Release Info:
DVD Release Date: February 8, 2011
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.99

Yet another convoluted chick flick has been created for the masses to pan. While I think it’s a little harsh of critics to claim this is the worst film ever (I wonder if they’ve seen the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, per chance). However, when it comes to the spectrum of lameness, You Again ranks pretty high. I am not sure if I can even imagine the potential for laughs given the nature of the storyline involved in this film. What laughs do come are lackluster and half-hearted, as you laugh more at the actors and less at them in their roles.

I wasn’t exactly expecting to go into watching You Again and coming out of the experience a changed man. I’ve seen enough “chick flicks” to know the formula of these kinds of films. I’d be shocked if one of them ended with the couple in shambles (or worse, divorced and miserable) with no semblance of a happy ending anywhere in their near future. It’s all about the happy ending. However, when I hear Rom Com, I expect at least a few, minor laughs, if only at the absurdity of the situation. Some actors, like Adam Sandler, have made the Rom Com genre just funny enough to stomach. Typically, it is the actors who dictate whether the Rom Com is worth stomaching (as well as their influence/input on the script for the film), so needless to say, I had minor, fleeting hope that I wouldn’t want to vomit in my mouth at every second while watching this film, just because of the cast.

The cast for You Again is decent. It’s a bit depressing to see Jamie Lee Curtis as a “Mom” and no longer a scream queen. It makes me feel old. Sigourney Weaver isn’t too bad herself. Add in some Betty White, Chloris Leachmann (two of the queens of comedy), Cheno (Goddess of the voice), and Victor Garber (the King of the stage), and you have some talented actors on your hands. Unfortunately, not even these actors, nor Bobby Ewing himself, who hasn’t been seen since his days on Step by Step, can save the pathetic script, lackluster attempts at humor or revolving, redundant storylines. Essentially, you will find more pleasure from tossing this Blu-Ray/DVD combos’ case against the wall than you will watching You Again.

You may be saying to yourself, but “Dominick” isn’t a Rom Com fan. I am definitely not a fan of the most pathetically unauthentic genre. I can’t stand these types of films, but I can at least respect the fact that there is an audience for these kinds of films. I won’t step on the feet of those who like a good Rom Com. However, I am of the firm belief that not even the most devoted of Rom Com fans will enjoy You Again. It is just that horrible. I know Jamie Lee is busy doing Activia commercials and must be grateful for any movie work she gets, but starring in You Again just seems desperate.

The You Again Plot
Back in the early 21st Century, Marni (Kristen Bell) was a wholly unattractive, braces-wearing, acne-ridden teenager. Like all nerdy, not so cool girls in school, she was teased unmercifully by the popular, beautiful girls. The worst offender is Joanna aka J.J. (Odette Yustman). Fast forward to 2010 and Marni is lookin’ good. She is a successful, PR rep in New York. When she heads home to her brother, Will’s (James Wolk) wedding, she soon discovers that Will is marrying the enemy, J.J. . I am not sure where she went to school, but apparently Will has no idea this is the hussy who ruined his sister’s life for all those years when she was ugly.

Marni remembers and cannot let it go, even though it seems J.J. does not recognize her. Marni is just waiting for the evil to emerge from her nemesis. To make matters worse, Will and Marni’s mom, Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis) is enemies with J.J’s aunt, Ramona (Sigourney Weaver). Ramona pushed Gail into a pool during their senior prom. The circumstances around this are mysterious, but the two women have vowed they have both moved past it. Of course, Gail spends all her time trying to outdo Ramona, who has become very successful, career-wise. Add in the fact that Grandma Bunny (Betty White) and Grandma Helen (Cloris Leachman) have also had their fair share of problems in the past, and these three generations from two different families are about to make things nearly impossible for the innocently clueless, Will.

Marni is certain J.J. hasn’t changed, so she attempts to get Will alone to explain who his future wife really is. When that fails, she sets out to find a time when J.J.’s true evil colors appear, so she can point it out to Will publicly. She wants the wedding to not happen and will do what she can to prevent it. She is certain J.J. hasn’t changed and her brother deserves so much better, so why would he want to marry J.J. in the first place? What it all boils down to is Marni stopping this wedding no matter the costs, because it is the right thing to do..so she thinks.

Storyline/Plot: 0 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 0 out of 5 stars
Acting: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 0 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
You Again comes to Blu-ray with a lively 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode that is much better than the movie as a whole. It’s always nice to see a Blu-ray that was shot on an HD camera because the transfer generally ends up being amazing. However, in this case, the transfer was wrapped around a crap-laden movie, which almost made it kind of sad. There seem to be no flaws in this area of the film. The background scenery pops in all the right places, the colors are vibrant and the blacks are rich. Everything has a huge amount of detail and crisp definition from the lines on people’s faces to the wrinkles in the costumes (when they occur). Dare I say it; it’s almost too perfect in this area. So, people that love film and all its possible imperfections might not be too fond of this transfer. However, it does succeed in offering a full view of this major flop.

The audio seems more in line with a movie like You Again. The transfer is acceptable, but it is by no means perfect. It succeeds for this type of movie and that’s fine, but it’s average. What you receive is a DTS-HD soundtrack that exists mainly for dialogue, with occasional sound effects and some musical moments. With this in mind, the sound should succeed because this is not an intense soundtrack. Still, things sound rather dull for the most part. The sound lacks that pop and the layering that allows you to feel like you’re in the middle of the scene. The background sounds are not strong enough to be distinguished from the foreground sounds in a believable manner. Things seem to be kept mainly to the front. This works to provide a dialogue-ridden track, but it won’t leave any impressed impressions on the quality of Blu-ray. French and Spanish 5.1 tracks are also available and subtitles are available in all three languages.

