New on DVD
Greenberg
Rated R for some strong sexuality, drug use and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Ben Stiller stars in this film written and directed by Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) about a single, forty-something man who prides himself on the fact that he does nothing. When he housesits for his brother over an extended period of time, he falls for and emotionally abuses his brother’s personal assistant (Greta Gerwig), who very knowingly allows him to use her in her own sense of experimentation. It’s a comedy in the sense that it has some extremely awkward moments that make you so uncomfortable that you can’t help but laugh. But just like his other films, this discomfort only serves as a stop sign for most viewers. Ben Stiller might have a draw in zany pics, but in films like these, where he actually shows off his acting chops, his core audience won’t follow along. If they do – they might not like what they see. This is more of a film for those folks who like Baumbach, and if you don’t know if you are one of them, you’ll find out rather quickly once you stick the disc in. B
The Greatest
Rated R for language, some sexual content and drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Carey Mulligan is the only one of a pair of teenagers to survive a car crash that leaves the son of Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon taken too early. Pregnant after their first night together, Mulligan turns to the boy’s parents to help her, but due to their grief they don’t know how to accept the only part of their son that is still alive. What could have been a super-manipulative mess, only turns into a slightly manipulative one. The problem with films about loss of life like this is that they are just too uncomfortable to watch. Needless to say, the acting is great, which is probably why the film doesn’t feel as fake as you would think it would. Then again, you have to be wanting a good cry to watch a movie like this and there’s hardly ever a time where I want to sit and stew in my own tears. So while it’s a good film, I just can’t see it flying off the shelves. B+
Our Family Wedding
Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and brief strong language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This twist on the multicultural wedding movie pairs the black family with the Latino family as a young couple in love have to introduce their parents, and most notably their fathers: Forest Whitaker and Carlos Mencia. Of course they don’t get along at first and then the formula is followed down to the closing credits. It’s one cliche after another and the jokes are as lame as can be. I’m glad Forest Whitaker is getting work, but he has been cursed since he won his Oscar in 2006 for The Last King Scotland. He should have enough money now that he’s taken all of these horrible jobs that he can finally accept some great roles again. D
White Collar: The Complete First Season
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
On this hit USA show, Mat Bomer is a con man that escapes from a maximum security prison only to be caught again and brought in as a consultant for the White Collar Crimes Division of the FBI. Other than the bad (and I mean horrible) acting by Tiffani Thiessen, this is one extremely watchable show that is about as entertaining as, well, all of the other shows on USA. Fast paced, well written, and just plain fun, the series makes for a good summer excursion. A-