Technical Specs

• Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack

Video Resolution/Codec

• 1080p/AVC MPEG-4

Aspect Ratio(s)

• 1.78:1

Audio Formats

• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• French Dolby Digital 5.1
• Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles/Captions

• English SDH, French, Spanish

Supplements

• Putting on PROM: Making of Featurette
• Bloopers

Exclusive HD Content

• “Last Chance Lloyd” Exclusive Short — Laugh out loud at all the creative and hilarious ways Lloyd (Nicholas Braun) asks girls to Prom in his heroic quest for the perfect date…actually, any date!
• 4 Deleted Scenes—With introductions by producer Justin Springer and director Joe Nussbaum.
• 7 Music Videos

Best Sellers and Deals

Prom (Blu-ray)

Disney/Buena Vista / 2011 / 104 Minutes / Rated PG
Street Date: August 30, 2011

• Offer Details
• List Price: $26.50
• Amazon Price: $13.14 (50%)
• 3rd Party Price: $10.87
• Usually ships in 24 hours

Reviewed by Aaron Peck
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Movie Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

Disney's 'Prom' is an ambiguous movie. What age group is this aiming for? Kids younger than high school age aren't going to be able to relate to the whole prom theme, while kids in high school are bound to think of this movie as too corny and stupid for them to waste their time on. Either way, 'Prom' got made, and now I have to review it.

It's not that 'Prom' is bad, it's just so dreadfully bland. It's a story about a school getting ready for the big day. Prom is upon them and the high schoolers take it quite personally. Prom is a big deal, and they know it. It's the be-all end-all of their existence at that moment. If they don't get a date for prom they might as well cease to exist.

Order 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows' Coming to Blu-ray June 12th

Nova (Aimee Teegarden) is the goody two-shoes who's putting together prom. Readying the decorations, directing the night's events, all the while trying to balance her busy life of overachieving. Jesse (Thomas McDonell) is the resident too-cool-for-school guy who rides a motorcycle and figuratively gives the finger to The Man. He doesn't conform. Going to prom? You gotta be kidding. He's not getting into one of those penguin suits. Tyler (DeVaughn Nixon) is the star football player trying his best to keep all his many lady friends happy. Simone (Danielle Campbell) is a young girl who finds herself in a love triangle between Tyler and Lucas (Nolan Sotillo). Lucas is a hopeless romantic and hopes to woo Simone with his boyish wiles. However, Lucas is best friends with Corey (Cameron Monaghan). Not only do the two act like they're dating, but Corey can't bare to see his best friend pining for a girl while leaving him in the lurch. There are even more stereotypical characters that fill each and every role you'd need for a teeny-bopper story of high school love, but it's really no use going over them here.

'Prom' is a movie with nothing at stake. These kids are risking absolutely nothing, and we more or less glide through the movie from one clichéd scene to another until we wind up at prom with every character landing exactly where we thought they'd land.

It's all so predictable it becomes grating, but you knew that, right? You knew what a Disney movie called 'Prom' would be about. There's no hiding the fact that Disney is trying to target a specific audience (although I have no idea who they might be).

If 'Prom' does get one thing right it's the unintentional effect of displaying how awkward and ultimately how stupid prom really was. Without realizing it 'Prom' completely marginalizes the practice of having a prom. Sure, it says at the end that there's more to life than prom, but we also realize that prom didn't even need to happen. These kids were fine whether or not they found dates. But, at that age prom seriously becomes this big to-do. If you don't go something must be wrong with you. You're missing out on the most fun you'll ever have had. At the time prom, along with any other high school activity, seem important beyond belief. Watching 'Prom' makes you realize how silly you were for thinking that in the first place. It isn't the movie's intention, but that's exactly what it accomplishes.

All of these characters are so formulaic and so cookie-cutter that it's hard to care for any of them. They've all been ripped from other, better movies. McDonell is trying his best Heath Ledger impression as he puts on his "bad boy" face and wallows about his dad not being around and how he like totally hates his life and all that. That's how each character and their arc plays out. This movie is completely by the clichéd high school movie book. It never steps out of line or throws any surprises our way. The characters do exactly what we think they'll do because they don't have any minds of their own. They were created in a character Auto-Tune machine and left to do the mundane and redundant. 'Prom' is a waste of time for you and any teen you may have residing in your home.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

The movie comes in a standard Disney Blu-ray keepcase with a 50-GB Blu-ray disc and a DVD copy of the movie. Even though the front of the case doesn't display the Disney Movie Rewards logo this movie does indeed come with a Rewards code that will give you points. It's a region free release.