Visual: 4 out of 5 stars
Audio: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Special features are included here, though if you loathed the movie as much as I did, you probably aren’t going to watch them. There are some acceptable features here, though I would have much rather been watching paint dry or foreign commercials by the time I got to them, so that should say it all. On the off-chance that you liked this film, you probably will enjoy these, as well.

Following Fickman: On Set with the Director: This seven minute featurette has you following around Andy Fickman and it’s as sugary sweet as can be. Almost the entire time you hear about his amazing skill as a director. Why those skills were absent here is beyond me, unless of course, this was just your average bit of fluff to pad an already atrocious movie.

Ask the Cast: Betty White attempts to save this one minute long question and answer session with the cast by delivering as many punch lines as she can. I don’t hold it against her that this sucked. It does seriously suck, though.

Funny or Die: This three minute skit is probably the best thing I’ve mentioned so far, which isn’t saying much. It’s meant to be a promotional type interview but during the interview everyone decides to attack Kristen Bell.

Blooper Dance Party: This is a mix of bloopers and behind the scenes moments for the cast of You Again. If you want to see the cast goofing off and having fun, I suppose this would be the place to do it.

There is a selection of about eleven deleted scenes, some of which come with directorial introductions. Trailers are also included, as is a DVD, should you wish to watch that instead of the Blu-ray.

Bonus Features: 3 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
You Again pretty much sucks as a movie. The only people I can see purchasing this film are those who want to see Betty White and Chloris Leachman rumble with one another. Even then, these two powerhouse, comedic actresses cannot save this film. The story is pathetic, uninteresting and there are hardly any laughs to be had. Disney should really stick to animation, because their comedies aren’t that great, anymore. If you want to laugh, your best bet is to check out Raising Hope and reruns of the Golden Girls, or Betty’s appearance on SNL. Now that’s humor! Otherwise, cut this one to the curb, run it over a few times to maul the DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack Box and ride off into the sunset to find a better movie that will actually entertain you.

Overall Rating: 1.57 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: You Again, Rom Com, Romantic Comedy, Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Betty White, Sigourney Weaver, Blu-Ray, DVD Review, Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack, Touchstone

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: November 30, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $14.99

I have to tell you that I enjoy a good Rom Com. It might be surprising, but it is true. Beneath the big-bellied machismo of a man I am is a sensitive, caring romantic at heart. Drew Barrymore is just adorable, so I usually enjoy the movies she is in. I loved her in Never Been Kissed, 50 First Dates, and The Wedding Singer. Of course Going the Distance isn’t exactly an Adam Sandler film and Barrymore’s Erin is no Julia Gulia. But, and this is a big BUT, this movie is an honest little ditty of a flick. It’s sugary sweet with a cherry on top, especially the ending. I am sure you can guess what’s gonna happen before the movie even begins, but I’m not about to be a spoil sport and ruin it for you.

As sweet and simple as Going the Distance is, there are moments of boring. The plot runs rather dry at times, and it feels almost too predictable. Rom Coms are predictable, of course. We watch them because we know what is going to happen. We want to find happiness with the characters. We want to feel their joy and their love. That is why we go see these movies. It is not so much not knowing what the story entails, but rather wanting to enjoy a new version of an old story we’ve overplayed many times. It is the newness of the old that we crave, and when the timeless tale of love is able to reinvent itself, we too fall in love all over again.

The problem here is that Going the Distance almost seems too familiar. Yes, they’ve added in things like phone sex that I do not often recall seeing in other romantic comedies, but the few bits added in for shock value really do not add the newness, I, as a Rom Com fan, crave. The plot just sort of plods along to where it is going and it feels like the actors are just going through the motions. While Barrymore and Long work well together in this genre, they do not have enough love in the world to prevent Going the Distance from bordering on becoming a snooze-fest, at times. It’s kind of sad, because the two have a lot of promise together, as a Rom Com team.

Ultimately, I blame the script, by newbie, Geoff Latulippe. Latulippe may understand the outer conventions of a Rom Com, but it is clear he has a flimsy grasp of the inner-workings of a Rom Com script. When it comes to the comedy, Latulippe tries too hard. Instead of being funny, the dialogue is often awkward. It is the kind of dialogue I imagine a group of teens saying as they act out in their backyard with their camcorder in hand. It’s sad because I’ve seen Drew Barrymore be good. In Going the Distance she’s okay, but when you’ve seen her be brilliant, okay just isn’t good enough. Justin Long has been in a lot of Rom Coms, but I am not as in love with him as I am Drew. I think he has some potential, but Going the Distance wasn’t the right film for him to highlight that.

The Going the Distance Movie Guide
Erin is a woman in her early 30s who has fallen behind in life. She still is in grad school, with a potential future that has yet to start. While interning for the summer at a newspaper in New York, she meets Garrett. The two bump into each other at a bar and hit it off well enough to go back to Garrett’s and have sex. Garrett, who manages a band through a label, implores Erin to have breakfast with him the morning after, and the two continue to find a common interest. However, Erin lets him know she is only interning for six more weeks and will be heading home to the west coast then. The two decided to have a casual fling until she leaves.

