Offbeat farce, adult comedy to arrive in stores
(Editor’s note: Near the beginning of each month, Video View looks at the DVD titles to be released in the next four weeks.)An offbeat farce (“Be Kind Rewind”), an adult comedy (“The Bucket List”), a romantic tale (“Fool’s Gold”), a gritty import (“4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days”), a teen hit (“Jumper”), a historical melodrama (“The Other Boleyn Girl”), a sports spoof (“Semi-Pro”), a family favorite (“The Spiderwick Chronicles”), a prehistoric adventure (“10,000 BC”) and a popular comedy (“Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins”) are among the DVD titles arriving in May. The films (with all release dates subject to change) are rated as follows: A (very good), B (good), C (fair), D (poor) and F (turkey). Films that have not been previewed are marked NP.
BE KIND REWIND (New Line; $27.99, DVD; June 17; B-): Teen favorite Jack Black (“King Kong”), Mos Def (“16 Blocks”), Danny Glover (“Lethal Weapon”) and Mia Farrow (“Hannah and Her Sisters”) star in this oddball comedy about a junkyard worker who believes a nearby power plant is melting his brain. That theory becomes a reality after he gets caught in an electromagnetic field that causes the erasure of all of the VHS videotapes in a local rental store that refuses to stock DVDs. The worker and the store employee then act out and tape some of the most popular films to keep the customers happy. Michel Gondry (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) wrote and directed the picture, which could use more funny moments but may entertain those looking for something decidedly different. (101 minutes) Some sexual references. (PG-13)
THE BUCKET LIST (Warner; $28.99, DVD; $35.99, Blu-ray Disc; June 10; B): Yes, scene-stealing actors Jack Nicholson (“The Departed”) and Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) play their roles a bit too broadly in this predictable comedy drama about two senior citizens with less than a year to live, but they can be forgiven. Nicholson and Freeman portray mismatched guys who have cancer and make a list of all the things they want to do before they “kick the bucket.” Rob Reiner (“When Harry Met Sally”) directed the grumpy-old-men picture, which was embraced in theaters by viewers who qualified for the senior discount. (97 minutes) Language, sexual reference, adult themes. (PG-13)
CHARLIE BARTLETT (Fox; $27.99, DVD; June 24; B-): In this edgy comedy, with Anton Yelchin (“Alpha Dog”), Robert Downey Jr. (“Iron Man”), Kat Dennings (“Down in the Valley”) and Hope Davis (“About Schmidt”), a filthy rich, highly eccentric high-school guy offers psychiatric sessions to his fellow students . The rebellious student, who desperately wants to fit in, also sells them antidepressants to help ease their pain. Downey plays a high-school principal dealing with his own personal problems, which include handling his thankless job and dealing with his teenage daughter. (97 minutes) Drug content, sexual elements, brief nudity, strong drug content, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
DEFINITELY, MAYBE (Universal; $29.99, DVD; June 24; B-): During this charming romantic comedy, starring Ryan Reynolds (“Smokin’ Acres’), Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine’), Isla Fisher (“Wedding Crashers’), Rachel Weisz (“The Constant Gardener’) and Elizabeth Banks (“Invincible’), a man who is divorcing his wife has to explain the reasons for the split to his 10-year-old daughter. She asks her father potentially embarrassing questions about his behavior. (112 minutes) Sexual content, adult themes, language, smoking. (PG-13)
THE EYE (Lionsgate; $29.99, DVD; $34.99, two-disc, special-edition DVD; $39.99, Blu-ray Disc; June 3; C): In this mild fright film, a young woman (Jessica Alba of “Sin City”) has an eye transplant and then begins to see shocking images. Alessandro Nivola (“Junebug”) and Parker Posey (“Superman Returns”) co-star in the picture, which is a remake of the Asian hit “Jian Gui” (2002). Xavier Palud and David Moreau, who previously teamed on the intense no-frills chiller “Them,” co-directed. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (92 minutes) Violence, terror and disturbing content. (PG-13)
FLAWLESS (Magnolia; $26.99, DVD; June 3; B-): A disgruntled executive (Demi Moore of “A Few Good Men”) and a resourceful janitor (Michael Caine of “Sleuth”) team for a diamond heist in this mildly entertaining British import, set in London during 1960. (100 minutes) Brief harsh four-letter profanity. (PG-13)
