Out on Home Video
By Lisa Miller 09/09/2010
HARRY BROWN
Directed by Daniel Barber; Starring Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Charlie Creed-Miles, Liam Cunningham,
Ben Drew
Sony/Rated R/Drama/103 minutes
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
After thugs kill his best friend, widower Harry Brown (Caine) doesn’t care whether he lives or dies, provided he gets his revenge. He’s a 77-year-old British pensioner stuck in a deteriorating neighborhood and knows his way around weaponry, thanks to a youthful stint in the Royal Marines. As Harry sets about cleaning up the neighborhood, it falls to an understanding police detective (Mortimer) to see past Harry’s apparent frailties. The story can be slow going, but Caine gives Harry his all, and it pays off. DVD and Blu-ray features: cast and filmmakers commentary, Harry Brown's vigilante justice with deleted scenes, English language tracks, widescreen. (3 stars out of 4)
MARMADUKE
Directed by Tom Dey; Voices of Owen Wilson, Emma Stone, George Lopez, Kiefer Sutherland, Damon Wayans and Marlon Wayans
Starring Judy Greer, Caroline Sunshine and Finley Jacobsen
Fox/Rated PG/Comedy/88 minutes
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When the Winslow family moves cross-country to an upscale neighborhood, they entrust their Great Dane Marmaduke (voiced by Wilson) to a pet-shipping company. Marmaduke’s journey is harrowing, but it all seems worthwhile when he finally arrives at his new home to discover a spacious backyard, swimming pool and nearby dog-friendly park, where he makes many new friends. Marmaduke’s head swells after he wins a surfing competition, setting him up to learn important lessons about friendship and family. DVD features: Cowabarka! More Surfing Dogs; canine casting, deleted scenes, English, French or Spanish language tracks; widescreen; Two-Disc Blu-ray features same plus gag reel, puppy Marmaduke & Kitty Carlos home videos. (1.5 stars out of 4)
FLASHFORWARD: The Complete Series
Created by David S. Goyer, Brannon Braga; Starring Joseph Fiennes, John Cho, Courtney B. Vance, Brian F. O'Byrne, Sonya Walger, Zachary Knighton, Peyton List and Christine Woods
Buena Vista//Not Rated//Sci-Fi//989 minutes
Available on DVD
At 11 a.m. PST, everyone on earth falls unconscious for two minutes. During the global blackout, each person glimpses his life six months from now. This shared experience becomes everyone’s focus in a story unfolding week by week. With 10 episodes in the can and declining viewership, ABC took a 3-month break, issuing this group of episodes on DVD, a strategy allowing viewers to catch up. Joseph Fiennes appears as an FBI Agent investigating the mystery with his partner (John Cho) as they hurtle toward their unsettling, future visions. Overall, the well-written series reflects its science fiction source, a novel by Robert J. Sawyer. What was planned as a multi-season story is compacted into an abbreviated ending that squeezes too much information into the last few episodes. That’s too bad. It was good while it lasted. Five-Disc DVD features: Commentaries on selected episodes; examination of the series from the filming the pilot to the final episode; Yuko Takeuchi on the Flashforward set; Keiko’s first role on American TV; creating the freeway disaster; a look ahead; bloopers; deleted scenes; English language tracks, French or Spanish subtitles; widescreen. (3 stars out of 4)
HOUSE, MD: Season Six
Created by David Shore; Starring Omar Epps, Hugh Laurie, Robert Sean Leonard, Jennifer Morrison, Peter Jacobson, Jesse Spencer and Olivia Wilde
Universal/Not Rated/Drama, Comedy/969 minutes
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Dr. Gregory House (Laurie) is a diagnostician at New Jersey’s Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital. He’s anti-social, arrogant and addicted to painkillers. As the season opens, House is compelled to remain in rehab or lose his medical license. He’s eventually released into the custody of his best friend Wilson (Leonard), and continues to lust after his boss, Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Edelstein), though she is otherwise romantically involved. More than a dramadey featuring incisive dialogue and great characters, the series follows House’s extraordinary efforts, along with a team of young specialists, to diagnose and treat life-threatening illnesses. Five-Disc DVD or Blu-ray set features: Before Broken: an original short featuring Hugh Laurie; A short featuring House’s emotional journey at Mayfield Psychiatric Hospital with director/executive producer Katie Jacobs; A different POV: Hugh Laurie directs a new house for House; new faces in a new house, Episode commentaries; DD 5.1 English language tracks, Spanish subtitles; widescreen. (3.5 stars out of 4)
WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?
Directed by Tyler Perry; Starring Janet Jackson, Michael Jai White, Tasha Smith, Tyler Perry and
Louis Gossett
Lionsgate/Rated PG-13/Drama/121 minutes
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In the sequel to Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married,” the same four couples reunite for their annual vacation — a retreat intended to improve their marriages while strengthening the bonds of friendship between the couples. One recently remarried woman is stunned by the arrival of her ex, and his determination to win her back. As usual per Tyler Perry dramas, each character’s flaws are exposed as the couples struggle with issues of trust and faith, career changes and family. (2 stars out of 4)
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