Reviews of Revolutionary Road, Spring Breakdown and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
Revolutionary Road
Paramount
$30
Blu-ray: $40
Plot: A married couple (Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio) try to rebel against the stifling conformity of 1950s suburbia.
Opinion: I’m torn about Revolutionary Road. On the one hand, it features two incredibly talented movie stars acting their hearts out, delivering a pair of intense, emotionally raw performances. At the same time though, the film itself is a chore to sit through. Covering territory that’s already been explored more successfully on the fantastic TV-series Mad Men, Revolutionary Road has little new to say about ’50s-era America or the still-ongoing battle of the sexes. The proceedings are further suffocated by the narrative’s overbearing melodrama and director Sam Mendes usual claustrophobic visual style. Still, Winslet and DiCaprio do some of their best work, turning these cliched archetypes into almost recognizable human beings. I’m calling this one a rental, but it’s definitely not a good candidate for a Family Movie Night.
Bonus Features: A making-of documentary and a commentary track with Mendes and screenwriter Justin Haythe, who also chat over a collection of deleted scenes.
Verdict: Rent It
Spring Breakdown
Warner Bros.
$28
Blu-ray: $36
Plot: Three dorky best friends (Parker Posey, Amy Poehler and Rachel Dratch) head south of the border to experience a traditional college-style spring break, including all the drinking, partying and public nudity that comes with it.
Opinion: With guy-friendly comedies from the likes of Judd Apatow and Todd Phillips dominating Hollywood these days, we need strong female comedians now more than ever. That’s why it’s all the more disappointing that Spring Breakdown, which stars talented and funny ladies like Amy Poehler and Jane Lynch, turns out to be such a flop. The main problem with the film is that it can’t decide whether it wants to ridicule the usual spring break excesses or celebrate them. Even though the movie prompts us to laugh at the stupid frat boys and slutty sorority sisters, it also makes this hedonistic ritual look like a good time. The filmmakers also make the mistake of saddling the hilarious Poehler with two dead weight co-stars; while she’s a find dramatic actress, Posey can’t pull off this kind of broad comedy and Dratch remains as annoying here as she was on Saturday Night Live. Originally filmed in 2007, Spring Breakdown is being sent direct to DVD after its theatrical release was repeatedly pushed back. For awhile there, I didn’t see how a movie starring Amy Poehler could have such trouble locking down a release date. Having seen it, I now understand why…
Bonus Features: Three minutes worth of deleted scenes, a boring gag reel and a commentary track with Dratch and director Ryan Shiraki.
Verdict: Skip It
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Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog
New Video NYC
$15
Plot: A super-villain (Neil Patrick Harris) plots a crime that will win him admission to the Evil League of Evil. Unfortunately, his efforts are regularly thwarted by his egomaniacal nemesis, Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion).
Opinion: If you’re in the mood for a comedy that’s actually funny, give Spring Breakdown a pass and pick up this witty 42-minute superhero musical from Buffy the Vampire Slayer mastermind Joss Whedon. Originally released online as a web series and then sold exclusively on DVD through Amazon, Dr. Horrible is now receiving a wider home video release courtesy of New Video NYC. Musically, the film is on par with Buffy‘s legendary song-and-dance episode; the tunes are well-written and spiritedly sung by an appealing ensemble cast. I’m less enamored of the downbeat third act, which tries too hard to bring dramatic weight to what is ultimately best enjoyed as a goofy romp. Still, count me in as a regular viewer if Whedon turns this into an ongoing Internet or DVD series.
Bonus Features: It’s hard to think of a commentary track that’s actually better than the feature, but that’s the case with Dr. Horrible’s sing-a-long commentary, Commentary! The Musical. It’s worthy picking up the disc just to hear this 42-minute tour-de-force, which consists of all-new songs penned by the film’s creative team that riff on everything from last year’s writer’s strike to the travails of being an Asian actor in Hollywood. There’s also a conventional commentary track (i.e. where the participants talk instead of sing), making-of featurettes and application videos detailing how aspiring super-villains everywhere can join the Evil League of Evil.
Verdict: Buy It
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Also on DVD
The all-star romantic comedy He’s Just Not That Into You (Warner Bros., $29) turned a tidy profit when it hit theaters in February and should do equally well on DVD. Surprisingly, there’s not much in the way of extras. Aside from a handful of deleted scenes, this is practically a bare-bones disc. Guess the downside of having an enormous A-list ensemble (which includes Jennifer Connelly, Ben Affleck and Scarlett Johansson) is that they’re all too busy with other projects to record commentary tracks and/or appear in making-of featurettes. Daniel Craig took a break from playing James Bond to portray a Jewish freedom fighter in World War II-era Russia in Ed Zwick’s Defiance (Parmount, $30), a decent action movie that’s better than the director’s last two features (The Last Samurai and Blood Diamond) but certainly no Glory. Speaking of Zwick’s 1989 Civil War tear-jerker, Glory is re-releaesd today in a new Blu-ray (Sony, $29) version along with Air Force One (Sony, $29), where Harrison Ford played a President of the United States that kicks ass first and takes names later. Director and self-professed baseball fan Richard Linklater’s new documentary Inning By Inning: A Portrait of a Coach (Arts Alliance, $20) covers the career of Augie Garrido, the University of Texas’ star baseball coach. Finally, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete (Sony, $39) is an animated version of the latest installment in the popular Final Fantasy video game franchise, featuring the voice talents of Rachel Leigh Cook and Mena Suvari.