When it is time for Erin to go, the two have spent enough time together to grow quite close to one another. After Garrett professes his feelings for Erin, the two decide to have a long distance relationship. The distance is hard, but for a while, they are able to maintain their relationship, professing their hope that soon they will be together. They both also try to visit one another whenever they get the chance. The distance does not help Garrett, who already hates his job and thinks the band he manages absolutely sucks. When he goes to visit Erin, things seem good, but quickly become awkward, partly thanks to her sister, Corinne.

The two fight and their relationship seems on the rocks, but they both seem to want to try and work it out. Erin tries to get a job in New York at the paper where she interned. Instead, she is offered a job in San Francisco. Garrett is desperate to have their relationship work out. He wants her to move to New York, where they can move in together and see where this goes. With her career finally about to start, Erin must decide between the chance at a career or living with the man she believes might just be the love of her life.

Storyline/Plot: 1 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 2 out of 5 stars
Acting: 3 out of 5 stars
Directing: 1 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Just like the movie itself, inconsistency is the name of the game here. 1080p sounds good in theory, but Going the Distance fizzles and fades when it comes to getting things done visually. Daytime scenes look brilliant, but the nighttime scenes are unsatisfying to say the least. Issues with noise crop up more than once and it’s just rather disappointing for a Blu-ray. Details could be better. Colors change and do not remain strong. If this were a DVD one might be able to ignore some of these issues, but it’s not. At best, this is an acceptable transfer that borders on dull.

The main thing going for this 5.1 DTS HD MA soundtrack is that its a romcom. That being said, you don’t really expect to hear sound like you might at a Guns N’ Roses concert. Dialogue is the name of the game here and the track succeeds on the basis that you can hear the actors and there isn’t too many issues with clarity. The music scenes are alright, but never truly offer that surround feel that would have been nice here. Special sound effects aren’t really a big part of this movie, so there isn’t much to offer in that respect. This ends up working for this film, but it’s hardly dynamic, engrossing sound. There is also a lesser English mix offered here as well as some 5.1 presentations in French and Spanish. Subtitles are offered in English, French, and Spanish also.

Visual: 3 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There are some fluffy offerings here, but at the end of the day, it’s not like it really matters because the film isn’t much worthy of any special features. You get to listen to a commentary by first time feature film director (Burstein had done documentaries previously, but never a romcom like this) and then they offer some of the usual featurettes on dating, the cast, and things of that sort.

Deleted Scenes: Here you have about thirteen minutes worth of the same things you found in the movie. Sure, some of these things are worth a laugh, but like the movie there isn’t much to fall in love with.

The Audio Commentary is the only thing that I can imagine that could make this movie worse. While I had hopes for Erin and Garrett it clearly wasn’t thanks to the director Nanette Burstein. I thought the name seemed familiar to me and then I realized who Burstein was. Known for her documentary, American Teen, where Burstein tried to make all teenagers fit into the Breakfast Club box, Burstein was probably the last person I would have picked for a romcom. If you doubted her before listening to this, you might find that things only continue to get worse as you listen. She spends a good time babbling about how this is her first actual fictional film. Funnily enough, she also stresses the importance of the other characters in the film. She’s really helpful, in a non-interesting sort of way. I’d skip this is I were you, but if you’re a glutton for punishment or find yourself clipping your toenails for a couple of hours with nothing else to do, you might want to give this a listen.

“How to Have the Perfect Date” – This lasts for under ten minutes and gives you a chance to learn about the cast members and the perfect idea of their date.

“A Guide to Long Distance Dating” – This is another featurette that lasts for less than ten minutes. This looks at the cast and their thoughts on the characters and what happens to them in the movie.

“The Cast of Going the Distance: Off the Cuff” – If you like improv, this gives you about four minutes of the cast showing off their skills.

The only other features are a music video for The Boxer Rebellion (the band in the movie) and a Behind the Scenes for the movie soundtrack.

Bonus Features: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
I love me some Drew Barrymore, but I prefer her in the Rom Coms that actually have comedy in them. This movie can be cute at times. It is a sweet story, but it is also boring with dialogue that makes even me want to groan. Unfortunately, I feel that Going the Distance is kind of like Drew’s relationship with Justin Long. It just doesn’t have longevity. This might be a good movie to rent, especially if you like Drew and Justin, or either one of them, but I don’t think you’re going to want to watch this more than once.

Overall Rating: 2.14 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, DVD, Going the Distance, Justin Long, Drew Barrymore, Rom Com, Romance, Humor, Movie, Chick Flick, New York, West Coast, Long Distance Romance

Synopsis:
I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS is the improbable but true story of a spectacularly charismatic conman’s journey from small-town businessman to flamboyant white-collar criminal, who repeatedly finds himself in trouble with the law and on the lam, brilliantly escaping from the Texas prison system on four separate occasions – all in the name of love.

Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) leads a seemingly average life – an organ player in the local church, happily married to Debbie (Leslie Mann), and a member of the local police force. That is until he has a severe car accident that leads him to the ultimate epiphany: he’s gay and he’s going to live life to the fullest – even if he has to break the law to do it.