FOOL’S GOLD (Warner; $28.99, DVD; $35.99, Blu-ray Disc; June 17; B-): The attractive screen team of Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, who previously co-starred in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” lend their talents to this comedy adventure about a divorced couple who become romantically and emotionally renewed when they find a lost treasure map with clues to the location of a Spanish treasure lost in 1715. They then decide to go for the gold. Donald Sutherland (TV’s “Dirty Sexy Money”), Ray Winstone (“Beowulf”) and Malcolm-Jamal Warner (TV’s “The Cosby Show”) co-star, and Andy Tennant, whose romantic-comedy hits include “Ever After” (1998) “Sweet Home Alabama” (2002) and “Hitch” (2005), directed. (109 minutes) Action violence, some sexual material, brief nudity, language. (PG-13)
4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS (Genius; $29.99, DVD; June 10; A): During this intense and disturbing import, starring Anamaria Marinca and Laura Vasiliu, a Bucharest college student agrees to help her roommate get an abortion in 1987 Romania, where such a procedure is illegal and can result in imprisonment for all involved. One personal horror follows another as the abortionist arrives and demands more than money from the two, and the young woman, who only wanted to help a friend, is physically assaulted and suffers psychological damage. Cristian Mungiu wrote and directed the acclaimed stark drama, which won the Palme d’Or – the top prize given – at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. It is being presented in Romanian with subtitles. (113 minutes) Very strong adult themes and sexual elements, violence, disturbing images, profanity. (Unrated)
FUNNY GAMES (Warner; $27.99, DVD; June 10; C): In this extremely intense and unsettling psychological chiller, starring Naomi Watts (“King Kong”), Tim Roth (“Pulp Fiction”) and Michael Pitt (“The Dreamers”), two seemingly ordinary young men take a husband, wife and their son captive and turn their lives into a living hell. Sixty-five-year-old French filmmaker Michael Haneke has directed a faithful remake of his bleak European film (1997) of the same name. Watts produced this genuinely creepy picture, which challenges audience members to question their ideas about violent entertainment and will have many viewers turning off their DVD players long before the end credits roll. (112 minutes) Terror, strong violence, language, unnerving adult themes, sexual innuendo. (R)
THE GRAND (Anchor Bay; $29.99, DVD; June 10; B-): An ensemble cast – including David Cross (“Alvin and the Chipmunks”), Shannon Elizabeth (“American Pie”), Mike Epps (“Talk to Me”), Cheryl Hines (HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and Gabe Kaplan (TV’s “Welcome Back, Kotter”) – is featured in this improvisational comedy. Zach Penn (“Incident at Loch Ness”) directed the picture that has the performers saying whatever comes to mind as they play in the Grand Championship of Poker. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (104 minutes) Harsh four-letter profanity, drug content. (R)
IN BRUGES (Universal; $29.99, DVD; June 24; B): During this eccentric action comedy, a couple of hit men (Colin Farrell of “Alexander’ and Brendan Gleeson of “Braveheart’) are sent by their mob boss to the Belgium city of Bruges to rest between assignments. Ralph Fiennes (“The English Patient’) co-stars as a crime kingpin in the import, which was directed by British filmmaker Martin McDonagh. The offbeat ending will tickle some viewers and infuriate others. (107 minutes) Strong, bloody violence, pervasive four-letter profanity, some drug use. (R)
JUMPER (Fox; $29.99, DVD; $39.99, Blu-ray Disc; June 10; C): In this erratic action fantasy, starring Hayden Christensen (“Factory Girl’), Jamie Bell (“King Kong’), Rachel Bilson (TV’s “The O.C.’), Diane Lane (“Untraceable’) and Samuel L. Jackson (“Black Snake Moan’), a man with the ability to teleport himself from place to place uses his talents to rob banks, impress an old girlfriend and see the world. He is hunted by dark forces who seek to kill those with such powers. Doug Liman (“The Bourne Identity’) directed the highly uneven picture, which is based on the book by Steven Gould. (88 minutes) Intense action violence, profanity, sexual elements. (PG-13)
MEET THE SPARTANS – UNRATED ‘PIT OF DEATH’ EDITON (Fox; $29.99, DVD; $39.99, Blu-ray Disc; NP): The filmmaking team of Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, who previously co-directed the spoof “Epic Movie,” create another comedy that satirizes films such as “300,” “Ghost Rider” and “Transformers.” The offbeat cast includes Carmen Electra (“Scary Movie”), Method Man (“Soul Plane”) and Kevin Sorbo (TV’s “Hercules”). (84 minutes) Crude and sexual content, language, comic violence. (PG-13)
THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL (Sony; $28.99, DVD; $38.99, Blu-ray Disc; June 10; B-): This uneven historical drama, co-starring Natalie Portman (“V For Vendetta”) and Scarlett Johansson (“The Prestige”), follows two beautiful sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, who are pressured by their family to compete for the love of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana of “Munich”). They both sleep with the monarch and eventually suffer due to their actions. Based on the 2002 novel by Philippa Gregory and directed by Justin Chadwick (TV’s “Bleak House”), the picture features Kristin Scott Thomas (“The English Patient”) and David Morrissey (“Basic Instinct 2”). (115 minutes) Mature themes, sexual content, some violent images. (PG-13)
