The week’s DVDs begin in a galaxy far, far away:
DVDs for Dec. 9 by Boo Allen
This week, we begin in a galaxy far, far, away:
Guardians of the Galaxy (***)
Now arriving in all formats and various combo packs is no less than the year’s biggest money-maker. The engaging Marvel product tells the story of space-man Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) stealing a much in-demand orb, setting off a chase that entangles him with Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper), a gun-toting raccoon, and Groot (Vin Diesel), a mono-syllabic, walking tree, or shrub, or something weird. They tumble through the universe, always working to fight villains and save the galaxy. Director James Gunn keeps everything rapidly moving, infusing his film with humor-tinged action complemented by slick special effects. The impressive and expansive supporting cast includes Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, Glenn Close, Benecio Del Toro, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, and many others.
Rated PG-13, 121 minutes.
Extras: commentary, a four minute gag reel, five minutes of deleted scenes, a brief peak at Marvel’s new “Avengers” film, a 21 minute “making of” featurette, a seven minute look at the special effects, and more.
The Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Collection—volume two:
Pardners, Hollywood or Bust, Living It Up, You’re Never Too Young, Artists and Models.
On Demand Warner Archive completes the release of the films from the once popular entertainment team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. This collection of five unrated films, on three discs, from the mid 1950s demonstrates how the team had progressed from just a few years earlier. These later entries had enlarged budgets, allowing for more colorful productions in Paramount’s expansive VistaVision. Plus, more accomplished directors and higher profile casts were recruited, such as directors Frank Tashlin and Norman Taurog, and supporting players Anita Ekberg, Dorothy Malone, Janet Leigh, and Shirley MacLaine. The team pokes all the cliches of the genre in their satirical western Pardners (1956, 90 minutes), directed by Taurog and based on a script by future pulp novelist Sidney Sheldon. In 1885, the two men heroically and comically die defending their ranch. Twenty-five years later, Martin’s son (i.e., Martin), runs the now-endangered spread. Lewis’ son, an Eastern tenderfoot, rides to the rescue with the money of his mother (Agnes Moorehead). Supporting roles see many well known western faces of the era: Bob Steele, Jack Elam, Lee Van Cleef, Lon Chaney Jr. Martin flees New York, as well as his threatening bookie, in Hollywood or Bust (1956, 95 minutes), the last film the team made together. The crooner fixes a game show giveaway that results in him and stranger Lewis driving across the country, along with a Great Dane, to Hollywood in a new, red convertible. The two have their expected road-trip adventures, including recruiting Terry (Pat Crowley) as she heads to Las Vegas to join a chorus line. Instead, love sends her and the boys on to Hollywood. In Living It Up (1954, 95 minutes), Jerry plays a railroad station agent in a small New Mexico town. He believes he has developed radiation poisoning from nearby Las Crucas. Dean is a railroad physician who goes along with the false diagnosis when a New York reporter (Janet Leigh) takes Lewis back to the big city to live out his final days with the expected wild abandon afforded by an all-expenses paid trip. Leigh fights off the crooning Martin, while Lewis indulges in his typical mayhem. Raymond Burr plays a Los Angeles killer and jewel thief in You’re Never Too Young (1955, 102 minutes), writer Sheldon’s loose remake of The Major and the Minor. Burr plants a big, stolen diamond in Martin’s pocket as he returns by train to his job at a girls’ school in Washington state. Lewis pretends to be an adolescent so he can pay for a child’s train fare. Then, he must spend the rest of the movie as a temper-throwing brat as Dino sings to everyone. In Artists and Models (1955, 109 minutes), Dorothy Malone plays an artist who draws the popular comic book “Bat Lady,” using her roommate (Shirley MacLaine) as the model. They live above Dean and Jerry, a struggling artist and a comic book fanatic, respectively. Naturally, the artists fall for each other, but MacLaine struggles to make the over-energetic Lewis recognize her charms even when she is not in her provocative costume.
Copenhagen (***)
William (Gethin Anthony), a twenty-eight year-old American, tours Europe with his best friend. When they arrive in Copenhagen, the friend leaves. So, William starts off on his own to find his long lost Danish grandfather and deliver a letter written by his, William’s, long dead father who was born in Copenhagen. William learns, with the help of an English speaking waitress, Effy (Frederikke Dahl), that his grandfather long ago changed his name because he had been a Nazi collaborator. Finding him will not be easy, but Effy pitches in even though William proves to be mostly a jerk. This Danish Lolita turns out to be half William’s age, but, like her American counterpart, she does not look or act like it. While she continues to help William, a mutual and thankfully un-acted upon attraction soon becomes obvious to them and to viewers. The unlikely duo completes their quest with less than satisfying dramatic results but only after the two main characters have changed each other’s lives. Writer-director Mark Raso picks up and drops various narrative threads, but, when important, leaves the focus on his two main characters.
Not rated, 98 minutes.
Extras: a three minute featurette on the film’s reception at The Slamdance Film Festival, featuring cast and crew.
Drawing With Mark: Take Flight, As the Wheels Turn, and Fire Station.
Drawing With Mark: Let’s Go to the Zoo, and Zoo Stories,
In these collections, illustrator Mark Marderosian hosts a series that teaches kids how to draw. He incorporates his lessons with educational and fun journeys that, judging by the popularity of his series, obviously appeal to kids of all ages. The first, the “Flight” entry, offers three episodes focusing on how to draw different modes of transportation: helicopter, car, fire truck, and others. In the two “Zoo” episodes, he visits the New England Stone Zoo to draw various animals.
Both sets offer instructions on how to download free coloring pages, a draw-along booklet, and a bonus drawing lesson.
Let’s Go to the Zoo: 60 minutes, Take Flight: 90 minutes.
Also on DVD: Chasing Beauty, Dolphin Tale 2, Jingle Bell Rocks, Nocturnal Agony.