Taking on an extravagant lifestyle, Steven turns to cons and fraud to make ends meet and is eventually sent to the State Penitentiary where he meets the love of his life, a sensitive, soft-spoken man named Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). His devotion to freeing Phillip from jail and building the perfect life together prompts him to attempt (and often succeed at) one impossible con after another. Told with an uncanny sense of humor and a lot of heart, “I Love You Phillip Morris” is an oddball tale of what can happen when the legal system, a daredevil spirit and undying love collide.

“I Love You Phillip Morris” is an oddball tale of what can happen when the legal system, a daredevil spirit and undying love collide.

Our Thoughts:
I didn’t want to like this movie because I am not a huge Jim Carrey fan. I didn’t want to, but dammit this trailer had me laughing quite a bit. I don’t know if it’s because it’s labeled as a true story or if it’s because a seemingly romantic comedy about a homosexual criminal, but I have to see I Love You, Phillip Morris. I actually can’t wait to see this now that I have watched this trailer. Oh, and the penis cloud thing = awesome. Almost as awesome as the penis bagel setup. This looks to be a great flick.

Okay, I’ve told you mine, now you can tell me yours in the comments below!

Technorati Tags: I Love You Phillip Morris, Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Criminal, Homosexual, Trailer, Movie, Coming Soon, December Releases

It seems just like yesterday that Marty McFly flew into my life on his skateboard, which turned into a hoverboard, which isn’t real by the way (Michael J Fox points that out in his book).

Despite the fact that it is shocking that it has been that long, I cannot wait for this box set to come out! Below we’ve listed all the highlights from the press release including Bluray specs, special features, and synopsis’ (just in case). Mark your calendars, just like the movie points out, October 26 is the day!

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-rayTM: Unleash the power of your HDTV with perfect picture and the purest digital sound available.
U-CONTROL: Universal’s exclusive signature feature allows viewers to learn more about their favorite film without ever leaving the movie.
Setups & Payoffs: As you watch each of the three films, each “set up” showcases items in the scene that prepare you for a future plot point. When you get to that moment in the film, the “payoff” is shown to complete the correlation.
Storyboard Comparison: Compare key scenes in the movie with the original storyboards.
Trivia Track: Get inside trivia and facts while you watch the movies.
BD-LIVETM: Access the BD-LiveTM Center through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers and more!
My Scenes: Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movies.
pocket BLU™: USHE’s groundbreaking pocket BLU app uses iPhone®, iPod® touch, iPad®, Blackberry®, Android™, Windows and Macintosh computers and more to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-rayTM player and offers advanced features such as:
Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.
Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in their favorite episode.
Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there’s a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy exclusive content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
Keyboard: Enter data into a Blu-ray™ player with your device’s easy and intuitive keyboard.
Archival Featurette Back to the Future Night: Hosted by Leslie Nielson, this original 30-minute special aired on NBC prior to the first television screening of the Back to the Future.

BLU-RAYTM and DVD BONUS FEATURES
Tales from the Future: New six-part retrospective documentary featuring interviews with Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Director Robert Zemeckis, Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton, plus Executive Producer Steven Spielberg.*
In the Beginning . . .: Delve into the genesis of the project, casting, re-casting, the DeLorean, sets and overall pre-production.
Time to Go: Production stories through the release of the first film.
Keeping Time: The score and the songs of the Back to the Future Trilogy.
Time Flies: Learn more about how the sequel came about, the futuristic look, the special and visual effects, recreating 1955 and more.
Third Time’s the Charm: Learn about building a western town, Doc Brown’s love story, the casting of Mary Steenburgen, the train sequence and completing the Trilogy.
The Test of Time: Back to the Future becomes a phenomenon! President Reagan quotes the film, the Back to the Future ride opens at Universal Studios theme park and fans rebuild the iconic DeLorean. The film’s cast and crew take a look back and discuss why these beloved movies live on.
The Physics of Back To The Future: A discussion with celebrity best-selling author and physicist Dr. Michio Kaku about the overall appreciation of the science in the Back to the Future Trilogy*
Nuclear Test Site Ending Storyboard Sequence: Storyboard sequence of the original proposed ending of the film.*
16 Deleted Scenes
Michael J. Fox Q&A
Q&A Commentaries with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
Feature Commentaries with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton
Archival Featurettes
Making the Trilogy: Chapters One, Two & Three: Original 2002 DVD documentary that takes a look back in time.
The Making Of Back to the Future Part I, II & III: Provides a vintage and historic first look at the making of all three films.
The Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy: a televised special hosted by Kirk Cameron addressing fans unanswered Back to the Future questions.
Behind-the-Scenes
Outtakes
Original Makeup Tests
Production Design
Storyboarding
Designing the DeLorean
Designing Time Travel
Hoverboard Test
Designing Hill Valley
Designing the Campaign
Back to the Future: The Ride
Music Videos:
Huey Lewis and the News “Power of Love”
ZZ Top “DoubleBack”
Photo Galleries, Including Production Art, Additional Storyboards, Photographs, Marketing Materials and Character Portraits
Theatrical Trailers

* Denotes new footage debuting on the 25th Anniversary Trilogy

SYNOPSES
Back to the Future
From the Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis comes Back to the Future, the original, groundbreaking adventure that sparked one of the most successful trilogies in Hollywood history. When teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is blasted to 1955 in the DeLorean time machine created by the eccentric Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), he finds himself mixed up in a time-shattering chain reaction that could vaporize his future—and leave him trapped in the past. Powered by innovative special effects, unforgettable songs and non-stop action, Back to the Future is an unrivaled adventure that stands the test of time.