PERSEPOLIS (Sony; $29.99, DVD; $39.99, Blu-ray Disc; June 24; A): The voice of Catherine Deneuve (“Repulsion”) is featured in this acclaimed animated picture that shows Iran’s Islamic revolution through the eyes of a spirited young girl. The black-and-white picture, based on the graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, received an Oscar nomination for best-animated film. (100 minutes) Adult themes. (PG-13)
SEMI-PRO: UNRATED LET’S GET SWEATY EDITION (New Line; $28.99, regular DVD; $34.99, two-disc, unrated DVD; $39.99, Blu-ray Disc; June 3; C): An air of desperation floats through this disappointing sports comedy, starring Will Ferrell (“Anchorman”) as the hyper-driven, promotion-obsessed player/coach/owner of the American Basketball Association’s Michigan Tropics. When an opportunity comes for the team to become part of the NBA, Ferrell’s crazed character goes to extremes – including wrestling a bear and performing a dangerous motorcycle jump – to make it happen. The crude comedy, which is set in the mid-1970s, co-stars Andre Benjamin (“Idlewild”), Woody Harrelson (“No Country For Old Men”) and Maura Tierney (TV’s “ER”). (90 minutes) Sex, drug references, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
THE SIGNAL (Magnolia; $26.99, DVD; $34.99, Blu-ray Disc; June 10; B-): Filmmakers David Bruckner, Dan Bush and Jacob Gentry co-directed this low-budget chiller that shows an apocalyptic event from three different points of view.
The story begins on New Year’s Eve, when a mysterious signal is transmitted and causes those who hear it to become crazed and commit murder.
When this happens, it turns the streets into bedlam. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (99 minutes) Strong, brutal, bloody violence, harsh four-letter profanity, brief nudity. (R)
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (Paramount; $29.99, DVD; June 24; B)
Fifteen-year-old British actor Freddie Highmore (“Charlie and Chocolate Factory’), Mary Louise Parker (Showtime’s “Weeds’) and Nick Nolte (“Affliction’) co-star in this big-budget fantasy about goblins and other deadly creatures conspiring to attack a single mother and her three children living in a secluded old house.
The creatures become metaphors for the outside influences that threaten families. Mark Waters (“Mean Girls’) directed the involving picture, which is based on the book series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. (90 minutes) Some very intense moments for younger children, unsettling themes, upsetting family interplay. (PG)
10,000 BC (Warner; $28.99, DVD; $35.99, Blu-ray Disc; June 24; C)
During this overblown epic, with Camilla Belle (“When a Stranger Calls”) and Steven Strait (“The Covenant”), a warrior tries to avoid saber-toothed tigers and other prehistoric creatures as he pursues enemies who have kidnapped his girlfriend.
Roland Emmerich (“Independence Day”) directed the expensive fantasy, which suffers from a silly screenplay and pedestrian visuals. (115 minutes)
Sequences of intense action and violence. (PG-13)
VINCE VAUGHN’S WILD WEST COMEDY SHOW: 30 DAYS & 30 NIGHTS – HOLLYWOOD TO THE HEARTLAND (New Line; $27.99, DVD; June 3; C)
The star of “Swingers,” “Old School” and “Wedding Crashers” embarks on a stressful month-long bus tour with four rising comics.
The documentary – a la HBO’s “Tourgasm” road series with Dane Cook – follows them as they become exhausted due to the intensity of the schedule and perform material designed to turn them into stand-up stars. (90 minutes) Harsh four-letter profanity, sex-related humor. (R)
WELCOME HOME, ROSCOE JENKINS (Universal; $29.99, DVD; June 17; B): Comic-actor Martin Lawrence (“Wild Hogs”) plays a popular Los Angeles talk-show host who has ignored his family since enjoying success.
That changes when he returns to visit his relatives in the South and must deal with old rivalries, missed opportunities and family matters.
The strong supporting cast includes James Earl Jones (“Field of Dreams”), Joy Bryant (“Bobby”), Cedric the Entertainer (“Talk to Me”), Michael Clarke Duncan (“The Green Mile”), Mike Epps (“The Honeymooners”), and Mo’Nique (“Phat Girlz”). Malcolm D. Lee (“The Best Man”) wrote and directed. (114 minutes) Crude and sexual content, language, drug reference. (PG-13)
WITLESS PROTECTION (Lionsgate; $29.99, DVD; $39.99, Blu-ray Disc; June 10; NP): Comic Larry the Cable Guy (“Delta Farce”) and former Playmate Jenny McCarthy (“Scary Movie 3”) appear in this crude comedy about a backwoods sheriff who clumsily protects a woman being transported to a corruption trial in Chicago. (97 minutes) Gross gags, sex-related humor. (PG-13)