and makeup effects. 

There is a world of detail that was hidden from this picture when it was stuck on DVD, and now the picture looks more clear and robust than ever. There is still a touch of underlying softness that goes hand-in-hand with the cinematography, but the transfer represents this as faithfully as can be. Skin tones are natural, and the vibrant natural color palette is rendered beautifully. The environments, lighting, and costumes radiate off the screen. Black levels hold up well with some notable depth to the image. There is no egregious damage to be found with this master. Shout! Studios has made fans of the band extremely happy by rescuing it from the realm of standard definition. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an epic DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that handles this material with the proper care it deserves. Given the prominence of music in this story, it is with great happiness we say that the soundtrack packs a punch. From the earliest moments, you can tell you are in good hands. The music is powerful without being abrasive. Every tune maintains its fidelity throughout with no shrill high notes or distortion. Dialogue is the other essential element of this track, and every line comes through perfectly clearly without competing elements swallowing up important information. 

The surround channels provide some worthwhile ambient details to many environments which helps the world feel more three-dimensional. All of the various sounds in the mix seem precisely placed so that nothing ever feels off. Moments of banter between JB and KG are employed in the appropriate channels in the front and rear. The subwoofer is mostly used when it comes to the music and to give a few moments some extra texture. Overall, this is a phenomenal track that does everything it needs to do really well. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided. 

Special Features

• Audio Commentary #1: Director Liam Lynch provides an informative commentary track in which he discusses the production of the film in great depth with tons of anecdotes given for each scene including technical execution, funny moments on set, details of shooting locations, the evolution of sequences, subtle elements of the production design, and much more.  

• Audio Commentary #2: Stars Jack Black and Kyle Gass provide a lively audio commentary track that features some amusing banter throughout which keeps this one entertaining and provides some additional background details on the film. 

• The Making of Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny: A 23-minute archival featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the origins of the band, the journey to making the movie, the evolution of the script, the care put forth towards delivering for fans, and much more. 

• In The Studio: A 22-minute look at the guys recording new songs for the film in the studio. It is cool to see how some of these ideas developed into the finished product. 

• The Making of the Music Video: A five-minute behind-the-scenes look at the production of the “Pick of Destiny” music video.

• The Pick of Destiny Music Video: The three-minute music video is provided in HD. 

• The Orchestra and Choir: A nearly eight-minute look at the recording of the score complete with a guest appearance from Jack Black. 

• Deleted/Extended Scenes: A 55-minute collection of unused footage is provided here which is really worth watching for fans. It makes sense as to why moments were cut, but there are many hilarious moments and fun cameos you will not want to miss. 

• Internet Shorts: A 35-minute collection of internet shorts is provided here that feature the guys appearing on a Hell-themed newscast. 

• Home Movies: A 13-minute collection of candid moments from the production of the film. 

• Trailers: This disc provides the Theatrical Trailer (1:39) and Teaser Trailer (1:24). 

Final Thoughts

Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny is not intended to be for everyone, but fans of the band and their brand of comedy know and love this one so much. It is crass and juvenile, yet it delivers big laughs and kick-ass tunes that will be stuck in your head for weeks after the credits have finished rolling. The way the story leans into fantasy and absurdity allows it to feel untethered to the realities of what we expect from modern comedies. Jack Black and Kyle Gass are hilarious as versions of themselves, and the amount of celebrity cameos that pop up throughout will make your head spin. Shout! Studios has released a new Blu-Ray that sports a favorable A/V presentation and a fun array of legacy supplemental features. If you are also a fan who has been clamoring for this one in HD, get ready to rock. Recommended 

Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny 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: Shout! Studios 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.