Dirty Work was anticipated to be the film that would launch Saturday Night Live star Norm MacDonald into the realm of movie stardom. Unfortunately, this objective did not materialize, as the film only managed to gross a modest million at the box office. A significant factor that contributed to the movie’s disappointing performance was the last-minute decision by the studio to compel director Bob Saget (yes, the same Bob Saget known for his comedy and television work) to alter what was originally intended as a raunchy R-rated comedy into a PG-13 film aimed at mainstream audiences. This change proved detrimental, as MacDonald’s comedic style differed greatly from that of Adam Sandler, and the film, which revolves around themes of petty revenge and scheming, was never suited to be a family-oriented flick.

Nevertheless, even with the edits, the film still featured several amusing scenes that resonated with audiences. Once it became available on VHS and cable, it garnered a cult following, showcasing the enduring appeal of MacDonald’s humor and Saget’s direction. In light of both MacDonald and Saget’s passing, the dedicated team at Vinegar Syndrome has embarked on a substantial restoration project for the film. They have meticulously reassembled the original, unrated cut, which is set to be released on 4K Blu-ray Disc this coming June. Although the unrated version is only one minute longer than the theatrical release, it reportedly includes a wealth of alternate footage. During the creation of the PG-13 version, Saget utilized a variety of alternate takes, jokes, and less provocative deleted scenes, resulting in two distinctly different versions of the film. As an added treat, there will also be a two-hour assembly cut included, although it has been sourced from the best available materials, which unfortunately is an old VHS transfer. This assembly cut was never intended for release, making its inclusion more of a fascinating curiosity for fans.

Below are the rest of the exciting extras included in this release (as provided by our friends at Blu-Ray.com):

• THREE-DISC SET (4K BLU-RAY/TWO BLU-RAYS)
• NEW 4K RESTORATIONS OF THE THEATRICAL (82 MIN.) AND EXTENDED (83 MIN.) CUTS OF THE FILM
• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• Commentary track featuring co-writer Frank Sebastiano and Mike Hunchback (Theatrical Cut)
• Commentary track featuring co-writer Frank Sebastiano and co-writer/actor Fred Wolf (Dirtier Cut)
• “Note to Self: Doing Dirty Work” (63 min) – a newly produced making-of documentary that includes insightful interviews with the cast and crew
• “Hey Jim, It’s Norm” (19 min) – an engaging interview with actor Jim Downey and co-writer Frank Sebastiano
• “The Last Word” (16 min) – an insightful interview featuring co-writer Frank Sebastiano and co-writer/actor Fred Wolf
• “Front Row” (9 min) – an interview with assistant director Alan Goluboff that provides behind-the-scenes insights
• “Cutting Dirty Work” (6 min) – an interview with first assistant editor Ryan Folsey discussing the editing process
• “Excuse Me” (8 min) – a revealing interview with co-writer/actor Fred Wolf
• “Revenge for Hire” (9 min) – an interview with co-writer Frank Sebastiano sharing his perspective on the film
• “Face First” (7 min) – an interview featuring Norm’s stunt double Brian Jagersky recounting his experiences
• “Fully Loaded” (8 min) – an interview with actor David Koechner discussing his role in the film
• “Nose Biter” (5 min) – an interview with actress Uni Park reflecting on her part in the production
• “Quicksand” (8 min) – an interview with actor Kevin Farley sharing insights from the set
• “Two Dollars” (11 min) – a detailed interview with actor Jim Downey about his experiences
• 2-hour Assembly Cut of Dirty Work (sourced from video)
• Alternate extended ending that provides a fresh perspective on the film’s conclusion
• Original trailer that showcases the film’s promotional material
• 40-page perfect bound book featuring essays by Dan Ozzi, John Dieringer, and Oscar Becher (Limited Edition Only)
• Reversible sleeve artwork for fans to choose their preferred cover
• English SDH subtitles for accessibility

Additionally, hats off to the label for creating what is arguably the most disgusting 4K Blu-ray cover of all time:

UUUUURGH. Are you considering adding this unique release to your collection? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!