New on DVD
World’s Greatest Dad
Rated R for language, crude and sexual content, some drug use and disturbing images
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
If you’ve wondered why comedian Bobcat Goldthwait hasn’t been doing a lot of stand-up lately, it’s because he’s been writing and directing some very edgy indie comedies, of which World’s Greatest Dad is the latest. In it, Robin Williams is the father of possibly the world’s worst teenager when a freak accident gives him the greatest opportunity of his life. This is a twisted, wrong comedy that is offensive in every way possible and yet still very funny and incredibly insightful. Williams shows that he can still act when given the right material and he puts in his best performance in over a decade. While the cheesy moments of the picture take away from the crux of the story, the film still works and manages to be very enjoyable. A-
Public Enemies
Rated R for gangster violence and some language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Michael Mann missed the mark in this biopic about legendary gangster John Dillinger starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. It’s badly shot, poorly edited, and way too long. To make matters worse, the hero, even though he is a villain, does nothing to cause us to cheer him on. It makes me wonder if the subject matter warranted the big screen treatment. C
Knut and Friends
Unrated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
There is nothing cuter than the little polar bear that almost didn’t make it when his parents in the Berlin Zoo rejected him. This film chronicles the life of Knut, as well as a wild polar bear family and two wild brown bear orphans trying to survive their first year. As adorable as it all is, the narration and the music is obnoxious to the point where I wanted to turn off the volume and add my own soundtrack. B-
Lost: The Complete Fifth Season
Unrated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This last season of the hit TV show Lost was the trippiest yet with a time-travel plot line that was as cool as it was confusing. On this set is recap of seasons 1-4 in case you’ve forgotten or need a crash course (no pun intended). Also included are an enormous amount of special features including documentaries, deleted scenes, commentaries, and bloopers. Now I can hardly wait for the final season this spring! A