Back to the Future Part II
Getting back was only the beginning as the most spectacular time-travel adventure ever continues in Back to the Future Part II—the sequel that proves that lightning can strike twice! Picking up precisely where they left off, Marty and Doc (Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd) launch themselves to the year 2015 to fine-tune the future and inadvertently disrupt the space-time continuum. Now, their only chance to fix the present is by going back to 1955 again before it’s too late. From Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, Back to the Future Part II provides more of the timeless excitement that made Back to the Future an unforgettable adventure.

Back to the Future Part III
They’ve saved the biggest trip for last as the most popular time-traveling movie trilogy ever comes to a rousing conclusion in Back to the Future Part III. Stranded in 1955 after a freak accident, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) discovers he must travel back to 1885 to rescue Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) before he becomes smitten with schoolteacher Clara Clayton (Mary Steenburgen). Now, it’s up to Marty to keep Doc out of trouble, get the DeLorean running, and put the past, present and future on track so they can all get back to where—and when—they belong. From the Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, Back to the Future Part III is a spectacular grand finale to the unforgettable blockbuster series.

About Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™:
Street Date: October 26, 2010
Copyright: 2010 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen, 1.85:1
Rating: PG
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish DTS Surround 5.1, French DTS Surround 5.1

Technorati Tags: Back to the Future, Bluray, DVD, Trilogy, 25th Anniversary Edition, Upcoming Release, Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: January 29, 2010
DVD Release Date: June 15, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $21. 99

I don’t know how many times I have to write this in reviews, but I’m just not into Rom Coms. I’m not a fan of chick flicks. I don’t like curling up with my girlfriends with boxes of tissues and balling my eyes out as the guy finally gets the girl. That’s just not my cup of tea. On the other hand, my mom LOVES these kinds of movies. Usually, I’ll try to endure them for her, but I am miserable the entire time the movie is on.

I will admit, occasionally a Rom Com surprises me. I may even laugh and find myself enjoying the movie. I am still a woman, after all, and can occasionally appreciate mushy, feel good movies. I am going to tell you now that When in Rome is NOT one of these films. What an incredibly trite, excessively corny and overly cliché film! When in Rome was so bad, not even my mother liked it. I sometimes question her taste in films, but this is a rare occurrence where she and I are in agreement. We both agree that When in Rome is a horrid film that never should have been made.

I like Josh Duhamel. I have liked him ever since he was on All My Children. I like Kristen Bell. I have no problem with them as actors. I have a problem with two decent actors performing in such a horrible film. I have to wonder if this script was not cut all to hell after they filmed, and if not, what provoked them to make this film?

The whole chip thing is just ludicrous. The entire plot for this movie is dumb. I do not know where Mark Steven Johnson came up with this crap. I have to assume his less experienced co-writers provided most of the material. This is just pure garbage. You really do not have to read anymore of my review, which I am obliged to write, unless you truly are a glutton for punishment.

The When in Rome Plot
Beth (Bell) is a Guggenheim art curator, and she’s good at her job. Her job is her life, and therefore, she does not have any room for love. She’s become hardened by the years of trying to find the perfect man. You know, the one seen in movies. When her younger sister, Joan (Dziena), impulsively plans a wedding in Rome, she takes time from work to go to Italy. There, she meets a guy named Nick (Duhamel).

Nick saves Beth from a few interesting situations, but they are just perfect for one another and they hit it off (despite Beth being bitter and all). Everything is going perfect, until she spots Nick kissing another woman, the cousin of the man her sister is marrying. She gets drunk and takes coins from a fountain that is a part of a legend. The owner of the coins is said to fall in love with the person who took them, unless they return the coins to the fountain. Too busy with work and her boss (Huston) breathing down her neck, Beth just doesn’t have time to return them.

Of course, the prophecy comes true and suitors (DeVito, Heder, Arnett, and Shepard) are knocking at her door. Nick is there, too, but as she falls for him, she soon realizes he may just be falling for her because she has his coin.

Storyline/Plot: 0 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 0 out of 5 stars
Acting: 2 out of 5 stars
Directing: 0 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
When in Rome offers the standard expected 1080p and AVC encode that you expect Blu-ray to have. However, the actual picture quality comes up feeling lifeless. Like many romantic comedies, the entire thing just lacks strength. Funnily enough, nothing is particularly wrong with the picture. There is no grain and no other big problems come up either. The print looks and feels rather flawless save for a few soft moments that occasionally creep up. Black levels are good and the detail, while not overly impressive, is acceptable. This looks like your typical romantic comedy. In short, you could easily buy the DVD if you have to own this, because films like this are wasted on Blu-Ray.

The DTS HD MA 5.1 could handle far more than it is forced to deal with here. In fact, When in Rome sticks to mainly the front channels and nothing dramatic ever happens where the sound is concerned. This is mainly a dialogue driven affair so there shouldn’t be much going on anyway, but it’s still disappointing. If you like romantic comedies, this is the kind of track that you are used to though so it shouldn’t bother you in the least. This presentation is even more forgettable than the film itself. Additional languages tracks include both French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitles are included in English, French, and Spanish.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Alternate Opening & Ending: I cannot even comment on this. I can see why they didn’t use this beginning and ending, but I am not sure why they were even made in the first place. These were just ridiculously stupid.

