UHF 4K Blu-ray Review
Reviewed by Neil Lumbard, July 16, 2024
UHF is one of the greatest cult classic comedies ever made. Fans of the iconic music legend Weird Al Yankovic won't be
able to resist the delights of this comedy classic � an undeniable comedy masterpiece for the right crowd. Executive produced by Gray
Frederickson (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now), UHF was released theatrically on July 21st,
1989.
Released by Cinecorp and distributed by Orion Pictures, UHF only made 6.1 million at the box-office against its 5 million budget
but the film went on to become a massive hit with Weird Al fans � in other words, the cult classic it was always destined to be on home
video. The classic Weird Al gem has been newly restored and released on 4K UHD by distributor Shout Factory.
Produced by Gene Kirkwood (Rocky, The Pope of Greenwich Village) and John W. Hyde (Flight of the
Navigator, The NeverEnding Story), UHF is no sleeper hit. (It actually is a sleeper-hit in that it
wasn't a massive box-office smash overnight and gained a reputation on late-night television.) It's a comedy classic and a must-see
gem.
George Newman ('Weird Al' Yankovic) has ambitions and wants to be the best television broadcaster around town. George takes it upon himself
to start up a local station that only plays wacky and odd entertainment for the quirkier citizens of the community. The television station was flailing
before George decided to turn things around. With George in charge of UHF and the station's broadcast specialties, series hits such as Wheel
of Fish, Raul's Wild Kingdom, and Stanley Spadowski's Clubhouse become cult hits with audiences.
It isn't long before the network ratings start to reach new heights � the potential is enormous and only the sky is the limit! With
Pamela Finklestein (Fran Drescher) and Stanley Spadowski (Michael Richards) by his side, George will stop at nothing to make UHF a success
� as long as he can thwart the diabolical plans of competitor and television villain CEO R.J. Fletcher (Kevin McCarthy), the conniving and
sinister leader of Channel 8. The clock is soon ticking with a race to earn enough funds to save the station when CEO Fletcher decides to try
changing the channel (and blacking out UHF from being the top station in the city). Can George save UHF and keep television cool again?
Weird Al Yankovic is the star of the show. An incredible comedian and pop-star extraordinaire, Weird Al is one of the greatest comedians of all
time. As an actor, Weird Al delivers an excellent performance in UHF and delivers the comedy-goods in spades. Weird Al Yankovic
isn't ever afraid of being a real-life cartoon character and this gives him ample charm as a comedian and actor.
Weird Al knows exactly what to do to tickle the funny bone. The comedy skill extends to Weird Al's impersonations of Indiana Jones and
Rambo � both spot-on comedy impersonations that no comedy fan can ignore. The incredible performance by Weird Al is a large part of the
reason why UHF became a cult classic. The performance is elevated with great comedic timing and a sense of what makes people
laugh.
Michael Richards (Kramer of Seinfeld) is also terrific in the supporting role as Stanley Spadowski. Stanley Spadowski's
Clubhouse is a huge hit on the UHF broadcasting station. The comedy routine of Michael Richards is fantastic here and he is a great and integral
supporting player in the cult classic status of UHF. In some respects, Michael Richards delivers an even more bonkers and out-there
performance than he delivered on Seinfeld. (That's saying something.)
The score composed by John Du Prez (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles III) is a wonderful part of the fun. The music by Du Prez is certainly fitting for the comedy shenanigans and certainly has earned its
place as a cult comedy film score. Prez is a highly underrated composer � Ninja Turtles fans are sure of that fact.
The cinematography by David Lewis (Pee-wee's Playhouse, Night of the Demons) is well-done and an essential part
of the comedy fun. The visuals by Lewis are creative and well-balanced � showcasing both the outlandishness of the comedy spoof
sequences and the normalcy of the ordinary world surrounding the television station. The visuals are especially compelling with the new 4K
restoration and the stylish cinematography making an epic impression.
Edited by Dennis M. O'Connor (Radioactive Dreams, Steal the Sky), UHF is a well-paced and edited
film. The editing is spot-on. The comedy never lulls and feels out of place nor does it drag on for too long. Comedy films often struggle with editing
and pacing � especially when an improvised comedy scene manages to go on for five minutes too long. UHF avoids this
completely with great comedy through-and-through.
The production design by Ward Preston (Airplane!, Purple Rain) is well-done and certainly plays a key role in the
design aesthetic of the feature-film. UHF is a beautifully designed production and the key television set sequences are a nice showcase
for the design elements the team brought together. A testament to the effort of Preston as production designer.
The costumes designed by Tom McKinley (My Demon Lover, Poltergeist III) are effective and also play a nice role in
the filmmaking. The costuming works well for the characters � both the lovable heroes and the dastardly villains. A nice effort by McKinley.
Written by 'Weird Al' Yankovic (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, The Weird Al Show) and Jay Levey (The
Compleat Al, Weird Al's Guide to the Grammy's), UHF is comedy gold. UHF is a film I hadn't
seen in several years and revisiting it had me laughing-out-loud over and over � a non-stop barrage. The comedic sensibilities of Weird Al
are incredible. The writing is both intelligent and charming. For anyone who has ever loved a Weird Al song or album or his comedy routines and
television works, UHF was an incredible accomplishment showing Weird Al's creative genius.
Directed by Jay Levey ('Weird Al' Yankovic: The Videos, Al TV), UHF is a must-see comedy gem. Part of
the charm of UHF is how deftly it balances showcasing the charms of Weird Al and the franchises it spoofs while paving an original
story that is incredible fun. Levey handles the directing with great enthusiasm and collaborative skills � bringing out the best in Weird Al
himself. UHF deserves to be called a masterpiece for fans of classic comedies. UHF represents Weird Al at the top of his
game.
UHF 4K Blu-ray, Video Quality 4K
1080p
Released on 4K UHD by Shout Factory, UHF is presented in 2160p HEVC / H.25 in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1
widescreen. The presentation provides a native 4K scan of the feature-film. The 4K restoration was completed from a 35mm scan of the original camera
negative. The restoration looks phenomenal and has incredible detail and depth. The image is naturally sharp and the image has wonderful clarity and
fidelity.
The 4K UHD release also benefits by having a strong high-dynamic-range (HDR) grade in both HDR10 standard and Dolby Vision. The HDR adds a
subtle but appreciable difference to the image and makes the presentation even more immersive. The HDR helps to enhance the color reproduction and
both light and dark highlights in the image. The incredible detail present with the HDR grade on the release is spectacular.
The 4K scan is remarkably crisp and clean � providing a filmic scan without egregious print damage, dirt, and debris. The 4K restoration
gives new life to UHF. The comedy classic has never looked better before and this 4K restoration is easily the best the film has ever looked
(likely surpassing the original theatrical presentation, too). I would never have expected to see such an incredible presentation of UHF and
this is certainly something that added to my immense enjoyment. Fans will be thrilled with this must-own presentation � clocking-in at a
whopping 80.82 mbps bit-rate (far surpassing anything on streaming).
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