Anna Farris and Seth Rogen star in "Observe and Report." (Peter Sorel / Warner Brothers)
Observe and Report
Warner, $28.98; Blu-ray, $35.99
Those with darker tastes in comedy than "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" should take a shine to "Observe and Report," a different kind of mall cop movie, starring Seth Rogen as a security guard whose sense of self-importance borders on psychotic. Written and directed by Jody Hill -- one of the people responsible for the unapologetically raunchy HBO series "Eastbound & Down" -- "Observe and Report" is about characters so gruff and single-minded that they're not always that fun to be around. But they are funny, in their way. The Blu-ray edition is even funnier, thanks to deleted scenes, outtakes and a picture-in-picture commentary track with Hill, Rogen and costar Anna Faris. The DVD contains no extras.
Battle for Terra
Lionsgate, $19.98; Blu-ray, $29.99
This year might well end up being remembered in cinema circles for its remarkable number of "kids' movies" with as much heart, depth and imagination as those made for grown-ups. The computer-animated "Battle for Terra" isn't as complex or stunning as “ Coraline” or “Up,” but the story of a peaceful planet under attack by human colonists is surprisingly uncompromising. The DVD and Blu-ray add a few featurettes and a commentary track by "Terra's" creative team, but it's the film itself that deserves the attention here. "Battle for Terra" tanked in its theatrical release; animation and sci-fi buffs should assure that it doesn't remain in obscurity.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Warner, $28.98; Blu-ray, $35.99
The idea of remaking "A Christmas Carol" as a romantic comedy is a fine one, but not much else goes right with "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," an overbearing, obvious movie, weighed down by Matthew McConaughey's unctuous performance as a misogynistic Lothario. " Ghosts" asks the audience to believe that women are dumb enough to fall repeatedly for such an insincere jerk, and then it asks us to care whether this stooge gets redeemed. Unlikely on all counts. But for those who want to take the ride -- and who have Blu-ray players -- Warner Bros. has padded the experience with 10 minutes of deleted scenes and 20 minutes of "light-hearted" featurettes.
The Mentalist
The Complete First Season
Warner, $59.98
The success of CBS' procedural "The Mentalist," last season's highest-rated new show, owed much to the winning presence of star Simon Baker, whose character, a discredited celebrity psychic, uses his uncanny skill at reading people to help the California Bureau of Investigation solve difficult cases. The "super sleuth tackles unsolvable crimes" premise has been done ad infinitum, but "The Mentalist's" puzzles are clever, and Baker works them with real panache. This show is superior fluff. The first-season DVD set includes deleted scenes and a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes.
Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death
Lionsgate, $14.98
After taking a turn as feature film stars in the wonderful "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit," Nick Park's claymation favorites Wallace and Gromit return to the familiar realm of the 30-minute short with "A Matter of Loaf and Death." Here, the dim Englishman and his intrepid pooch try their hand at bread delivery, while trying to determine the identity of a murderer who's killing off bakers. As always, Park's designs are cute, his storytelling clever and his action-packed climax is as exciting as any studio blockbuster. "A Matter of Loaf and Death" was a huge hit on British television; now American audiences get a chance to see it on DVD, with a Park commentary and making-of featurette.
All titles available Tuesday.
Warner, $28.98; Blu-ray, $35.99
Those with darker tastes in comedy than "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" should take a shine to "Observe and Report," a different kind of mall cop movie, starring Seth Rogen as a security guard whose sense of self-importance borders on psychotic. Written and directed by Jody Hill -- one of the people responsible for the unapologetically raunchy HBO series "Eastbound & Down" -- "Observe and Report" is about characters so gruff and single-minded that they're not always that fun to be around. But they are funny, in their way. The Blu-ray edition is even funnier, thanks to deleted scenes, outtakes and a picture-in-picture commentary track with Hill, Rogen and costar Anna Faris. The DVD contains no extras.
Battle for Terra
Lionsgate, $19.98; Blu-ray, $29.99
This year might well end up being remembered in cinema circles for its remarkable number of "kids' movies" with as much heart, depth and imagination as those made for grown-ups. The computer-animated "Battle for Terra" isn't as complex or stunning as “ Coraline” or “Up,” but the story of a peaceful planet under attack by human colonists is surprisingly uncompromising. The DVD and Blu-ray add a few featurettes and a commentary track by "Terra's" creative team, but it's the film itself that deserves the attention here. "Battle for Terra" tanked in its theatrical release; animation and sci-fi buffs should assure that it doesn't remain in obscurity.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Warner, $28.98; Blu-ray, $35.99
The idea of remaking "A Christmas Carol" as a romantic comedy is a fine one, but not much else goes right with "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," an overbearing, obvious movie, weighed down by Matthew McConaughey's unctuous performance as a misogynistic Lothario. " Ghosts" asks the audience to believe that women are dumb enough to fall repeatedly for such an insincere jerk, and then it asks us to care whether this stooge gets redeemed. Unlikely on all counts. But for those who want to take the ride -- and who have Blu-ray players -- Warner Bros. has padded the experience with 10 minutes of deleted scenes and 20 minutes of "light-hearted" featurettes.
The Mentalist
The Complete First Season
Warner, $59.98
The success of CBS' procedural "The Mentalist," last season's highest-rated new show, owed much to the winning presence of star Simon Baker, whose character, a discredited celebrity psychic, uses his uncanny skill at reading people to help the California Bureau of Investigation solve difficult cases. The "super sleuth tackles unsolvable crimes" premise has been done ad infinitum, but "The Mentalist's" puzzles are clever, and Baker works them with real panache. This show is superior fluff. The first-season DVD set includes deleted scenes and a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes.
Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death
Lionsgate, $14.98
After taking a turn as feature film stars in the wonderful "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit," Nick Park's claymation favorites Wallace and Gromit return to the familiar realm of the 30-minute short with "A Matter of Loaf and Death." Here, the dim Englishman and his intrepid pooch try their hand at bread delivery, while trying to determine the identity of a murderer who's killing off bakers. As always, Park's designs are cute, his storytelling clever and his action-packed climax is as exciting as any studio blockbuster. "A Matter of Loaf and Death" was a huge hit on British television; now American audiences get a chance to see it on DVD, with a Park commentary and making-of featurette.
All titles available Tuesday.