Crazy Casanovas: Mischief From the Set: This is nothing more than a selection of cast interviews and some goofy set moments. It’s not anything special. Unless you’re referring to the director’s reaction to this substandard film. That was pretty special, though not necessarily in a good way.

Extended Pain with The Suitors: This is a selection of three deleted scenes. As you might have guessed they all contain the suitors. The scenes are all of them crashing the Guggenheim party.

Kerplunk!: Bloopers From Rome: Three minutes of bloopers. In the end, these are no better or worse than the actual film.

Deleted Scenes: This is eight scenes totaling around seven minutes of additional deleted scenes. Considering the whole move should have been deleted, these aren’t necessary. Of course, they had to add something.

Music Videos: The music videos include “Starstrukk” by 3OH!3 and Katy Perry and “Stupid Love Letter” by the Friday Night Boys.

What’s the Craziest Thing You’ve Done For Love?: This is just a minute long look of what some of the cast members have done, stupidly in the name of love.

Sneak Peaks: Plenty of promos for Lost: The Final Season, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, ESPN World Cup 2010 and Alice in Wonderland.

Bonus Features: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Not only is When in Rome a terrible movie, but the Blu-Ray features and capabilities are not that impressive. I would not recommend When in Rome to my worst enemy. Ignore the release of When in Rome on Blu-Ray and DVD. Forget this movie was ever made. When in Rome is an embarrassment to not only movies in general, but also to the rom com genre. Avoid at ALL costs!!!!!

Overall Rating: 1.57 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Anjelica Huston, RomCom, Comedy, Disney, Movie Review, Bluray, BD Review, When in Rome

Directed by comedy maestro Shawn Levy (Night At The Museum films) Date Night also features an all-star supporting cast including Mark Wahlberg (Max Payne), James Franco (Pineapple Express), Mila Kunis (“That 70s Show”), Common (Just Wright), Taraji Henson (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button) and Leighton Meester (“Gossip Girl”). The Date Night two-disc Blu-ray with Digital Copy and DVD feature an all-new extended edition of the film with never-before-seen hilarious footage, plus a gag reel, Date Night PSAs, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and much more. The Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S./$45.98 Canada and $29.98 U.S./$43.48 Canada, respectively. Prebook is July 14.

Blu-ray With Digital Copy Special Features:
Gag reel
Extended Car Chase
Directing Off Camera
Date Night PSAs (three versions)
Directing 301 with Shawn Levy
Audio Commentary with Shawn Levy
Deleted Scenes
Extended Scenes
Disaster Dates with the Cast
Steve and Tina Camera Tests
Live Lookup
Digital Copy

Single-Disc DVD Special Features
Gag reel
Extended Car Chase
Directing Off Camera
Date Night PSAs (three versions)
Directing 301 with Shawn Levy
Audio Commentary with Shawn Levy

DATE NIGHT
Street Date: August 10, 2010
Prebook Date: July 14, 2010
Screen Format: Widescreen: 2.35:1
Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital / Spanish and French Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, French & Spanish
U.S. Rating: PG-13
Run Time: 88 minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

Technorati Tags: Bluray, DVD, Movie Details, Screenshots, Fox, Date Night, Steve Carell, Tina Fey

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: April 16, 2010
Online Availability: Pre-Order at Amazon for $19.49

For Derrick Borte’s first venture as a director, and first credit as a writer, The Joneses isn’t too bad. Considering he’s new, it could have been much worse. Borte, luckily, had two, very likable, veteran actors to help him through. David Duchovny and Demi Moore really steal the show. It is them that kept me watching and their chemistry together that sustained my interest. With lesser actors, I have no doubt that The Joneses would have been a massive failure, so for Borte’s and Fox’s sake, I’m glad these two were on board for this film.

Apparently, The Joneses is based on something written by Randy T. Dinzler. In Borte’s translation, some of the message behind Dinzler’s writing gets lost, particularly, those dealing with the dangers of consumerism. While there is some seriousness going on, and these moments are often unexpected, they are underscored by the comedy and the more predictable elements of the film. While I understood that the main characters and their path was predictable, I felt like this overshadowed other aspects of the story. This is probably because, as an audience member, you want them to get together, and waiting for that to happen somewhat monopolizes your thoughts.

I watched this with our teenager, CT. There were only one or two places where it was kind of embarrassing to be
watching it with your kid (two sex scenes), but these were quick and relatively harmless (one is just moaning with the image of a car). I wouldn’t recommend this film for little kids, but then again, what young child is going to be interested in this, anyway? CT seemed to like the movie and he said it was funny. I feel the message behind the movie was totally lost on him, but he was focusing more on the fact that this was a comedy than anything else.

The Joneses features a fairly decent supporting cast. I know I’ve seen Amber Heard in something. Ben Hollingsworth I only knew by name, but these two were pretty good as the faux children. The neighbors are played by Gary Cole and Glenne Headly. I recognized both of them, but wasn’t sure how I knew them. Both have been in numerous things, but I most recognized Cole as Mike Brady in the Brady Bunch movies and Headly from Mr. Holland’s Opus. The acting for this film was solid at every role, and I’m always appreciative of that, in any film. Honestly, though, it is the acting that saved this one, for me.

