FOX has released one of the better, independent-feeling movies of the past year, “TERRI,” on blu-ray. 

John C. Reilly stars as a caring, semi-nerdy assistant principal, Mr. Fitzgerald. When an obese student, “Terri,” gets into trouble for continually coming late to school(He’s busy helping out his uncle increasingly senile uncle), and is sent to the principal’s office, Mr. Fitzgerald opts to simply meet up for weekly pow-wows with him instead of a grueling detention setting.

The chance to feel more connected and less of an “outsider,” even if it’s an adult is appealing to Terri. But, alas, he is devastated to learn of all the other “outsiders” having weekly meetings as well. The way in which Terri comes to term with this revelation feels honest, and it allows for other revelations to come out. The acting is terrific and serves the finely tuned script, well. Even when an attractive girl comes into the picture, having found herself in trouble for a sexual act in a classroom, nothing in the script feels forced or silly. In fact, a scene wherein Terri is hanging out with this girl, while she’s drunk, and the tension that comes from it, makes it one of the more memorable high-school scenes of the past two decades!

“TERRI” isn’t a big film, and it doesn’t try to make a deep, provocative message. But, in its careful, quiet, restrained way, it’s very pleasing and the kind of film that one wants to recommend to others.

FOX has provided the correct 1.85:1 aspect ratio for this AVC MPEG-4 1080p blu-ray.

The colors are rich and occasionally veer towards a slightly unnatural feel, but stopping just in time. For the most part, the image looks natural. Detail is excellent, with the fine lines of the pajamas Terri actually wears to school, nearly jumping from the screen.  Blacks are deep enough to retain stellar detail in dark scenes. This is a great transfer!!!

FOX has provided a DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix. Being a “indie-feel” dialogue-heavy drama, this lossy mix is intentionally understated. While there aren’t many discrete, panning effects, surrounds are used effectively for ambient effects and the score is well complimented and memorable. The all important dialogue is always intelligible and well serviced from the fidelity of this mix.

A featurette(1080p) and deleted scenes(480p) are also offered.