Men at Work is a cult comedy from 1990 starring brothers Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez, who also wrote and directed. Upon release, it was something I never really had any interest in. I didn’t find the concept particularly funny, and I’m not the biggest fan of the brothers. Enough time has passed for me to look past my misgivings and finally give it a fair shake. Previously available through Shout Factory, MVD Rewind Collection has stepped in to release an updated version of the comedy classic, which was only a modest success upon its initial release.
James St. James (Emilio Estevez) and Carl Taylor (Charlie Sheen), a couple of sanitation workers, dream of opening their own surf shop in the small beachside community where they reside. For one reason or another, things never seem to go their way. One day they find a murdered politician in their trash, and everything they know is about to change.
They get the bright idea to try and find the murderer themselves, which quickly leads them into a world they know nothing about. They have to deal with a nasty, murderous executive named Maxwell Potterdam III (John Getz). He’s been dumping toxic waste into the ocean, and he’ll do anything he has to in order to keep his own hide safe.
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Men at Work isn’t a particularly good film, but there are a few laughs to be had. The cast is pretty impressive, and Estevez does a capable job as director, but the film suffers from a messy script. Dean Cameron, who is always hysterical, is a standout. My wife absolutely loves the movie, so I know it has a passionate fan base; it just wasn’t for me.
Shout Factory previously released the film on Blu-ray, but I’ve never experienced the quality of that particular version. MVD’s release looks and sounds rather good. There are a few moments where the age of the elements used was obvious, but that’s usually par for the course. The disc is bare bones in terms of special features though the packaging looks great. The Rewind Collection always includes a slip reminiscent of a VHS tape, and this one is no exception. It also has reversible artwork and a mini-poster.
If you’re purchasing this Blu-ray for the first time, MVD is the way to go.