The Joneses Plot
Steve, Kate, Jenn and Mick Jones move into the biggest house in an upscale neighborhood. They live a lavish lifestyle that demands attention, and it isn’t too long before the entire town is eating them up. What video game is Mick Jones playing? He’s bound to tell everyone and when he does, they’ll all want to own it, too. Kate Jones has new jogging shoes on! No worries! Every other woman in town will be wearing their own pair. Even Steve is getting the men of town to indulge in the purchase of expensive golf clubs and luxury vehicles, and let’s not forget how he throws out the name of his travel agent, to make sure all those in town use the same agent, too.

Things seem too perfect at The Joneses, which is a great sign they are. Steve and Kate don’t even sleep in the same bed. That’s because she’s on husband #7, fake husband #7 that is. Jenn is a slut who seeks the attention of any man she can find, even Steve. Good thing he’s not really her dad. Mick has his own secrets, one that could lead to the destruction of the entire family that never really was. The Joneses are actually plants, a pretend family attempting to sell their wares by passing themselves off as the family all the others want to be. Living the high life makes them popular and the family is good at their jobs.

However, when Steve begins to see the impact his work is having on the people in the town, he begins to question why he is doing this job. He also tries to get through the steely exterior of Kate, who has so many rules about the work environment that Steve often eats dinner alone. He also tries to get through to and be there for Mick, who obviously has a lot on his mind. In the end, it looks like perfection might not be as great as The Joneses portray it, especially when real life feelings and attitudes seem to get in the way of the job.

Storyline/Plot: 3 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3 out of 5 stars

At this point, it is unclear when exactly The Joneses will be available on DVD. As such, Fox has not commented on the Audio/Visual peripherals and whether the DVD and/or Blu-Ray will include bonus features. We, at LI Reviews, will make sure to let all of our readers know these things when this information become available to us.

Bottom Line:
The Joneses succeeds because of its cast. While the film tries to make an important point about life, consumerism and the human obsession with perfection, some of that gets muddied by the underlying love story you know is coming from the beginning. Still, Duchovny and Moore manage to keep the movie together enough to make it worthy of watching. Whether you’ll want to own this on DVD is another story, and we won’t have the answer to that for a few more months. Duchovny, especially, puts in a solid performance. If you’re going to watch this movie, watch it more for the actors and less for the message hidden in the plot. Otherwise, you’re bound to be disappointed.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: The Joneses, David Duchovny, Demi Moore, Movie Review, Comedy, Consumerism, Wealthy, Lauren Hutton, Film, Fox

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Date: February 12, 2010
DVD Release Date: May 18, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $12.99

I don’t like chick flicks, especially romantic comedies. I respect Garry Marshall, though. I might be willing to sit through a chick flick for my girlfriend, but usually, she doesn’t like them either. I am lucky that way. She doesn’t drag me off to the theater to see those films that most other girls make their boyfriends watch; the ones I call eye-gushers. She prefers the more hardcore films, though every once in a while she’ll find a chick flick she likes. Like a good boyfriend I will endure it for her since it is such a rare occurrence. As a reviewer, I endure chick flicks for another reason – it’s my job.

I knew from the previews I was not going to like Valentine’s Day. The vignette of what was meant to be cute and heartfelt love and relationship stories from the trailer made me throw up a little bit in my mouth. I wonder what Garry Marshall was thinking when he took on this project. I wonder what the half-dozen stars who acted in this were thinking when they chose to make it? Ultimately, who would review this DVD came down to the toss of a coin, and guess who didn’t pick tails?

Even if I did like romantic comedies, Valentine’s Day would still be a horrible mess of a movie. I don’t understand how a group of actors, most of whom have proven they can act, can do so in such a poor way that not even their acting can save this train wreck. How were they so willing to speak such unoriginal, clichéd, excessively cheesy dialogue? I cannot imagine what prompted Katherine Fugate to write such drivel. She did much better when writing that one episode of Xena. At least THAT was entertaining. How does a guy like GARRY MARSHALL get involved in this crap? I just don’t get it????

Valentine’s Day is not just awful. It’s BEYOND AWFUL. How can people stand to watch this crap? I can’t imagine who, if anyone, would like it. I found it to be one of the worst chick flicks I have ever seen. There is no celebrating during Valentine’s Day. Nobody is going to “fall in love” with this pitiful excuse for a movie. Essentially, I’m saying don’t watch this piece of shit film. AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE.

The Valentine’s Day Plot
This is about a bunch of relationships that tie into one another. Reed Bennett (Ashton Kutcher) is a florist. He proposes to his girlfriend, Morley (Jessica Alba), who accepts but then declines. Reed is friends with:

–Alphonso (George Lopez)

and

Julia Fitzpatrick (Jennifer Garner) a school teacher who is having an affair with a married man, Dr. Harrison Copeland (Patrick Dempsey). She does not know he is married though. She also has a young student, Edison (Bryce Robinson), who tries to buy her flowers from Reed.

Alphonso and Julia knew Reed and Morely wouldn’t last.

Edison’s grandparents, Edgar (Hector Elizondo) and Estelle (Shirley MacLaine), struggle with the longevity of their marriage. Estelle mentions an affair she had and it upsets Edgar. They also are worried about Edison’s babysitter, Grace (Emma Roberts), who wants her boyfriend, Alex (Carter Jenkins), to pop her cherry, but those plans are foiled by her mom. Her friends, Willy (Taylor Lautner) and Felicia (Taylor Swift) are in love, but have decided to wait to have sex. It has gotten them publicity and a TV interview.