The Video: Sizing Up the Picture

It's all sunshine and sparkles when it comes to 'Prom's good-looking, generic video presentation. The 1080p picture has a warm, candy-coated finish. Colors are bright and lively. Skintones run a tad hot due to the warmer palette. Blacks and dimly lit scenes are nicely rendered offering optimum shadows.

Fine detail shines on faces as the looks of the movie's young stars gives off a soft almost squishy appearance. Individual hairs are apparent and tiny flecks of light shining down on the gymnasium floor during prom are just some of the intricate details you can expect to see.

Edges are nicely defined and even tiny writing like the "Stick Hippos" logo on Corey's shirt is completely visible. This isn't a demo disc though. It's not one that you'll throw in to show off your TV, but it does have the Disney quality attached to it. Even though it's a less-than-stellar movie, at least it looks good while failing.

The Audio: Rating the Sound

Overall, I thought the audio presentation here – which is a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix – was a bit dim. It wasn't where it could have been let's just say that. This isn't 'High School Musical' so you're not going to be bombarded with bombastic musical number after musical number. Instead 'Prom' assaults you with generic pop/rock music that fills up the front of the sound stage, but has trouble getting into the rear speakers to truly envelope you.

Even though the soundtrack is playing a lot of popular music the LFE seemed a little subdued. Not much, but even the hip-hop sounding songs seemed encumbered by a less than enthusiastic bass line.

Dialogue is clear though. Rears, like I mentioned above, are a little anemic. There's nothing overtly wrong with this mix, but there's also nothing special about it. It's as generic as the movie.

The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff

• Bloopers (HD, 2 min.) — A generic blooper reel with line flubs and mess ups.
• Putting on 'Prom' (HD, 6 min.) — This making of featurette covers in the ins and outs of 'Prom's evolution and trip to the big screen. It's far too promotional for its own good, but an EPK featurette is the least of this movie's problems.

HD Bonus Content: Any Exclusive Goodies in There?

• Last Chance Lloyd (HD, 10 min.) — There's a character in the movie named Lloyd who continuously gets shut down by each girl he asks to prom. He's the quintessential shy nerd who can't get a date ever. This "all-new short" (as the box proclaims) shows Lloyd trying a few more times to get girls to go out with him. If you liked seeing him get shut down in the movie then you'll like this short.
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 8 min.) — Only three deleted scenes included here. Each of them have introductions from director Joe Nussbaum and producer Justin Springer. They discuss why each scene was cut, but most of their explanations run longer than the actual scenes. A few more character interactions, and sort of an extended interaction between Tyler and Simone that shows the beginning of their relationship. The conversation works in introducing their characters and situation much better than what's in the movie.
• Music Videos (HD, 24 min.) — Not one, not two, but seven. Count them seven music videos are here for your watching and listening pleasure. Songs include "Time Stand" by Moon, "Your Surrender" by Neon Trees, "We Could Be Anything" (English version) by Nolan Sotillo, "I'll Be Yours" by Those Dancing Days, "Come On, Let's Go" by Girl in a Coma, and "Not Your Birthday" by Allstar Weekend. These are watered down music videos with a ton of random scenes from the movie edited in.

Easter Eggs

No easter eggs reported for 'Prom' yet. Found an egg? Please use our tips form to let us know, and we'll credit you with the find.

Final Thoughts

Well, it's a Disney movie called 'Prom,' what were you expecting? This is only for those people who know they're fans of this stuff. I have no idea who you are, but apparently you're out there. Stick this one next to your 'High School Musical' collection I guess. As for the presentation, it looks okay and sounds decent. Nothing too special in either of those aspects. The special features are a lump of generic features for a generic movie experience. For fans only, whoever you are.

All disc reviews at High-Def Digest are completed using the best consumer HD home theater products currently on the market. More about our gear.

Puzzled by the technical jargon in our reviews, or wondering how we assess and rate HD DVD and Blu-ray discs? Learn about our review methodology.