New to Blu-Ray/DVD this Week (March 22, 2011)

The Tourist

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie and Paul Bettany

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Synopsis from IMDB:  Revolves around Frank, an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path.

Trailer:

Pac’s Take:  It is kind of baffling how this film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture in the Comedy/Musical genre considering that it isn’t really either a comedy or a musical.  However, in terms of entertainment value, The Tourist could have done a lot worse.  Carried by the stars, Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, this film is an interesting heist mystery with all the standard cliches in place.  The two leads have good chemistry and the backdrop of Italy looks fantastic on-screen, but there isn’t much substance behind this film.  Good for an entertaining 103 minutes if you’re willing to check your brain at the door.

Yogi Bear

Rated: PG

Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Justin Timberlake and Anna Faris

Director: Eric Brevig

Synopsis from IMDB: A documentary filmmaker travels to Jellystone Park to shoot a project and soon crosses paths with Yogi Bear, his sidekick Boo-Boo, and Ranger Smith.

Trailer:

Pac’s Take:  Ushered in by the likes of Garfield and Alvin & the Chipmunks, Yogi Bear attempts to bring the nostalgia of our favorite childhood cartoons to the big screen.  I skipped this in theaters expecting more of the same with cheap slapstick jokes for the kids, sexual innuendo for the adults, and probably a song and dance for good measure.  However, I’ve heard that Yogi Bear stacks up a little better as a complete film compared to some of the aforementioned predecessors so if you’re having a family movie night, this may be the perfect rental for this week.

How Do You Know

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson

Director: James L. Brooks

Synopsis from IMDB: After being cut from the USA softball team and feeling a bit past her prime, Lisa finds herself evaluating her life and in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy in crisis competes with her current, baseball-playing beau.

Trailer:

Pac’s Take:  This week’s romantic comedy release is How Do You Know.  The stars of this film make it somewhat attractive as a DVD/Blu-Ray rental but it is sure to be more of the same when it comes to the standard rom-com formula.  Maybe James L. Brooks (writer/director) can breathe some fresh air into this film especially since he has a handful of very capable actors on his hands.  However, with a rating of 30% from Rotten Tomatoes I’m not getting my hopes up.

Skyline

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Eric Balfour, Donald Faison and Scottie Thompson

Director: Colin Strause, Greg Strause

Synopsis from IMDB: Strange lights descend on the city of Los Angeles, drawing people outside like moths to a flame where an extraterrestrial force threatens to swallow the entire human population off the face of the Earth.

Trailer:

Pac’s Take:  “The early bird gets the worm” and “Good things come to those who wait” are conflicting expressions, but the latter applies here if you decided to skip Skyline and wait for Battle: Los Angeles.  Skyline may capitalize in home video revenue, though, with it’s release not being too far removed from the theatrical release of Battle: LA.  Though critically the lesser film, there may still be some value in seeing this on Blu-Ray as the special effects make this film at least worthy of a viewing.