Speaking of TV, Sean Jackson (Eric Dane) is a closeted gay male because he is a professional football player. Being in the closet is hard, so he has a powwow about his career with his publicist Kara (Jessica Biel) and his agent Paula (Queen Latifah). Kara hates Valentine’s Day and is planning an I Hate Valentines party, but she kind of likes Kelvin Moore (Jamie Foxx), a sports reporter who is covering Valentines Day thanks to his producer Susan (Kathy Bates). Apparently, sports news is lacking.

Several of these characters are tied to Kate Hazeltine (Julia Roberts), a captain in the U.S. Army and Holden Bristow (Bradley Cooper). The two meet on an airplane to L.A., since Kate is on one day leave and they forge a friendship.

Storyline/Plot: 0 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 0 out of 5 stars
Acting: 0.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 0 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Valentine’s Day is a newer movie, so I expected it to at least look good. Sure enough, this calamity of a movie looks good in all it’s stupendously horrible glory. You get to see the train wreck up close and personal thanks to the anamorphic widescreen transfer. Valentine’s Day is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. I did not really notice any visual flaws, though some blur might have done the movie good, by blurring out the terrible acting and story.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 English soundtrack sounds decent. Valentine’s Day isn’t an action flick, so it is not going to tax out the audio capabilities. This allows for dynamic dialogue, but a dialogue driven movie doesn’t benefit as much as one full of sound effects. Additional 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks are available in Spanish and French. Subtitles are also available in English, Spanish and French.

Visual: 4 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There isn’t really much here in the way of bonuses. Valentine’s Day was packaged rather cheaply, but then, I didn’t really want to spend any more time on this film than I already had to spend. What you get is mostly promotional crap.

First is an Exclusive Sex And The City 2 Sneak Peak Trailer. Whoop di doo. I wasn’t into the show and I think the films are dumb. Gone is my crush on Kim Cattrall from the 80s.

Next, there are additional scenes. The movie was bad enough. Why would I want to make myself suffer and torture myself by watching scenes that did not even make the cut?

That’s all that is here. The bonus section for Valentine’s Day is as lame as the film, itself.

Bonus Features: 0.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Valentine’s Day sucks. It is a horrid movie. The actors in it seem to have forgotten how to act. The plot for Valentine’s Day sucks. The dialogue sucks. The characters are cheesy and unrealistic. Therefore, they also suck. There is not ONE redeemable feature to Valentine’s Day. Everything about this DVD reeks. Don’t even consider buying it. As any child I know would say, this movie blows chunks or it makes you want to. So, just don’t buy it…or rent it…or watch it on TV. Save yourself.

Overall Rating: 1.21 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Valentine’s Day, Movie, New Line Cinema, Romantic Comedy, Garry Marshall, Romance, DVD

Originally formed at NYU, DERRICK Comedy’s five young members quickly rose to stardom via YouTube sketches that captured an incredible fanbase nationwide. DERRICK Comedy’s debut feature film, MYSTERY TEAM, follows the adventures of three high-school virgins who are stuck solving childish whodunit mysteries in their neighborhood. But when these bumbling boy detectives are tasked to investigate a real murder, they see the ultimate opportunity to prove themselves once and for all.

Mystery Team hits DVD on May 25, 2010.

Technorati Tags: Mystery Team, Screenshots, Video Clip, Synopsis, Coming Soon, Upcoming Movie

I just keep asking myself what one of my favorite actors was thinking being in this. I am hoping that it’s better than I think it will be, but I am sure it’s no When Harry Met Sally. In any case, this film is out in theaters now and if you’re a fan of this genre of movies I am sure that you won’t want to miss The Backup Plan.

To celebrate the release of The Backup Plan you can enjoy the following trailer and some different screenshots of the film. If you decide to go and see it, make sure to let us know what you think! I think I am going to wait until the release of the DVD on this one, so until we’d love to hear your thoughts if you decided to check it out in theater.

Synopsis:
The Back-up Plan is a comedy that explores dating, love, marriage and family “in reverse.” After years of dating, Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) has decided waiting for the right one is taking too long. Determined to become a mother, she commits to a plan, makes an appointment and decides to go it alone. That same day, Zoe meets Stan (Alex O’Loughlin) – a man with real possibilities. Trying to nurture a budding relationship and hide the early signs of pregnancy becomes a comedy of errors for Zoe and creates confusing signals for Stan. Anyone can fall in love, get married and have a baby but doing it backwards in hyper-drive is the real pregnancy test.

Jennifer Lopez (Monster-In-Law, Maid In Manhattan) and Alex O’Loughlin (“Three Rivers,” August Rush) star in The Back-up Plan for CBS Films, the film division within CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS). The project, which commenced principal photography in Los Angeles on May 11, is set to debut in theaters April 23, 2010.

The film is directed by Alan Poul (“Swingtown,” “Six Feet Under”) from a screenplay by Kate Angelo (“Will & Grace,” “What About Brian”). Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Taking of Pelham 123) produced through their Escape Artists banner. Rodney Liber and David Bloomfield are executive producers. Chris Coggins and Lance Johnson are co-producers.

Technorati Tags: The Backup Plan, Theaters, Screenshots, Video, Trailer, Alex O’Loughlin, Jennifer Lopez, Movie, Romantic Comedy, Parenthood